Readers have plenty of ideas for automakers that don’t currently sell pickups: a revived Mitsubishi Mighty Max, a compact Mazda, a Lexus-flavored Toyota truck, even a John Deere pickup. These are reader proposals, not announced products or confirmed plans.
Why readers want more brands to build trucks
Peter Vieira opened his October 1, 2026, article for The Autopian with a broad argument: “Every brand should have a truck, I say. At least a ute.” The prompt asked, “What Brands Should Making Pickup Trucks Right Now That Aren’t?” The replies ranged from plausible small-pickup ideas to concepts that are mostly playful.
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The suggestions are opinions, not product news. The discussion supplies no manufacturer plans, specifications, prices, towing or payload figures, reliability comparisons, or sales data for the proposed trucks.
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The pickup ideas readers put forward
Mitsubishi: revive the Mighty Max
Several readers proposed that Mitsubishi bring back the Mighty Max name or develop another small pickup. One commenter also recalled the L-series as a model family that was well liked overseas. That is the commenter’s recollection; the article does not independently document the L-series’ history or reception.
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Mazda: return to compact pickups
Readers called for Mazda to re-enter the small-pickup market. One, OrigamiSensei, wrote, “Those Mazda B2000 and B2200 pickups were awesome,” then described owning a B2200. In that reader’s account, the truck handled household pickup tasks and was economical and reliable enough for commuting. It is a personal ownership story, not a general reliability assessment.
Another commenter suggested a truck about the size of the Ford Maverick, rather than a larger pickup. The appeal in these comments is a vehicle that could serve both everyday household needs and commuting, without assuming that buyers need a full-size truck.
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Lexus: give a Toyota pickup a luxury treatment
One reader imagined a Lexus-upgraded Tacoma or Tundra. The idea is a luxury-brand take on an existing Toyota pickup rather than a wholly separate truck concept.
Other commenters invoked Lincoln’s Blackwood, including its carpeted bed, and earlier Lincoln and Cadillac pickup efforts as cautionary examples. The discussion does not provide attributable sales figures or documentary evidence for its characterization of those efforts as failures, so it cannot establish how well they performed commercially.
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John Deere: a truck from an agricultural brand
A commenter argued that John Deere might be able to translate its design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, support, and brand recognition into a pickup. That is a hypothetical case made by a reader—not a Deere announcement or an independently verified assessment of the company’s readiness to build passenger vehicles.
How the proposed trucks differ
| Concept | Scale or brand angle | Use or rationale in the comments | What the discussion does not establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Mighty Max or new small pickup | Compact; revive a familiar name or create a small truck | Readers want Mitsubishi back in the pickup conversation | Whether Mitsubishi plans one, or any specifications, price, or availability |
| Mazda compact pickup | Compact; a Maverick-sized proposal is one reader’s reference point | Household hauling and commuting in one reader’s B2200 ownership account | General reliability, performance, towing, payload, or a Mazda product plan |
| Lexus-upgraded Tacoma or Tundra | Luxury treatment of a Toyota pickup | A reader’s imagined premium alternative | Whether such a model would exist, its price, or its market prospects |
| John Deere pickup | Agricultural-brand concept | A commenter believes Deere’s capabilities and brand could translate to a truck | Deere’s intentions or independently assessed vehicle-manufacturing capability |
Would a pickup be the best vehicle for the job?
Not every commenter agreed that private owners need a pickup. Some argued that a wagon with an opening rear window or roof bars could handle many personal hauling tasks. Others pointed to vans, which can keep cargo out of sight and protect it from weather, and to minivans or small hybrid and electric vans.
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Those are suggested alternatives, not results from comparative tests. The right body style depends on the cargo and how it needs to travel: an open bed may suit some loads, while an enclosed wagon or van may be a better fit when covering or concealing cargo matters. The comments do not compare capacity, cost, or performance among these options.
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The strongest recurring theme is a desire for more compact pickups that can do ordinary household jobs without being framed as large work trucks. The other proposals—luxury versions, an agricultural-brand truck, or a return of a specific nameplate—show how broadly readers interpret the prompt. None should be mistaken for a confirmed vehicle program.
Read Peter Vieira’s original article and comments at The Autopian.
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