# SUVs and western names **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2016, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584 "2016-10-15T08:19:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/1 "2016-10-15T08:19:07Z")
I have a hypothesis that whenever marketers of pickup trucks or SUVs are stumped for a model name, they get out a big map of the western North America and throw darts at it. Evidence for this theory is the following list of model names: [ul] [li]Chrysler Aspen[/li][li]Subaru Baja[/li][li]Kia Borrego (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is near San Diego)[/li][li]Chevy Cheyenne[/li][li]Chevy Colorado[/li][li]Doge Dakota[/li][li]GMC Denali[/li][li]Dodge Durango[/li][li]Škoda Kodiaq[/li][li]Ram Laramie[/li][li]Kia Mohave[/li][li]Pontiac Montana[/li][li]Buick Rainier[/li][li]Hyundai Santa Fe[/li][li]Chevy Scottsdale[/li][li]Kia Sedona[/li][li]GMC Sierra[/li][li]Chevy Silverado[/li][li]GMC Sonoma[/li][li]Toyota Tacoma[/li][li]Chevy Tahoe[/li][li]Hyundai Tucson[/li][li]Hyundai Veracruz[/li][li]GMC Yukon[/li][/ul] OK, not all SUV/pickups with geographic names are from the west. There’s the GMC Acadia and the Subaru Tribeca where their darts went off course. And a couple from other continents: Porsche Cayenne and Nissan Murano. But still, most of the data points to my dart theory. Overlapping with this list are vehicles named for Indian tribes. In fact, due to various reservations and counties, all of those could have been in the above list, although I only included a couple. Here’s that list: [ul] [li]Chevy Apache[/li][li]Jeep Cherokee[/li][li]Chevy Cheyenne[/li][li]Dodge Dakota[/li][li]Mazda Navajo[/li][/ul] Please note that I excluded non-pickups/SUVs (e.g. Chevy Malibu, Mercury Monterey) from the lists. So did I miss any from either list? ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/2 "2016-10-15T10:31:50Z")
I think the Dodge Ram trucks would fit in this category. It references an animal that most associate with the west. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/3 "2016-10-15T10:48:23Z")
We could do a whole animal thing too… Ram Mustang Impala Cougar Pinto Bronco Beetle Jaguar Viper ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/4 "2016-10-15T11:11:52Z")
Then there is the Ford F- series. Off the map completely. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/5 "2016-10-15T13:27:17Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > Then there is the Ford F- series. Off the map completely. But they still call the better trim lines things like “Lariat” and “King Ranch.” ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/6 "2016-10-15T13:47:14Z")
Well, it doesn’t take branding genius to see that the light truck/SUV market likes to believe in vague notions of open road, open space, freedom, blue skies, yadda yadda yadda, and all of that adds up to “The West.” I don’t think a Chevy “42nd Avenue” or a Dodge “Levittown” would get much traction even if the vehicle spent its working life within those locales. We’ll leave the Suburban out of this. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/7 "2016-10-15T13:51:22Z")
Naw, they don’t throw darts at a map. If they did, they’d eventually hit Enumclaw or Muleshoe or Gilroy. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/8 "2016-10-15T14:38:07Z")
I suppose the Chevy Avalanche could be considered western. For tribal names, there’s the Volkswagen Touareg, named for the West African tribe, and the unfortunate Pontiac Aztec. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/9 "2016-10-15T18:44:02Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > We could do a whole animal thing too… > > Ram > Mustang > Impala > Cougar > Pinto > Bronco > Beetle > Jaguar > Viper [Borrego](http://dle.rae.es/?id=5vqk0hY), in Spanish: 1, a lamb that’s one or two years old. Also 2, sheeple. 3, simpleton. 4, fluffy white cloud. 5 (dictionary says Mexico but we use it in Spain as well and I imagine other places) sheepskin-lined jacket ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/10 "2016-10-15T20:52:20Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > We could do a whole animal thing too… > > Ram > Mustang > Impala > Cougar > Pinto > Bronco > Beetle > Jaguar > Viper Cobra Dodge Super Bee Hudson Hornet AMC Eagle Studebaker Silver (and Golden) Hawk Ford Falcon ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/11 "2016-10-15T21:08:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Dodge Super Bee Points for knowing why it’s named that. (I do, and I’m not even a Mopar guy…) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/12 "2016-10-15T21:11:16Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > I think the Dodge Ram trucks would fit in this category. It references an animal that most associate with the west. Actually, Ram has been converted from a model name to a make. For example the Ram Laramie in my list. > [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > " I don’t think a Chevy “42nd Avenue” or a Dodge “Levittown” would get much traction even if the vehicle spent its working life within those locales. But there’s the Subaru Tribeca, which may have been named for that reason. Or maybe it’s aimed at people who want to move to Tribeca. > [@](#): > > We’ll leave the Suburban out of this. 