Honda is expected to finally introduce a mid-size work pickup truck to compete with models such as the Toyota Hilux. According to reports from the Japanese newspapers Nikkei and Yomiuri, the new vehicle will be based on the Mitsubishi Triton.
Currently, Honda sells the Ridgeline, which is also a mid-size pickup, but this model is restricted to the North American market and focuses on leisure, using a monocoque structure. The model to be launched will have a ladder frame and is scheduled to debut in 2028, starting in Southeast Asia. However, the manufacturers have not yet issued an official confirmation of this agreement.
This would be the first Honda pickup to feature a ladder frame. Unlike the Ridgeline, which uses a monocoque body and the base of the Pilot SUV, the new model will be geared towards heavy-duty work and off-road use.
Developing an entirely new pickup would require considerable investment and several years of engineering. By leveraging the Triton, Honda can enter the segment more quickly, and Mitsubishi gains greater scale at the factory located in Laem Chabang, Thailand, where the Honda pickup is expected to be manufactured.
This same production line already manufactures the Triton and the new generation of the Nissan Navara, which also derives from the Mitsubishi project. The three Japanese manufacturers have maintained a technological collaboration since 2024.
For the Brazilian public, this strategy recalls the case of the Fiat Titano. Fiat opted to develop a variation of the Chinese Changan Hunter pickup, which is also sold as the Peugeot Landtrek in other Latin American regions, instead of creating its own model from scratch.
The Italian brand implemented its own modifications to the front design, emblems, and trim, in addition to making specific suspension adjustments. This methodology, known in the industry as rebadging, allows for the launch of a new product at a significantly lower cost than an original design.
In Honda's case, the degree of visual alteration has not yet been defined, but it is expected that the sides and certain structural parts will be identical to those of the Triton. Mechanical details also remain confidential. In Brazil, the Triton is offered with a 2.4 biturbo diesel engine, generating 205 hp and 47.9 kgfm, and the Honda version may include a hybrid option.
Currently, the Triton is assembled by HPE in Catalão (GO) and its initial price is R$ 249,990. There is no confirmation that the Honda pickup will be made available in the national territory.