After months of rumors about Honda’s plans to build a proper body-on-frame pickup, the automaker has finally confirmed plans to build such a vehicle in collaboration with Mitsubishi. The two brands have officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a Honda pickup to be based on the Mitsubishi Triton, a midsized pickup sold in markets like Australia, Japan, and Brazil. Honda also confirmed the arrival date for the new model, which would mark the brand’s first modern body-on-frame truck.
Honda’s Answer To The Hilux
Mitsubishi
While the Toyota Tacoma is Honda’s dedicated midsize pickup in the U.S., the big-selling Hilux fills that role in many other markets, and it’s this vehicle that will be one of the new Honda’s key rivals.
Back in July, a top Toyota executive urged Japan’s automakers to increase collaboration to reduce costs, improve efficiencies, and better compete with intensifying competition from Chinese automakers. That’s precisely what Honda and Mitsubishi are doing as they get to work on developing the new pickup.
“Through this collaboration, Honda will add a pickup truck model to its lineup primarily in the ASEAN market, where it does not currently offer pickup truck models, enabling Honda to enhance its product lineup quickly and efficiently in the market,” said Honda in a statement. “Meanwhile, this collaboration will enable Mitsubishi Motors to increase production volume and improve capacity utilization at its production plant in Thailand.”
The one-ton Triton is currently in its sixth generation. It uses 2.4-liter gas and diesel engines, including a twin-turbo diesel, so at least one of these engines could make it into Honda’s new truck. Crucially, the robust body-on-frame structure should give the Honda version better towing and off-roading capabilities than the Ridgeline, which has a unibody structure.
We expect the Honda to feature a redesigned exterior and interior to differentiate it from the Triton.
Related: Mitsubishi Is Bringing a Pickup Back to America With Nissan’s Help
Where Will It Be Sold?
Honda
Unfortunately, there’s no indication that the new Honda pickup will make it to the United States. Honda confirmed that the vehicle will go on sale in the ASEAN market in 2028, with these Southeast Asian regions including Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia. The Triton is already sold in all those regions.
Cracking the U.S. pickup market is tough. The Detroit Big 3 (Ford, Ram, and Chevrolet) dominate in the full-size segment, while the Toyota Tacoma is the leader in the midsize segment. Honda does not have the legacy of producing rugged pickups that these brands have, so even if the Triton-based model is capable, it may take some doing to convince local buyers to take the plunge.
Not Honda’s First Body-on-Frame Truck
Honda
Surprisingly, a Honda-badged pickup truck with a body-on-frame structure has been built before. It was called the Honda Tourmaster and was sold in Thailand. A compact pickup, it was a rebadged version of the Isuzu TFR (marketed as the Isuzu Pickup in the United States).
Available in Thailand from 1996 to 1998, the Tourmaster featured a pair of 2.5-liter diesel engines, with the top model being turbocharged. Although demand for the TFR was high, the Tourmaster sold poorly and was unable to crack 1,000 annual sales in either of its first two years on the market. Isuzu, meanwhile, sold over 100,000 units of the near-identical TFR in 1996, which just goes to show how important brand loyalty is in the truck segment.
Hopefully, Honda’s next pickup is much more of a success than the Tourmaster was. If so, it could pave the way for a series of full-frame Honda models, including SUVs. That’s a gap in Honda’s lineup that could see it compete more closely with the Toyota 4Runner in the future.
Related: Before the Ridgeline, Honda Tried Selling a Pickup—and It Flopped
