Despite steady gas hikes, the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra still enjoy significant popularity, which may lead people to think that any automaker can succeed with any type of pickup truck. Unfortunately, that's not the case, as Honda is in the process of phasing out the Ridgeline within two years.
Sales have been plummeting for quite some time, especially in 2011, while similar products from the competition keep rising or remain stable. Look at the numbers:
Honda Ridgeline
Chevrolet Avalanche
Toyota Tundra
Nissan Titan
The fact that the Honda Ridgeline has received little to no changes since its 2005 introduction certainly played a part in the decline.
On paper, this midsize pickup offers plenty of value, including all-wheel drive, 1,500-lb payload and 5,000-lb towing capacities, plus Honda's trademark reliability. A large number of consumers should be attracted to dealer showrooms.
But in reality, unorthodox styling dooms the Ridgeline from the start. The Chevrolet Avalanche boasts a similar design, yet it fares much better than its Japanese rival.
One has to wonder: is there a future for pickup trucks at Honda? Based on conversations with industry sources, the answer is yes. A smaller model derived from the 2012 CR-V platform is reportedly under consideration.
Source: Automotive News
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| Photo: Honda |
Sales have been plummeting for quite some time, especially in 2011, while similar products from the competition keep rising or remain stable. Look at the numbers:
Honda Ridgeline
- 2011 sales (January through August): 989 units (124/month)
- Same period in 2010: 2,240 units
- Base MSRP: $34,990
Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2011 sales (January through August): 2,436 units (304/month)
- Same period in 2010: 2,474 units
- Base MSRP: $42,480
Toyota Tundra
- 2011 sales (January through August): 4,497 units (562/month)
- Same period in 2010: 5,310 units
- Base MSRP: $26,195
Nissan Titan
- 2011 sales (January through August): 1,762 units (220/month)
- Same period in 2010: 1,199 units
- Base MSRP: $33,848
The fact that the Honda Ridgeline has received little to no changes since its 2005 introduction certainly played a part in the decline.
On paper, this midsize pickup offers plenty of value, including all-wheel drive, 1,500-lb payload and 5,000-lb towing capacities, plus Honda's trademark reliability. A large number of consumers should be attracted to dealer showrooms.
But in reality, unorthodox styling dooms the Ridgeline from the start. The Chevrolet Avalanche boasts a similar design, yet it fares much better than its Japanese rival.
One has to wonder: is there a future for pickup trucks at Honda? Based on conversations with industry sources, the answer is yes. A smaller model derived from the 2012 CR-V platform is reportedly under consideration.
Source: Automotive News