IT’S A BEST BUY BECAUSE:
The Ridgeline offers the best comfort, convenience, and on-road driving dynamics of any small pickup, along with a compelling array of clever technology and utility features.
BUT…
There’s only one body style and one drivetrain, and starting prices are higher than the competition’s.
WORTH NOTING:
Ridgeline is the only pickup truck that’s based on a unibody front-wheel-drive chassis with an independent rear suspension.
WHAT IS IT?
Ridgeline is Honda’s entry in the compact-pickup segment. After taking the 2015 and 2016 model years off, the Ridgeline was re-introduced—and completely redesigned—for 2017. Among the Ridgeline’s unique features are a handy under-floor trunk in the pickup bed that can be used as an 82-quart cooler, and a dual-hinged tailgate that can drop down like a traditional pickup’s or be opened to the side like a door. The pickup bed itself can be turned into a speaker for the audio system, thanks to “exciters” that are built into the bed walls; the bed itself becomes the speaker’s cone. Other available features include a multi-view rearview camera, keyless access and starting, heated front seats, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality, adaptive cruise control, and a heated steering wheel. Available safety features include forward collision warning and mitigation, lane-keep assist, blind-spot alert with rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear obstacle detection.
WHAT’S NEW?
All Ridgelines get a 9-speed automatic transmission in place of the previous 6-speed, and a push-button gear selector replaces the previous shift lever. The rear doors now open wider than before, and the tailgate now includes a remote-locking feature. The model lineup has been pared down, and now includes Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trim levels. The Honda Sensing suite of safety features is now standard on all models.
FUEL ECONOMY
Ridgelines are EPA-rated at 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway with front-wheel drive and 19/24 with all-wheel drive. In Consumer Guide® testing, a top-line Black Edition model averaged 20.3 mpg in 70-percent city driving.
VALUE IN CLASS
Ridgeline blends pickup-truck utility with carlike civility in a solid, sensible package. The light-duty design won’t suit hardcore truckers or extreme off-roaders, but should meet the needs of the vast majority of the pickup-buying public. What really secures the Ridgeline’s Best Buy status is its all-around refinement, broad trim-level lineup, and impressive list of available comfort and convenience features.
| BASE PRICE RANGE | $33,900 – $44,615 |
| BODY STYLES | Crew Cab |
| AVAILABLE ENGINES | 280-HP, 3.5-Liter V6 |
| DRIVE WHEELS | Front or All-Wheel Drive |
| BUILT IN | USA |
| EPA FUEL-ECONOMY RANGE | 19-26 MPG |
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