- Four Wheel Trends
- Posts
- We Need More Pickup Trucks And Kia Listened!
We Need More Pickup Trucks And Kia Listened!
Plus, Rivian is struggling to sell, but not produce. Hyundai, and others, vow not to do one critical thing with their cars. Germany's car industry is struggling post-tariffs, and the best daily drivers with bad mpg.
Bernardo Montes de Oca
April 05, 2025
In partnership with
Issue 103
It's been a chaotic start to April, probably more than expected.
As soon as the tariffs came into effect, we knew the industry would see changes.
We asked you what you felt would be the effects on the automotive industry in the US.
Here are the results!
It’s a tie!
Market News
Rivian has produced way more cars than it delivered. Here's why it's important.
Hyundai vows not to do this, at least for now. Others promise the same.
Germany's car industry was already fledging. Here's what it says after the tariffs.
Volkswagen will add an import fee to cars sold in the US.
General Motors and Nissan have this plan to face tariffs, which could mean great business.
Nissan says it will not take new US orders for this SUV.
Stellantis workers were worried about their jobs, but the company made drastic decisions, including pausing production on a special plant.
Safety and Recalls
The NHTSA launches a massive investigation into 2.2 million Honda and Acura vehicles.
Jeep's headlight issue continues to force the brand to recall vehicles.
Ford recalls more than 110,000 vehicles for multiple safety concerns.
Car Culture
Toyota is working on an even more powerful GR Corolla, and we love the idea.
Horrible gas mileage? I don't care! These are thirsty cars you'd love to drive daily.
The Wedge design is back. Are you a fan?
These cars won't be affected by tariffs, and collectors are happy.
This is the NSX replacement we should've gotten.
The Toyota Supra says goodbye with a killer final edition.
We loved this weird SUV-cabrio-ugly-duck Suzuki. Did you?
Video of the week
Are you looking to buy a project car? This video can help you decide which!
A WORD FROM 1440 AND KERN
I read 1440 most mornings. Keeping up with the news is easy.
With so much happening every day, I like how they break things down without adding opinions or extra noise. Just the important stuff, all in one place.
You'll like it if you want a simple way to stay informed.
Sincerely, Kern
Now, here's what 1440 is all about:
Image not found
Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.
IN THE KNOW
We need more pickup trucks!
The United States invented the pickup truck, and that's not just a patriotic statement. The first pickup came from Michigan in 1902, from a curiously named Grabowski Motor Company (the og GMC). You can read more about this fascinating company here.
So, for a nation with more than 125 years of history with the pickup truck, we don't have as many options as we would like. If you're in the market for one, the options are limited.
We can think of the obvious choices, such as the Silverado, F-150, Sierra, RAM, and all their heavy-duty and performance variants.
There's also the Tacoma, Tundra, Frontier and Titan, and Ranger.
In the EV department, there’s the Rivian and Cybertruck. Then, there are the other odd EV options, but those don't actually count, right?
Unless, you've purchased a Hummer EV, and in that case, I want to know what it's like to own. Apparently, it caused quite a shock in India.
By the way, yes, there's the Hyundai Santa Cruz, but really? Is that truly a pickup truck?
We don't even get the best options out there. Australia has just received the Ford Ranger Super Duty, and it's as cool as the name suggests.
It has 10,000 pounds of towing capacity and a 3.0L turbodiesel V6, putting out around 250 hp, which sounds like a great combination.
Or, we'd love to have the Toyota LC70, which has been the perfect truck for decades. If only we could get our hands on one of those V8s before they're gone forever.
Another excellent option that has performed well is the Volkswagen Amarok. The German automaker has just announced a complete redesign, which looks great.
Granted, this one is almost impossible to get, as it's likely that tariffs and regulations won't allow us to import it.
In short, we can always benefit from more pickup trucks. So, when we read about the Kia Tasman, we saw true potential in the new vehicle.
This is how you do it, Hyundai. Alas, we were put off by the idea that the Tasman wouldn't be available in the US until now.
Kia felt our pain. They understand the American market, so they've confirmed their first midsize pickup for the US.
What's interesting is that, as this article describes, it will be completely separate from the Tasman.
Manufacturing costs and tariffs (again) mean that the company plans to create a new truck from the ground up for America.
We're a bit doubtful about that. We sincerely hope it's not a Santa Cruz, but if they do it right, we will have another excellent option in our hands.
Kia says this truck will fit in the midsize category, and that's perfect. We need more options that give us decent gas mileage while being adventurous and versatile.
Not everyone can afford or wants to buy an F-150, and some prefer the smaller options.
We're definitely looking forward to it. If you haven't read about the Tasman, we liked it so much, that we wrote an article on it. You can check out it below.
What did you think of this post?We love your feedback! |