One of these pulled up at my workplace today and I can not get over how stupid they look and that got me thinking, who thought making a shittier version of an Odyssey was a good idea.
This thing can't be useful as a truck, can't seat as many as a van, costs $50k and burns more gas then an Odyssey (10l/100km hwy vs 8l/100km hwy). Does anyone who drives these things think they are hot shit?
I bought one and while I with they had a version that was compact sized instead of midsized, your hot take is terrible.
It is expensive, but my cars prior to it were a used 1992 Civic si I owned from 2001 till 2014, then I drove our 2005 Camry from 2014 till Dec 2022.
When buying a new car I wanted two primary things: a decent AWD ride and a bed I could put nasty stuff in and hose out after, like mulch and dirt. Something that did not work with enclosed spaces. I tried a few light trucks and they handled poorly or seemed cheaply made. The Tacoma has apparently needed to continue growing and is almost a full size now, too tall. The Ridgeline was the smallest one that seemed well made, had a decent ride, and has a bed I could hose out.
It sits lower than other trucks, so I generally feel small compared to other trucks. No idea why you think it is huge. Don't think I am hot shit, just someone who couldn't find a well made light truck and settled for the closest thing.
On a side note, it works perfectly fine as a truck and nobody buys trucks to seat 8 people.
A new Transit (at it's smallest) in North America would be...
12" taller
10" longer
3" wider
$6,000 more expensive comparing base sticker prices (Cargo)
$11,000 more expensive comparing base sticker prices (Passenger)
Use 20-30% more fuel (using Fuelly data to estimate)
This is what grinds my gears about people saying to get a minivan instead of a mid-size crossover - yes I get ego is something to get past but MINIVAN'S ARE 80" WIDE THESE DAYS.
In fact, if that person bought an Odyssey instead of a Ridgeline, they'd net a total difference of five inches of length.
Yes, as has been pointed out buying an Odyssey would have been better, not that the Odyssey is good (also hate the enbiggening of minivans). I think people buying ridgelines are driving them empty and without passagers (like almost all trucks in north america), but are trying to justify having a truck. This thing is basically the "just the tip" of trucks.
If you have use of a truck bed, you likely are not buying this. If you think you would like the option of a truck bed then you are likely buying this.
Honestly I would love a compact fully electric or hybrid truck that gets better mileage but rides the same as a car with a bed in the back. A two seater or with a short back seat to load stuff in the cab so it is shorter would be even better!
I like the idea of a smaller and less expensive light truck and hope they are successful!
Local dealers didn't have one in stock to test drive when I was looking, I don't like buying the first year of a new or completely overhauled model. I also don't trust Ford to make a vehicle that I can rely on for 10+ years.
With Toyota's success with the Prius I was hoping for a hybrid Tacoma, but they only went hybrid with the Tundra (the bigger one).