Buying a vehicle isn’t an easy task. With the plenty of options available and endless diversity, including sedans, sub-compact, SUVs, motor homes, and coupes, making a purchase decision requires a lot of considerations. Interestingly, unlike before, the sale of trucks in the U.S market has increased, with more buyers preferring the Ford F-Series truck. If you haven’t decided if a car or truck suits your needs, below are the pros and cons of both vehicle types.

Why Cars?

As mentioned, there is a wide variety of car options to choose from. Ordinary cars on the market are available in different sizes, types, and shapes, each with a different style and class. You can choose from hatchbacks, convertibles, sports coupes, sedans, hybrids, and luxury models, all with varying features and price tags.

The pros

• Unmatched convenience – most cars, particularly sedans, offer unmatched convenience. Large sedans accommodate up to 6 passengers with additional trunk space for extra luggage.
• Easy to drive – compared to trucks, cars are compact, making it easy to drive them around on the streets and urban roads.
• Low gas mileage – gas consumption rates of cars cannot be compared to trucks. Pickup trucks have large engines that consume a lot of gas. Cars offer between 30 and 40MPG, while trucks hardly offer 20 to 25MPG.
• Privacy – unlike trucks, cars provide great privacy to the owners and their occupants. Storage beds of pickup trucks are open, exposing your belongings to thieves and weather damage.

The cons

• Limited space – cars can’t provide the same luggage space as trucks. While they may provide sufficient cargo space, they are still limited compared to pickup trucks.
• Limited visibility – specific car models, especially sports cars, have low seats, making it difficult to drive.
• No towing or offroad driving – cars have small engines, making it impossible to be used in towing other vehicles. They are also small, light, and have low ground clearance, thus limiting off-road driving.

Why Trucks?

Pickup trucks are large and offer additional features that cars can’t provide. They are a suitable option for those who enjoy off-road trips or work in the construction industry. However, you should undergo some training to become a truck driver before choosing a truck.

The pros

• Powerful engine – most people choose pickup trucks for their powerful engines. While trucks don’t save on gas mileage, the sound and power of the engine are satisfying.
• Durable – trucks are very durable than other vehicles. They have strong bodies and are less likely to sustain extensive damages after an accident.
• Great towing capabilities – towing ability probably makes trucks appealing to most truckers. You can easily haul a trail, camper, boat, and other vehicles.
• Storage bed – pickup trucks can’t be compared to SUVs, vans, and other vehicles. The back half of the truck is a storage bed, which can store heavy objects. This space can be used to transport large objects, such as furniture and machines, which ideally won’t fit other vehicles.

The cons

• Difficult to drive/maneuver – trucks are larger than cars. Therefore, driving them is quite difficult, especially on the streets and narrow roads.
• Few seats – even though trucks have expansive storage space, they can’t accommodate many passengers. Traveling with more than two people is very uncomfortable.

The Bottom Line

While both cars and trucks have their fair share of pros and cons, choosing your preferred model comes down to personal preference. If you need a family vehicle, choose one of the many car types and models. On the other hand, if you need something powerful to handle off-road driving and towing, trucks are a good option.