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Reader Comments for
Subscribe to this threadHyundai/Kia cancels plan for U.S. pickup
(Page 1 of 1)
Frylock350 @ May 9th 2008 8:49AM
The Silverado gets better fuel economy than a Ridgeline. I fail to see the advantage of these unitbody pseudo-trucks.
RMc @ May 9th 2008 10:03AM
Looks like you need to spend some time looking up numbers at fueleconomy.gov
Ridgeline (4 Dr - AWD) : 15 cty/20 hwy
Silverado (4 Dr - 4WD) [4.3L]: 14/18
Silverado (4 Dr - 4WD) [5.3L]: 14/19
Silverado (4 Dr - 4WD) [6.0L]: 13/17
Both are bad, but the Silverado is slightly worse.
One major advantage of a unibody is savings in weight which is apparent:
Ridgeline (4 Dr - AWD): 4513 lbs
Silverado (4Dr - 4WD): 5326 lbs
Both are classified by the EPA as "Large Pickup"
How about Kia come out with a small unibody pickup equivalent in size to what a Toyota Tacoma was 15 years ago? Now that, I bet, would sell!
The Luigiian @ May 9th 2008 10:10AM
The advantage of a truck like the Ridgeline is mostly perceived, in the same way that people buy Explorer Sport Tracs because they figure a smaller vehicle must get better gas mileage.
That said, this is a horrible thing to do to small-truck fans. Our U.S. compacts are horrendous, oversized gas-guzzlers, and no company will make us anything better because they either want us to buy their full-sizes (as in Ford and Chevy's case) or are afraid to.
I've given up on ever getting a Ranger. I wanted one for years, but I'm becoming resigned to the fact that my fellow Americans believe I should just buy a Camry and shut my mouth.
Jason @ May 9th 2008 10:41AM
@ The Luigiian, I'm consistently getting 28mpg in my 2008 Ranger in mixed, though mostly highway, driving. The recent addition of a toneau cover appears to have increased that a bit too. If I didn't get stuck in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic a few times a week, I'm sure I'd be pulling down 30+.
It IS a 4-banger, 5-sp, regular cab though...
Frylock350 @ May 9th 2008 12:16PM
Ridgeline is lighter because its much smaller. Unibody is no guarantee of being lighter. Case in point, a 7 series is about the same weight as the physically larger Lincoln Town Car. What unibody does offer is weaker structure, a less absorbent/smooth ride, etc.
Silverado 2WD is 15/20 and the majority of pickups sold are 2WD.
A good little truck was the first gen S10. They were BOF real trucks and the Syclone was just sick.
MikeW @ May 9th 2008 3:01PM
No one ever said that the Honda Ridgeline was a good example of a unibody truck.
Terrible transmission selector-prevents towing 5K lbs.
Independent suspension-good for handling/ride
It doesn't weigh that much, 4500lbs. (and if Honda decided to drop the VTM+4, it would save a little over 200lbs)
Crappy dual beam headlights
handy dual function tailgate
ability to have two spare wheels.
Your rant about the TownCar vs. 7 series is wrong.
The TownCar is very space inefficient. Small Gas tank, very user un-friendly trunk. Large overhangs, terrible aerodynamics, etc.
The 7-series has a superior ride/handling combination than the TownCar (due to unibody, which has a higher bending/torsional strength)
Yes 15/20 in the rear drive Silverado, but what tall axle ratio, 3.42? Why not make a front drive Ridgeline-compare that to a C1500.
Dave @ May 10th 2008 7:58AM
Those GM trucks are the best. I saw the Hyundai truck on the news last night and it was kind of neat looking. I don't think they would find enough buyers in this still crowded market so its best they cancelled.