😃 Someone (Dave Barry?) made the suggestion that they should name it the Suburban Subdivision, because it’s as big as one. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/13 "2016-10-15T21:30:41Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Naw, they don’t throw darts at a map. If they did, they’d eventually hit Enumclaw or Muleshoe or Gilroy. Or even Moose Jaw. I can see it now, the Cadillac Moose Jaw. Really brings in the customers. Then again, maybe they just throw darts until they get a name they like. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/14 "2016-10-15T21:57:39Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Actually, Ram has been converted from a model name to a make. For example the Ram Laramie in my list. Ram? I thought that was a uterus! 🙂 > [@](#): > > But there’s the Subaru Tribeca, which may have been named for that reason. Or maybe it’s aimed at people who want to move to Tribeca. It’s a minivan, which is stretching “SUV” a bit. And it’s, inexplicably, the “Tribeca B-9” or something like that, even though it’s the only model in the line. > [@](#): > > Someone (Dave Barry?) made the suggestion that they should name it the Suburban Subdivision, because it’s as big as one. Someone - maybe Dave Barry, if not SF Chron cartoonist Meyer, suggested the next Ford in the series be named the Evacuation. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/15 "2016-10-15T23:09:32Z")
And of course the Jeep Wrangler and the Suzuki Sidekick which are western characters. And the Rodeo. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/16 "2016-10-15T23:14:59Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I don’t think a Chevy “42nd Avenue” or a Dodge “Levittown” would get much traction even if the vehicle spent its working life within those locales. Yeah, Chrysler reserved the 5th Avenue for its mini-limo. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/17 "2016-10-15T23:23:58Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > But they still call the better trim lines things like “Lariat” and “King Ranch.” Yes even on the GM line, the trim lines were the basis for the current names. While some early sixties chevy trucks were badged “Apache” that was not the “model” For a long time the trim levels were as follows: Custom -\> Custom Deluxe -\> Cheyenne In the mid 70’s they followed a common practice of kicking the trim lines down one notch, while also introducing a “top level” work truck trim level named “Scottsdale” Custom Deluxe -\> Scottsdale -\> Cheyenne -\> Silverado I think that as the name Silverado was the “preferred” version they just changed the name of the line to the Silverado as trucks marketing moved from a utilitarian tool to a lifestyle indicator. Ford, as the F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle for over three decades, would most likely take a huge risk by implementing a branding change. The aspiration to gain more of a foothold in that market was probably the driver for a lot of GMs rebranding efforts. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/18 "2016-10-16T03:01:13Z")
Can you name the truck with 4WD that smells like steak and seats 35? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/19 "2016-10-16T06:59:23Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Can you name the truck with 4WD that smells like steak and seats 35? It’s forty feet long and two lanes wide! Sixty-seven tons of American pride! Canyonero! ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584/20 "2016-10-16T08:12:00Z")
No, I do not think that darts were involved. As has been pointer out, you could end up with names like Wagon Tire, Dead Horse, Lost cow, or even Broken Axle. Few of these would be good choices. Of course if darts are involved, there would be some kind of vetting going on to weed out such names. Hmmmmm. Well OK, maybe darts were involved. I know it will come as a surprise to some of you from “Back East” that most folks actually would like to be portrayed as a cowboy, or a cowgirl, or at least “Western”. I know that some of you-all can not imagine being away from your “civilization”, big cities, etc. Those of you that think this way are not the demographics that Pickup & SUV manufacturers are targeting with these names. You are not going to buy an SUV anyway. You have almost no need for one. OK, some of you could use the four wheel drive for the winter months. However, along with the “civilization” comes plowed streets & parking lots, or at least it should. Good snow tires & front wheel drive will go a long ways there. My wife & I own a Buick Park Avenue. While I am Western, I like the ride of the Buick for the long road trips to the beach from here in Colorado. So, unless I need a truck, we take it. The Park Avenue name does not bother me at all, I would have bought a similar car no matter what the name as I want one for the comfort. I bet that the “civilized” folks feel the same way about the “western” names on their pickups & SUVs. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-and-western-names/768584.md?page=2)