Sedans have been a staple of the American automotive world for decades, but Ford is now set to stop making them entirely in favor of trucks, utility vehicles, and commercial vehicles. So why is Ford to stop making sedans? It’s certainly an unpleasant surprise for loyal Ford customers used to having a wide range from which to choose, especially those who aren’t in the market for a pickup truck, crossover, or SUV, but you’ll still find 90% of Ford’s North American lineup consisting of just those choices by 2020. Here’s a quick look at why Ford sedan models are about to become extinct.
In a nutshell, this news means that Ford will have completely phased out the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, and Taurus by 2022. That means only the Mustang will be left.
Ford will be adding to their current lineup of trucks and utility vehicles with a selection of ‘white space vehicles’. Okay, so what exactly is a white space vehicle? Basically, white space models blend the characteristics of many types of vehicle, blurring the lines that traditionally separate vehicles into separate classes. It’s a nice idea if you want a slightly more luxurious crossover, but it’s not going to help when you need the efficiency and responsive drive of a smaller vehicle.
Ford is making the switch because sales are starting to skew in that direction – people are simply buying more larger vehicles. However, just because sales figures are doing that right now, doesn’t mean they aren’t leaving plenty of sedan and small car drivers out in the cold by discontinuing some of their most popular models. It’s hard to say it’s a move that really gives drivers what they want. Dan Neil of the Wall Street Journal wrote in “The Real Reason Ford Is Phasing Out Its Sedans” that the motivation is down to how people use their larger vehicles, but those larger vehicles also drink down more fuel.
American drivers have every right to be dissatisfied with GM. Not only have they announced the withdrawal of sedan and small car models – they’ve also cited slumping sales as a reason to close five North American facilities and make substantial layoffs. In the future, you won’t find new models of vehicles like the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CT6, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Impala, or Chevrolet Volt.
It’s disheartening to see manufacturers like Ford and GM halting production on many of the cars American drivers have invested so much time and money in, but Honda sedan models are picking up the slack. Instead of giving up, Honda is making their sedans and small cars more attractive than ever. The Honda Accord remains a legendary vehicle with a record 33 spots on Car and Driver’s 10Best List, and it’s recently been joined by the forward-thinking Honda Accord Hybrid. Other top-of-the-line nameplates include the sporty Honda Civic, versatile Honda Fit, and ultra-efficient Honda Insight and Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. There’s a model to suit every driving style.
Ford’s new focus on larger vehicles will mean consuming fuel, while Honda’s investment in new technology should lead to cleaner air and a zero emissions future. You can stop into any Montana Honda Dealers location to check out the award-winning lineup and test drive anything from sedans to Honda’s own winning range of crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks.