Japanese Trucks

If you are on a research to find yourself the best truck, here are some basic features you should consider before making the big decision.

Engines and Fuel economy
Mostly compact mini pick-up trucks comes with a four cylinder engine which is the most fuel efficient but some model do offer the options of five, six, or eight cylinder engines which no doubt provide a powerful, smooth, and quiet ride. Full sized trucks are typically fitted with a V6 engine which is both, powerful and fuel efficient. But if the purpose is to carry huge cargo or heavy hauling or towing then more power is required. In that case a V8 or a diesel engine is more appropriate.

Rear-wheel Drive
Traditionally, you have two options – 4WD and AWD. A Four-Wheel Drive allows the all four wheels of the truck to receive torque from the engine all at the same time. A 4WD allows the driver to switch between the two-wheel drive mode for normal roads and four-wheel drive mode when you have to face ice, mud, snow, etc. on the road. In an AWD you don’t have the option of a two wheel drive mode and thus it is appropriate for dry roads.

Towing Capacity
One should always buy a truck keeping in mind how much capacity he/she want in a truck. Overloading a truck always leads to accidents. So one should be clear about the towing capacity he/she is looking for in a truck. A compact mini pick-up truck can tow 4,000 pound or more whereas a heavy-duty full sized truck is capable of towing 8,000 pounds or more.

Cab
There are three basic body styles for a truck; regular cab, extended cab and crew cab. A regular cab can seat up to three adults, an extended cab adds more space for storage and can accommodate three passengers, and a crew cab truck can comfortably accommodate five to six passengers.

Safety Features
Initially the compact mini pick-up trucks used to perform poorly in the crash tests but now the new pick-up trucks have lap and shoulder belts even in the front centre position and top-tether and lower LATCH attachments in rear seats. But you won’t find LATCH attachment in heavy duty trucks. But you will find curtain style air bags that cover the front and rear side windows.