The Ridgeline returns to the Honda lineup after a three-year hiatus. Ridgeline competes with the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma in the midsize pickup segment. Ridgeline is available with front- or all-wheel drive and comes only in a 4-door, crew-cab body style with a 5'4" bed.
Ridgeline offers several unique features. All models get a dual-action tailgate that lowers and swings to the left as well as a lockable below-bed compartment that offers 7.3 cubic feet of water-tight storage. Also available is a Honda's innovative Truck Bed Audio system.
Ridgeline comes in seven trim levels: RT, RTS, Sport, RTL, RTL-T, RTL-E and Black Edition. Sole engine is a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. It mates to a 6-speed automatic. The available all-wheel-drive system does not have a low range but does offer driver-selectable terrain settings for normal, snow, mud or sand driving and can transfer as much as 70 percent of the engine's power to the rear wheels. Maximum towing capacity is 5000 pounds.
Standard safety features include antilock brakes, stability and traction control, rear-view camera and dual-front, front-side and side-curtain airbags. Additional available safety features include forward-collision warning with collision-mitigation braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance and road-departure mitigation, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Prices start at $29,475 for the RT and climb to $42,870 for the Black Edition. As per Honda practice, there are no individual factory options for the Ridgeline, but each model builds on the previous. The Ridgeline is assembled in Lincoln, Alabama, and carries a $900 destination charge.
Honda's corporate 3.5-liter V6 provides ample acceleration in an unloaded Ridgeline, making it perhaps the quickest midsize pickup truck. Passing punch is laudable as well. As is the case with most of these "smaller" trucks, load the bed or attach a trailer and pace slows down dramatically. The engine is smooth and refined and works well with the new 6-speed automatic.
Because it lacks a low range, Ridgeline's all-wheel-drive system doesn't match the competition for true off-road prowess. In addition, the front-drive bias has traditionally not provided the best towing experience - a fact that may be confirmed by Ridgeline's modest 5000-pound towing rating. On the flip-side, Ridgeline should be more capable in snow, get better fuel economy and, at 1584 pounds, has one of the highest payload ratings in the class.
Speaking of fuel economy, the all-wheel-drive Ridgeline is EPA rated at 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. Those numbers are better than any other midsize competitor when equipped with a V6 engine - although the biggest gain is in highway mileage. Real-world driving proves out the EPA numbers as it's easy to average 22-25 mpg overall in routine suburban commuting.
While Ridgeline may look like a crew-cab pickup on the outside, it's got a very car-like independent suspension. That, along with a low center of gravity and wide track, results in a very un-pickup-like ride. Ridgeline handles bumpy roads more like a crossover than a truck and is sure-footed and nimble on twisty roads. That said, it's no sports sedan and the tires quickly run out of dry-road grip in fast turns. Brakes have a somewhat numb feel but seem to have good stopping power. The steering tracks straight and true on the highway and is quick enough in tight spaces.
Interior noise levels are low - especially for the pickup class. Wind and road noise don't intrude at normal highway cruising and the engine is mostly inaudible. The Truck Bed Audio system works as advertised to provide music using the bed itself as the speaker. Sound volume is adequate though the quality is somewhat muffled.
Ridgeline's interior mimics that of the current Honda Pilot, albeit with the addition of a traditional gearshift lever instead of pushbuttons. That means gauges are nicely lit and easy to read. The standard audio system sports a pleasing mix of buttons and knobs. However, the optional navigation touch screen is hard to program and comes with a terrible volume slider. One plus is Android Auto and Apple Car Play integration.
Materials seem appropriate for the class with lots of sturdy plastic surfaces. Front seats offer ample room and good overall comfort. Getting in and out is easy and outward visibility is great. The back seats are probably the roomiest in the class and fold up to create additional cargo space.
Honda's ace-in-the-hole is its unique cargo bed. The sides are taller than in most competitors and it's actually a bit wider than the rest as well. Some others offer longer beds but in most cases, the Ridgeline has the most useful bed. In addition, you have the innovative tailgate design and in-bed storage compartment.
Ridgeline is a very interesting alternative to traditional midsize pickup truck. While it isn't a true "truck" in the body-on-frame sense it nearly matches its competitors in every key "truck" attribute. Pluses include a great on-road ride, peppy engine, good fuel economy and roomy and innovative bed. Prices are competitive - if slightly on the high side - but Ridgeline offers a lot of value for the money and comes with Honda's excellent reputation for quality. If you are shopping for a midsize truck, there's no reason not to test them all and buy the one that best fits your style.
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