2 Japanese trucks saved the market when American models got the axe
Do you remember when mid-size trucks started being discontinued left and right? A majority of drivers had to settle for full-size trucks to stay loyal to their favorite brands. Luckily the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier stuck around for those who didn’t want something larger.
The Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier saved mid-size trucks from extinction
Out of all the mid-size trucks available today, the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier are the only models that were never discontinued.
Technically, the Honda Ridgeline hasn’t been discontinued either, but it was late to the game. Other popular nameplates like the Ford Ranger were around for decades before the Ridgeline came out in 2006.
The Ford Ranger debuted in 1983 and had a long life span until it was discontinued in 2011. The single-cab truck was facing declining sales and needed significant updates to meet rising emission standards.
But a new generation launched in other countries around the world, like Australia. We didn’t get that model in America until the Ranger was reintroduced in 2019.
The Dodge Dakota, also known as the Ram Dakota first made an appearance in 1987. It faced similar problems as the Ranger did and was discontinued in 2011.
We’re still waiting for Ram to fill this gap in the lineup. A new Dodge Dakota should be arriving by 2026 or so. However, other countries such as Mexico have had the Ram Rampage for the past couple of years.
The classic Chevy S-10 appeared in 1982 but was discontinued in 2004 after a 22-year run. The Chevrolet Colorado debuted in 2004 and got the ax in 2012 but made a fast return in 2014.
Chevy also had the Avalanche in production from 2022 to 2013, but it was a full-size model that probably provided too much competition against the Silverado.
Meanwhile, the Toyota Tacoma has never been canceled. It replaced the Toyota Hilux in 1995 because building a new truck was easier than revising the Hilux to meet higher emission standards.
The Nissan Frontier is another one of the longest-running mid-size trucks available. It debuted in 1997 to replace the hardbody truck.
