Honda Ridgeline Truck Review
Truck Reviewer
In the compact pickup market the Honda Ridgeline is a real contender. It has plenty of innovative features that will appeal to those looking for a truck of this size, and you can expect Honda’s near legendary reliability. There are one or two things that might make you think a bit, but in general it’s a very competitive offering and a great all-rounder. The bed may only be five feet, but with the clever dual-opening tailgate (traditionally or sideways like a door) you can still get 4-foot by 8-foot sheets in there, or a quad bike, or plenty of all kinds of things. The unique in-bed cargo box is a clever trick – although of course you would still have to empty the contents of the bed to get at it. The same is true of the spare tire, which could prove frustrating. Actual capacities for the Honda Ridgeline are comparable with its main rivals. That bed will take 1,100 lbs and you can tow up to 5,000 lbs. While effort has certainly gone into making chassis and suspension tough enough for some hard work, the 4-wheel independent suspension gives it the impeccable road manners that buyers in this segment will demand.
Delivering whatever load you have on board to its destination is the job of a 3.5 liter, 24-valve V6 which uses Honda’s clever variable timing technology to produce more power. It’s no thundering V8 but it does a more than adequate job most of the time. If you are on the weight limits you might wish for more torque, but if you were doing that regularly you would probably seek a more work-like pickup than the Honda Ridgeline anyway. Transmission is 5-speed automatic and the four-wheel drive system will automatically engage when needed (there’s also a manual override to lock the rear diff). The interior is a little on the gray side – but it’s quality gray! Like a lot of Honda sedans, it may not win design awards but it all works well. There’s space for five adults in some degree of comfort and plenty of technology available too, depending on your trim level (RT, RTS and RTL). Satellite navigation, Bluetooth, multi-information display, CD/MP3 and rear-view camera are all there depending how deep into your pocket you want to reach. Safety is clearly a high priority for the Honda Ridgeline with front, side and head-curtain air bags, ABS, vehicle stability assistance, traction control and tire pressure monitoring all as standard.
Pickups like the Honda Ridgeline are sometimes accused of trying to be all things to all people. It’s certainly not going to compete with full-size trucks, but it isn’t pretending to. So who is it for? It would make a good working truck for a lot of people. It is also roomy and comfortable enough to take the family to the desert or the hills for the weekend. You would be quite happy to take it to the mall, or out to a restaurant for the evening. Whoever the Honda Ridgeline is for, they are likely to be delighted with their decision.
(25 Users voted, average: 3.16 out of 5)
Loading ...