The infamous Chicken Tax made the news recently when it was announced that the Ineos Grenadier Pickup Truck would be hit with this 59-year-old 25% tariff. The impact is quite severe, as the base Ineos Grenadier (not subject to the tax) starts at $71,500, while the pickup truck, known as the Quartermaster, has an entry-level MSRP of $86,900. That makes it more expensive than the Ford F-150 Raptor, which is the current king of the truck hill, and that’s before you even factor in America’s loyalty to the F-Series brand.

The Quartermaster’s tax penalty got us thinking about all the pickup trucks America is missing out on. We’ve covered this topic before, but that was a few years ago, and a few cool pickup trucks have been launched since. But before we get to our top 5 list of trucks America can’t have because of the Chicken Tax, let’s just quickly discuss what it is for our younger readers.

1

What Does The Chicken Tax Have To Do With Chickens?

President Lyndon Johnson imposed a 25% import duty on imported light commercial vehicles, which had become more popular in America. This newfound popularity and a drop in American-made sales was not the main reason why, but it did play a role. Trucks weren’t the only thing Americans were good at producing in the early ’60s. American farmers produced so many chickens that they could afford to export them to Europe and sell them for cheaper than European chicken farmers could. Because of that, the Europeans put a tax on imported American chicken.

The same was happening in the USA, but with cars. European manufacturers like Volkswagen were producing Beetles and Type 2 vans at a rapid rate, which made them cheaper in America than their equivalent American rivals. The various countries met for a summit but could not reach an agreement and, in response, President Johnson implemented a 25% import tax on light trucks, potatoes, and brandy. Light trucks are the only products still subject to this tax.

Because of this, Americans have lost out on some sublime trucks, including the famous Toyota Hilux, the Mitsubishi Triton, and even smaller workhorse trucks like the Ford Bantam. These are just a few historical examples, but let’s take a closer look at more recent LCVs we can’t have.

2

Toyota Hilux Champ: Tiny Pickup With A Workhorse Heart

You thought we were going to include the Hilux, but why would we? We know from the history of the Toyota 4Runner that Toyota wanted to make a clear separation between its American and third-world products. From the third generation onward, the 4Runner ditched the Hilux platform and moved over to the Land Cruiser Prado’s underpinnings. That same year, it also introduced the Tacoma, which was a more upmarket Hilux. Most Americans who want a Hilux would probably be put off by it within 10 miles.

Related

40 Years Of 4Runner: A History Of Toyota’s Iconic Off-Roader

The Toyota 4Runner is 40 years old, so it’s time to look back at the history of this beloved model.

The Toyota we really want is the new Hilux Champ, which is the most honest workhorse we’ve seen in decades. You can choose between a 2.0-liter or 2.7-liter four-cylinder gas engine, or a 2.4-liter diesel. The power is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The gear lever is the fanciest thing you’ll find in the cabin, which doesn’t even include a tachometer. The best thing about the Hilux Champ is that Toyota designed it to be modular. It’s available in two wheelbases, and there are more than 100 accredited accessory manufacturers. As a light work truck, last-mile delivery vehicle, or a cheap camper, it would be an epic addition to Toyota’s fleet. In Thailand, it sells for $13,000, but once you add tax, transport costs, and all the required safety equipment required in the USA, it would be priced on par with the base Ford Maverick.

While we don’t get the Hilux Champ, rumors refuse to go away that Toyota is keen on rebooting the Stout nameplate for America.

3

Volkswagen Amarok: A Ranger In A (Much) Fancier Suit

It’s no secret that Ford and Volkswagen have been working together for years, but only one product that has come from this relationship has reached the USA. It’s the all-new Ford Ranger, and it’s not subject to the Chicken Tax because it’s built in the USA.

The all-new Volkswagen Amarok is arguably more handsome, but it’s built in South Africa alongside its Ranger cousin. Although the two trucks share the same underpinnings and engines, the Amarok is the more elegant of the two. On the inside, the shared infotainment is a bit annoying, but the Amarok does get model-specific items like a high-end Harman Kardon sound system, VW’s famous Digital Cockpit, and a few more upmarket trim pieces. We’re not entirely sure that there would have been many American takers, but it would have been nice to have an alternative to the Ranger.

4

Mitsubishi Triton: The Car Mitsubishi Desperately Needs

Looking at Mitsubishi’s current range is depressing. There’s nothing there that’s not either horribly outdated or thoroughly trounced by the competition. The Outlander Plug-In Hybrid used to have an entire segment all to itself, but other automakers have caught on, which means it has lost its unique selling point. The all-new Mitsubishi Triton could fix all that. It’s currently only available with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel, but there are many gas engines available within the Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi Alliance.

What we like most is the aggressive design and upmarket interior. Mitsubishi also added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a forward collision prevention system, which means it already has all the safety equipment needed to qualify for an American visa.

5

GWM Poer LTD: Dumb Name, Excellent Off-Roader

The Great Wall Motors (GWM) Poer (it’s supposed to be pronounced “power”) doesn’t seem all that special at first glance. It’s a generic ladder-frame-based pickup truck, but the really special bits are underneath. The engine is a weak 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged diesel, but the power is sent to a part-time four-wheel drive system via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s the same gearbox BMW uses.

Think of the Poer LTD as a half-price Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. It’s equipped with off-road-biased rubber, various driving modes, and, crucially, locking differentials front and rear. Having lockers front and rear makes an off-roader nearly unstoppable, especially when dealing with rocks or axle twisters.

6

Isuzu D-Max: Colorado’s Cousin From Japan

The Isuzu D-Max (or KB as it was marketed in some regions) formerly had relevance in the USA as General Motors had a working agreement with Isuzu that led to the Chevrolet Colorado sharing underpinnings with the last generation. That deal is no longer in place, however, and there’s a new D-Max out in the rest of the world that rides well, handles brilliantly, and looks pretty great too. We’d argue that the Colorado and GMC Canyon twins look even better – so maybe General Motors made the right move – but variety is the spice of life and all that, so we still feel like the Isuzu D-Max is a midsize truck we’re missing out on. What we don’t miss is the 1.9-liter diesel engine, producing 148 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

While GM trucks no longer share anything with Isuzu models, the Mazda BT-50 now does – but while that may be one of the better-looking pickups, it misses out on an official spot on this list because it has the worst suspension of any pickup truck from the last 15 years.

7

BONUS: Suzuki Jimny Pick Up

Suzuki pulled a semi-cruel move on its fans in April this year. It teased the Jimny single-cab pickup truck (red truck above), but we think there’s more to it. If you look at the history of the Jimny (even before it received that name), there were already pickups in the range. But this wasn’t the first we’d heard of a Jimny pickup for the current model, as Suzuki itself released a concept called the Jimny Sierra Pickup Style at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2018. That never entered production, but what did was a conversion in New Zealand, sanctioned by Suzuki, with a flat-deck rear-end.

While history supports the notion of a Jimny pickup being plausible, the reality is it’s highly unlikely, as the cost vs practicality argument makes such a truck extremely unviable in almost any circumstance.