A Merger That Never Happened Could Have Led To This Honda
The original Honda Horizon sold back in the 1990s was a rebadged version of the Isuzu Trooper
May 26, 2025 at 11:10
- Honda and Nissan’s proposed merger could have led to a full-size Honda SUV.
- The model could have revived the brand’s Horizon nameplate from the ’90s.
- Renderings reveal subtle but impactful design changes based on the Nissan Armada.
Had the merger between Honda and Nissan not collapsed in a spectacular fashion just weeks after the announcement, we could have been looking at a whole new set of models from the two Japanese giants. One of those could have been a full-size SUV from Honda, based on the Nissan Armada / Patrol twins. If this wild partnership had panned out, it might have looked something like this.
Read: Toyota Secretly Reached Out To Nissan After Honda Deal Collapsed
The renderings, created by Theottle, use the Nissan Armada as a starting point to envision what a full-size, Honda-branded SUV might have looked like. This new model would have fit above the Pilot in Honda’s lineup, potentially attracting an entirely new customer base.
While both are technically full-size SUVs, the Pilot is a three-row model with a 113.8-inch (2,891 mm) wheelbase and an overall length of 199.9 inches (5,077 mm), built on a unibody platform. In contrast, the Armada is a rugged, body-on-frame SUV, featuring a 121.1-inch (3,076 mm) wheelbase and stretching out to 209.6 inches (5,324 mm) in length. That’s a sizeable difference.
It also could have brought back the Honda Horizon nameplate, last seen in the ’90s and early 2000s, when Honda sold a rebadged version of the Isuzu Trooper under that name.
The design changes made to the Nissan are relatively minor, consisting of revised front and rear fascias, yet they have quite a transformative effect on the entire design of the SUV. The front ditches the grille of the Armada and replaces it with a blacked-out Honda grille. Gone are the Nissan headlights, too, and in their place sit a set of smaller and more stylish headlights that join seamlessly with the grille.
Also: Honda’s 2030 Roadmap Is Packed With New Models And It Isn’t All Electric
Similarly attractive alterations have been made at the rear. The shape of the C-pillars has been tweaked, and the LED lightbar of the Armada has been removed. The overall shape of the taillights remains the same, but they do now feature tweaked LED signatures. A slightly less rugged-looking bumper has also been added to complete the new-gen Honda Horizon.
What’s Next for Honda?
Though the Horizon name won’t be making a return anytime soon, Honda is moving forward with several new SUVs. The first of these, currently called the “0 SUV,” is set to launch next year. This all-electric model will be built on a brand-new platform and sold alongside the 0 Saloon. It’s not the Horizon we were hoping for, but at least Honda is pushing ahead.
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