From all these comments all I am really hearing is the bed needs to be a bit bigger, maybe matching what the Ridgeline has. Well I agree a bigger bed would open up more possibilities I think this is more of a marketing and styling exercise. People who want a truck will buy a truck, but there is probably some people who will like the idea of having a small bed, the looks of a truck, but the price of a compact CUV and fuel economy of a compact CUV.
I don't think it'll be a huge seller but I think there will be some on the road. I kind of look at it as a Veloster, which is compact car, with less doors, less interior space, and less cargo capacity, but has the styling and "lifestyle" that buyers seek.
We car enthusiasts look at vehicles a lot differently than the average consumer so sometimes it's harder to peg what will sell in the market.
Does anyone know what kind of bed size, payload, tow rating, the upcoming Ford Maverick is supposed to have? That's going to be the only competition for this size of CUV/Truck thingy. I see the Ridgeline as being more of a competitor to the Ranger, Tacoma, Frontier, Canyon.