Why Pickup Trucks Outsell Cars in Canada
It’s become a running joke at this point how much Canadians love our pickup trucks. Yes, it’s true, pickup trucks sell more than cars here in our home country. That’s a fun fact, enough for you to say, “hmmm, that’s interesting,” then move on with your life. But that’s not good enough for us, I wanted to know why! If you’ve ever wondered why Canadians love our pickups more than the lowly car, you’re in luck, because I’ve got the answers for you below. The Ford F-150, the Ram 1500, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the GMC Sierra 1500, all stalwarts in the pickup segment and all likely to be seen in a few seconds the next time you hit the road, let’s explore why Canadians are truck-obsessed.
Safety Considerations
Before anything else, drivers want to feel safe in the vehicle they drive. This is something all of us who’ve been on a busy roadway can understand. Pickup trucks (along with SUVs) have grown in popularity thanks to not only their continued presence and ease of purchase on the market, but because of how much they’re perceived to be safe, given their size and, specifically, their height compared to most other vehicles on the road. Similarly, with a truck bed in between a prospective rear-end collision and your loved ones, there is an obvious notion that there’s more physical protection for those seated in the back seat. Now, pickups aren’t actually more safe than any other type of vehicle like the car or SUV, but their perceived notion of safety (thanks to their size and style) definitely gives them a leg up in consumer’s shopping mind. Rest assured, vehicles, in general, are safer than ever, thanks to improved designs and the latest technology, so while the pickup is an understandable choice for this mindset, there’s no wrong answer when it comes to safety.
Size & Versatility
Traditionally, it’s not just you driving in your vehicle. It may be to start, but then you get a partner, and then a kid, and then another, and then maybe another, and that all adds up to a lot of space you need to get your cohort from one place to another. See where I’m going with this? Pickup trucks offer a lot of space, not just for your family to comfortably enjoy the trip down to the area for hockey practice, but also space for gear for said hockey equipment, or for heading down to the lake with your favourite toys. With growing lives and growing families, Canadians have looked to larger vehicles like the pickup to transport all that’s important to them easily.
Societal Norms
This may be one that doesn’t jump immediately to mind, but is a huge component when it comes to truck ownership in Canada. Forgive me if I get a bit too sociological or psychological talking about pickups, though it’s a large driving factor. Consider the idea that the more “normalized” something is, the more you see it yourself in your day-to-day life, the more it’s just a regular part of being, the more you also accept it into your own, or even want it yourself. That’s true with pickups, people, not to mention teens growing up and turning into drivers themselves, see these trucks so prevalent on roads, online marketing and want to get one themselves, all becoming a societal norm. You may not realize it’s happening but the feedback loop of trucks on Canadian streets helps to grow their own popularity.
Shop Your Next Pickup at Cars.ca
We may be Cars.ca but we may as well be called Trucks.ca! Don’t be fooled by our web address, we got a lot, a lot of pickup trucks for you to browse online. I’m talking 10s of thousands waiting for you to find the one that joins you among our Canadian cohorts with the most popular vehicle in the nation! From Ford to Ram to Chevrolet to GMC and beyond, explore all of the top pickup brands in the industry, all here on Trucks– ahem, Cars.ca.