Honda Really Believes This Simple Change Will Result In A 50% Gain In Ridgeline Sales - How About You?

In 2006, the first-generation Honda Ridgeline’s first full model year, Americans acquired 50,193 Ridgelines.

Honda believes 2021’s refreshed Ridgeline will mark a return to those glory days.

The first Ridgeline’s tenure was marked by an impressive beginning, albeit impressive only by the most modest of standards. But that Ridgeline’s performance in the U.S. marketplace rapidly grew worse as sales fell consecutively in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011; sliding 81 percent over the course of a half-decade.

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Agent009 - 10/16/2020 12:31:18 PM

+2 Boost

Why oh why, do the Japanese always downplay performance in their equations?

Moo1 - 10/16/2020 12:54:29 PM

+4 Boost

I don't see it but what do I know.

PUGPROUD - 10/16/2020 1:43:16 PM

+1 Boost

To succeed in the truck market you go after the macho luxury look at me truck and/or the low price daily work horse utility truck. This truck is neither and will be a fringe player.

cidflekken - 10/16/2020 2:23:05 PM

+2 Boost

I can see where Honda is coming from here. The first Ridgeline was boxier and more trucklike. The second gen got wimpy. The grille adds the truck factor, but it needs a bit more to really make a difference in its sales. The Chevy Colorado is a good example of a mid-size trucklet done right, IMO.

mre30 - 10/16/2020 3:46:21 PM

0 Boost

Not for nothing, but I strongly believe that if the grills/front ends of ALL Hondas were simplified and made more tasteful, they would sell much better.

The front end of the Accord is especially horrific and the Pilot and even Passport are hit with the ugly stick as well!

Vette71 - 10/16/2020 4:40:15 PM

+1 Boost

The "Everything Honda makes is Rugged" commercial that is shown in the article dilutes the Ridgeline story. Makes the Ridgeline just another Honda. Everybody knows Honda means reliable. Knobby tired, 4 wheeling "rugged" is something other than Honda.

TomM - 10/16/2020 5:25:43 PM

+2 Boost

WHere?

MDarringer - 10/16/2020 5:51:00 PM

+4 Boost

The Ridgeline NEVER had glory days to begin with. It's too big to be a crossover pickup that anyone wants. It's too small a wimpy to be a real pickup. It's also much too expensive.

vdiv - 10/16/2020 7:35:25 PM

+3 Boost

And yet Honda continues to ignore the Australian market where the Ridgeline "ute" would sell.

carloslassiter - 10/16/2020 6:19:42 PM

+3 Boost

Oh God, I agree with Darringer.

MDarringer - 10/16/2020 6:38:34 PM

0 Boost

You do quite often actually.

Section_31_JTK - 10/17/2020 12:16:56 AM

+1 Boost

Wimpy is the operative word here. It's a girly truck.

MDarringer - 10/17/2020 11:40:18 AM

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What Honda should have done is to partner with someone to develop a real pickup. FCA needs an entry in the Tacoma wars for example. Honda could have inked a deal with GM. Or Hyundai-Kia. Mainstream brands need pickups in their portfolios, but to go it alone when they don't have one is usually cost prohibitive. Option one is to go to someone that has pickups and partner with them. Option 2 is to find another maker that needs a pickup and share the cost of development as well as the speed of amortization.

carloslassiter - 10/17/2020 6:06:40 PM

+3 Boost

You do quite often actually.
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On automotive topics, perhaps. But I still think you're a racist d-bag and kind of a simpleton who feels the need to constantly tell everyone how smart you are. Here's a clue: People who are actually smart don't do that.

MDarringer - 10/17/2020 7:25:09 PM

0 Boost

And I thing you're a racist eunuch that pisses himself trying to white apologize. You're bigoted and intolerant. You just don't admit it.