Many Americans like pickup trucks, and many Americans like crossovers-some like both, and some like neither. If you're not sure whether you're best suited for a pickup or a crossover, stay tuned. We'll look at some general pros, cons, facts, and considerations for each that will hopefully help you make a smarter decision.

Choice

Starting with choice, simply because of the number of options you have and the range of vehicle sizes they cover, it's the crossover for maximum choice. Most automakers offer at least one crossover model; many offer two or three or even more. These cover sizes from small and city-friendly to larger and more family-oriented. On the other hand, most automakers do not offer a pickup truck for sale, and of those that do, the vast majority are mid-size like the Colorado or Frontier, or full-size like the RAM or F-150.

All said, it's probably the crossover that gives you the best and most abundant options for sizing the vehicle perfectly against your needs, budget, and locale.

Toughness and capability

Second, toughness and capability - this applies to the pickup truck in general. After all, trucks have to deliver toughness, torque and traction. That's why they're built like trucks, with a solid steel ladder frame to which everything else is bolted. This setup tends to stand up better to rougher surfaces, allows for greater towing and hauling capabilities, and even results in a ride that feels tougher and more durable, especially on rougher roads. Pickup trucks tend to come with more powerful cooling systems, beefier tires, stronger suspension parts, and more. It's all about giving buyers the confidence they need to work their machine hard. And if that sounds like you, the pickup truck might be your best bet.

Most crossovers offer decent towing and off-road capability, but most are also built like a car, not a truck. If you're going to work your vehicle hard on a regular basis, perhaps with heavy towing or frequent off-roading, a truck might be a better choice.

Comfort

Next is comfort, which of course comes in many different forms. A crossover may be more comfortable to get in and out of because you are usually sitting lower to the ground, but some drivers feel more comfortable in the raised driving position that you get with a pickup. A crossover may be more comfortable to drive around town because they typically drive and handle like a large car and are often easier to maneuver and park, although a pickup truck is almost always more comfortable on rough roads or off-road trails because the suspension is not car-based and it's designed with frequent rough surface use in mind. Some trucks ride like luxury sedans, as do some crossovers. There's no hard and fast line on which is more comfortable than the other; there are many variables at play, and it's largely a matter of taste. Find out which is most comfortable for you by test driving as many options as possible on roads and trails that reflect the kind of driving you're most likely to do.

Ride Experience

Next, let's talk about the ride, which is another matter of personal taste. For many who live or work in a crowded city, a crossover may make more sense for use in tight spaces, where they tend to be more maneuverable. When it comes to features and content, there's no clear winner or loser. Both crossovers and pickups today offer similar levels of advanced technology designed to make driving better. Some buyers prefer the more solid, dense, and sturdy feel of a pickup truck, while others prefer a crossover for its small, compact, and car-like ride and handling.

Utility

A couple of things to note here. First, in a crossover, everything you bring with you is stored inside the vehicle, away from prying eyes, extreme temperatures, and the elements. In a pickup truck, larger items tend to ride in the box, where they may not be as well protected as they could be. Of course, a variety of accessories, such as locking tonneau covers and in-bed organizers, can be added to the pickup of your choice, usually at extra cost, allowing you to customize its cargo capacity. Or go with a four-door pickup, and you'll have plenty of interior cargo space, assuming there's nobody in the back seat.

It really comes down to what you're hauling around the most. Is it dirt bikes or a toolbox, construction equipment, hockey gear? Also consider how often you'll be towing and hauling. For example, a crossover and trailer may be a better choice for some buyers than a pickup truck, or vice versa.

Cost

All else being equal, crossovers tend to cost less up front, and even less if you buy a smaller one. They're also usually more fuel efficient, since they tend to use a smaller and less powerful car-based engine. In a pickup truck, you generally need a big engine with a lot of torque, which uses more fuel, all other things being equal, to get more capability and power. But you'll pay for it at the pump whether you use it or not. Some pickup trucks have extra-cost high-efficiency engine options to help reduce fuel consumption.

Finally, a bigger, heavier truck with a bigger, heavier engine can have higher maintenance and repair costs, including oil changes, tires, suspension parts, and more. Some buyers, after weighing fuel costs, decide to buy a crossover and trailer instead of a pickup truck, or even just rent a pickup truck for the few days a year they really need one and drive something more fuel-efficient the rest of the time. Other buyers simply like a pickup better and don't care about the fuel bill.

This is a simple comparative analysis of pickup trucks and SUVs that we have done, and we hope it is helpful to you. Of course, the final decision on which vehicle to buy depends entirely on your needs, preferences, and budget. If you want to know more about pickup truck products, please pay attention to our website MOSTPLUS.