Does Your State Love Pickup Trucks? New Study Reveals Surprises

America’s best-selling vehicles are pickup trucks, so it’s no wonder to learn that consumers in all 50 states are enjoying the utility and luxury that the workhorses of the automotive industry provide. Studies show that pickup trucks account for nearly 17 percent of all vehicles on the road, but don’t think for even a second that the distribution is spread equally across the country.

A new study by iSeeCars.com, an online automotive search and research website, reveals which states are infatuated with pickups and which states would instead stick with passenger cars and SUVs.

Not surprisingly, Wyoming (37.1% of registrations are pickups), Montana (34.7%), and North Dakota (31.6%) round out the top three. These states have “plenty of unpaved roads, rugged terrain, and harsh winters, all of which require off-road and foul-weather capability,” explains iSeeCars.

At the bottom of the list are New Jersey (8.2%), Connecticut (10.6%), and Maryland (11.3%). These states are more congested, most roads are paved, and they are coastal — except for Illinois, the ten states with the lowest shares of pickup trucks are all coastal states, notes iSeeCars.

Early pickup trucks were designed to be functional, as they targeted workers. They had vinyl-covered bench seats, manual windows, and an AM/FM radio — luxuries and amenities were rare. Then, automakers began marketing more upscale pickups with luxury vehicle appointments, and regular consumers embraced them. Even better, automakers found they could charge a lot more money for this new pickup class. “The increased refinement and luxury of modern trucks are absolutely adding to their sales and their rising prices. Trucks have always been flexible in the wide range of uses they provide, but now they are adding luxury accommodations to their pedigree, making them even more capable of addressing a wide spectrum of needs,” says Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.

Automakers are also addressing fuel economy — the Achilles Heel of a big heavy pickup — with hybrid and electric powertrains. “Electric drivetrains make a lot of sense for trucks, as the instant torque helps trucks haul and tow, and the large battery pack can be leveraged to power tools at remote worksites,” remarks Brauer. “But electric trucks also suffer substantial drops in range when they are used to do truck things, somewhat offsetting the advantages offered by electricity. Electric vehicles also cost more than equivalent gasoline vehicles, further limiting their appeal to many truck buyers. I think trucks utilized for consistent, short-range driving routes make sense as electric vehicles. But many consumer and fleet users will see the range limitations and charge times as obstacles in EV truck consideration.”

Looking towards the future, we can expect the distribution of pickup trucks to equalize across the country as consumers find the utility, ride height, and ease of driving in traffic alluring. And, now that pickups are as luxuriously appointed as premium sedans and fuel-efficient offerings are capturing more market share, the appeal of the pickup truck will only increase in areas traditionally dominated by sedans and SUVs.