#ThinkingOutLoud About Why Americans Generally Don't Like Utes

The biggest difference in between utes and pickups are that utes have a passenger car chassis that has a cargo tray that’s integrated with the rest of the body; a pickup truck has it’s cargo bed separate from the rest of the body. I have a friend from Australia who says his Holden ute shares a lot in common with the Commodore wagon of the same year (one difference is a stiffer rear suspension that can carry more weight). He has also talked about how utes are more comfortable than pickup trucks, which makes sense, utes are more focused on daily driving. However, modern pickup trucks are rather comfortable for the vehicles that they are, leaf springs and all.

The Honda Ridgeline is the closest thing America has to a ute, and it's not all that popular...

In a country where a diesel truck that weighs almost 4 tons is considered manly, it shouldn’t be surprised that what is basically a Honda Pilot with a pickup bed is considered girly. The ironic thing is that a good percentage of truck drivers in the USA could do just fine with a ute, so why do many Americans drive pickup trucks? Crash safety is one of them, some think of vehicle to vehicle collisions and the fact that in a head on collision the heavier car tends to have a less drastic change in inertia than the lighter cars; “the guy with the most lugnuts wins.” People also like the high ground clearance and seating position that pickup trucks have as well as optional 4WD. While some utes do have 4WD, it’s much easier to find a 4WD pickup than a 4WD ute.

In conclusion, Americans don’t like utes for several reasons. Pickup truck buyers are very loyal and are an established part of car sales. They feel safer in a big pickup because of greater inertia. US citizens like the behemoth and masculine nature of pickups that utes don’t have as much. “It’s better have something and not need it than to need something and not have it.”