Page 71 - 2019 Auto Show Guide

Pickup trucks are increasingly becoming family vehicles, power a TV or other appliances. On the family-safety side of
vehicles being purchased by women, more and more. The the equation, the Chevrolet Teen Driver system enables parents
number of women who registered full-sized pickups increased to set the vehicle’s speed and audio limits for younger family
67 percent from 2008 to 2016, totaling more than 470,000 members, while Nissan’s Titan has a New Rear Door Alert
trucks (HIS Markit). Some have put the figure as high as 11 system, which helps remind drivers to check the back seat after
percent of truck-buying consumers as female. RAM Trucks, a the vehicle is parked.
very traditional truck brand, recognized this shift and started
marketing to women with ads that featured accomplished Additionally, today’s family-friendly trucks offer active safety
women such as singer Miranda Lambert, race horse jockey equipment such as pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise
Rosie Napravnik and outdoorsman Eva Shockey. control, lane departure and forward collision warning…just
some of the features more at home in the suburbs than on
As consumer demographics have changed, so have the the job site. All of these elements, combined with interior and
trucks. In addition to heavy-duty models that have been the exterior styling enhancements, make modern trucks worthy
workhorses-of-choice for decades, there are light-duty options contenders on the field of family-vehicle competition.
and city-friendly trucks such as the Chevrolet Colorado, the
Honda Ridgeline, Nissan’s Frontier, Ford’s Ranger, Toyota’s
Tacoma, and more.

A quick look at the trucks on the floor of the Atlanta International
Auto Show will illustrate how they are becoming the family
vehicle of choice with larger and more comfortable seats,
offering a safer, quieter and more luxurious ride. Today’s trucks
offer such family friendly features as rear-seat USB chargers,
perfect for kids using iPads, multi-lane climate control and
touch screen infotainment systems.

The Toyota Tacoma offers a built-in GoPro camera to help
record all those family adventures, while the Honda
Ridgeline has features perfect for tailgating and
family camping, such as lockable storage
to keep valuables safe, a bed-mounted
cooler, bed-located audio system,
and a power outlet that can

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