Real talk,

1.) USemissions laws state that cars have much stricter emissions standards than SUVs and pick up trucks. Manufacturers have made the pickup truck more attractive to buyers for this reason.

2.) its easy to upsell a lot of Americans on a pickup truck because a lot of Americans want to do DIY handiwork or can be sold on the virtues of the safety of a pickup truck in the result of a crash... people driving the most dangerous vehicles are ironically the most fearful of the road.

3.) Design in other vehicle classes has stagnated. Every year I see more cars only available in Europe that I'd love to have, but can't.

4.) They last longer, so they stay on the road longer too.

5.) Renting cars and trucks is generally annoying. Getting large items shipped is becoming more expensive.

Trucks = Testosterone, and men here have such fragile senses of masculinity that they need to be constantly reinforcing how manly they are in every aspect of their lives

A ton of the population seems to think that if your on the smaller side of the scale, a macho truck will compensate for that. If microscopic, then mod it to roll coal.

There's a fraction that actually use their trucks for truck things, but the vaaaaaaast majority are mall crawlers that will run to the car wash at the mere sight of a puddle of water.

Not speaking for the whole country, obviously, but for me, my next vehicle (after my current compact crossover) will likely be a midsize pickup.

My reasoning is basically that I have hobbies which will be made easier by having the cargo options the pickup format allows for.

I can more easily transport bikes and kayaks, camping and fishing gear with a pickup. It'll also be better for hauling stuff from the hardware store, and it'll mean I don't have to borrow my dad's pickup for deer hunting if he's not going along.

I may also get a small fishing boat in the future, and if that happens, it'll be to be transported on a trailer, which will be towed more effectively by the pickup.

I will definitely miss the great fuel economy I enjoy now, but the pickup will make it much more convenient and enjoyable to do many of the things I frequently do.

NotJustBikes made an explanation of the history