A TFL reader reached out saying we must always name out Ford, GM and different automakers for killing common cab midsize vehicles within the U.S.
The newest crop of midsize vehicles is rising, with Ford and Common Motors the primary to strike with their new Ranger and Colorado/Canyon, respectively. One explicit TFLtruck reader voiced his dismay, although, at the truth that neither of those vehicles appear to have an prolonged cab model within the works for the U.S. market. For reference, the truck proven above is an Australian-spec Ford Ranger in base configuration, however rumor has it this is not going to translate right into a 2024 mannequin you’ll have the ability to purchase from an American Ford seller. From right here on out, it seems, you should buy a crew cab or nothing in any respect.
So, what provides? Here’s what our good friend Craig needed to say on the matter (barely up to date for formatting functions):
“TFL and different media shops must be telling Ford and GM loud and clear. The midsize market needs prolonged/SuperCab truck variations.
No 2023 Colorado/Canyon prolonged cab. Rumor is 2024 Ranger will solely be a SuperCrew as nicely. Everyone seems to be following the poor selection made by Jeep. Or worse, making an attempt to supply Ridgelines!
So, smaller truck consumers are pressured to contemplate barebones full-size monsters with a daily cab…it’s loopy! Larger is NOT higher. Even the 2017 Colorado midsize prolonged cab is as massive because the ’90s common cab full-size vehicles. And these 4-door (no mattress house) new midsizers are a joke on the identify pickup truck.”
My ideas: Most of you guys *don’t* need prolonged cab vehicles.
First off, massive thanks for sending in your e-mail. Should you guys wish to attain out with different questions or feedback, please be happy to shoot us a message at [email protected].
Second, I’ll danger getting flamed right here to supply my response to that tackle midsize vehicles: No, most of you don’t need prolonged cabs.
That’s to not say I don’t fully perceive and even personally agree with the place Craig is coming from. To my thoughts, extra selection within the truck market is all the time an important factor, and folk who don’t need or want the additional inside house ought to have the ability to go for a shorter cab and longer mattress.
Hassle is, I strategy this argument the identical manner I do arguments for extra handbook transmissions over on TFLcar.com. Loads of of us say they need handbook transmissions, however comparatively few truly comply with by and purchase them. Now, you would put forth the chicken-and-egg argument that folks purchase crew cabs as a result of they haven’t any different possibility. To some extent, although, maybe it comes right down to a stone-cold calculation that sufficient individuals didn’t purchase the common cab/prolonged cab vehicles once they had been provided.
Have in mind, we’re speaking about main automakers right here whose driving motivation — as with all enterprise — is to show as a lot revenue as attainable. You do yield increased revenue margins by funneling individuals into dearer crew cab vehicles, granted, but when there may be sturdy sufficient demand for a sure kind of car, automakers could bend to sufficient voices throwing sufficient money round. Some firm fleets, for instance, order common cab half-ton and heavy-duty vehicles.
However common, retail consumers? Not a lot, at the least based mostly on the anecdotal proof. An enormous variety of individuals purchase vehicles as on a regular basis drivers, and as such need a Swiss Military Knife. They need a truck that may do all the things: Drive to work, take the youngsters to highschool or the household on trip, haul your gear (or provides to a job web site), go off-road if it’s a 4×4 and tow no matter you intend on bringing alongside. Put all these elements into the enterprise mannequin, and also you wind up with what we have now: Crew cab vehicles.
Unhappy for some, however true?
Once more, that’s simply my tackle the scenario. I’ve many people attain out saying they need a row-your-own possibility for his or her subsequent automobile. However what? The overwhelming majority of American consumers don’t, and within the calculus of mass manufacturing, automakers have largely determined that the few who do aren’t well worth the vital funding it takes to cater to their needs. On the entire, you guys don’t purchase them, so it doesn’t make monetary sense for the producers to develop and construct them.
You might have considered trying an prolonged cab or common cab midsize truck, however until 1000’s of oldsters right here loudly agree with that, I don’t suppose Ford or GM or another automaker will transfer on a swivel to make it occur.
Nonetheless, I believed this was an fascinating query and needed to open up a discussion board for you guys to voice your opinions. Should you suppose I’m being an entire fool right here, that’s effective. I do truly just like the Honda Ridgeline, for what that’s value. For the sake of selection (and value), I form of hope I’m incorrect on this one.
I needed to work again by our archive to seek out the form of smaller, midsize truck in query, and it’s the now-defunct D40 Nissan Frontier. You can nonetheless get the brand new D41 Frontier as an prolonged cab, although!