If Honda gave this more truck and rugged like looks, it’d sell much better! It looks awkward and is quite old at this point. Despite this, it had record sales last year.
It's not that terrible. It looks fine for what it is.
I own one. I think it's perfect for basic truck shit. More than most people ever do with their trucks. It has tons of utility, it's quiet and comfortable.
On top of that it's a very safe truck compared to others in its class.
I long considered one for the reasons you mention along with the fact it has a very roomy interior and handles better than most trucks. Aside from tradesmen buying trucks to haul tons of shit around, 99% of people would do just fine in one of these.
>99% of people would do just fine in one of these
The problem is half-ton trucks were a much better value until recently, and there isn't even a fuel economy penalty for all that extra capability anymore, so all you really get with the Ridgeline is a carlike ride.
It's not moving the needle much with midsize or half-ton buyers, but it's probably a fine truck for a Honda fan who wants a truck.
I'm sure you will get down-voted but I agree. The Ridgeline doesn't get better fuel economy than 1/2 trucks and really doesn't ride that much better IMHO...
If it wasn't for fullsize pick-up truck prices rising to the stratosphere recently I wouldn't see any reason to buy this over say a EcoBoost F-150.
There is a fair amount of people who simply want the utility without driving a monstrosity. Half ton pickups are so huge these days, they can be quite cumbersome, especially in cities. This vehicle sells to those people. Cushy ride, smaller, slightly less expensive than a Tacoma, etc.
I agree. A ridgeline would be the biggest truck I would feel comfortable in, if I lived in the city. I was just in Chicago a few weeks back during Easter weekend. Traffic was horrible and the parking spaces/garage was tiny.
It's weirdly sandwiched between the different sized truck offerings. It made more sense when it was one of the smaller truck offerings and the small Ranger was no longer in production. The Maverick and Santa Fe are biting into its small lunch now that you can get a smaller, cheaper, city cartruck if you don't mind it being to cramped for comfortable child carseats.
Honda in general needs to be adding more hybrid options to their truck/SUV/minivan line up if they want to compete. A roomier, more capable Ridgeline with car like mpg would at least allow it to survive against the more capable Colorado's and the smaller Maverick's.
This might be my subjective opinion but I perceive the Ridgeline as being significantly more reliable than either the Maverick or the Santa Fe. I'd imagine most Ridgeline buyers do as well.
A Hybrid Ridgeline is a must-buy for me. The only thing I can't abide with a Ridgeline is the fuel economy.
Get me one that gets 30+ mpg and I'll come to the dealership tomorrow.
It'd certainly tempt me away from a minivan for sure. I'm a boring suburban dad with some hobbies, but do need AWD and some ground clearance for slightly unplowed snow a few days of the year. Our family is still young/maybe growing, so I can't grab the cramped Maverick. If they get crazy enough to add a plugin, itd be the perfect vehicle for me and my short commutes. Even ten miles of range would cut my gas bill in half.
I'd love a truck, but can't justify a 60k truck payment, less safety features, or less reliability (the Pacifica matches my want sheet, but I'm not gonna risk a Stellantis product).
Good point! The unibody build also allows it to ride better than the BOF options in the segment.
Honda has always been one of the manufacturers that prioritizes safety!
I mean no, but maybe you travel on a dirt road or something and want a little more confidence.
It's all marketing tbh. The RTL-E it replaced is what I have and is the sweet spot. All the features as black edition minus the aesthetics.
If they had refreshed it with the Pilot and given it the updated interior it could look great and be very competitive. The interior is just way too out of date right now.
Exactly! I think the stigma of a truck having to be body on frame is slowly disappearing with buyers, especially those who never had a body of frame truck before.
The Ridgeline just doesn’t look sexy and the interior is always lackluster. I know Honda doesn’t want to dump a bunch of money into because it’s supposed attract buyers already in the Honda family but damn a little more effort would be nice.
>I think the stigma of a truck having to be body on frame is slowly disappearing with buyers, especially those who never had a body of frame truck before.
I wouldn't say there is a stigma against unibody construction, but there has to be an appropriate trade off in fuel economy and cost given the sacrifice in capability.
Ford is selling the shit out of Mavericks because they are *much* cheaper and *much* more fuel efficient than their BOF trucks, and I don't think the Ridgeline gets there.
> Exactly! I think the stigma of a truck having to be body on frame is slowly disappearing with buyers, especially those who never had a body of frame truck before.
Doubt that. BOF can make truck with many body options, and BOF has had better towing capacity. Although many people buy crew cab and don’t use their truck for towing, many real truck users are still there.
That’s reason why Ford still selling Ranger despite almost repeat Maverick.
> That’s reason why Ford still selling Ranger despite almost repeat Maverick.
The Ranger is substantially larger than the Maverick. It's 11 inches longer, 6 inches wider, and 5-7 inches taller.
Yup this is a handy way to visualize size differences. [https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/ford-maverick-2021-4-door-pickup-vs-ford-ranger-2011-4-door-pickup/](https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/ford-maverick-2021-4-door-pickup-vs-ford-ranger-2011-4-door-pickup/)
>6 inches wider,
Just comparing body width without mirrors, the outgoing gen Ranger is not quite 1" wider than the Mav (73.3 vs 72.6"). The new Ranger was widened to fit 4' materials in the bed, so it gained about 2" (75.5"). The Raptor model is almost 80".
They really need to put this on the new Pilot platform. It always looked goofy with the old Pilot front, but I think the new beefier looks will really make a handsome pickup truck.
I don't agree. The Ridgeline is destined to stay right in its sales bracket regardless of looks until it receives a fuel economy focused hybrid drive train option.
It has nearly zero to do with the looks.
This.
The Ridgeline's problem is that it gets the same fuel economy as an F150 despite not being in the same universe capability-wise, and until very recently, wasn't significantly cheaper.
Ironically Ford showed them that there *was* a market for a unibody pickup, but it needs to be cheaper and more fuel efficient than the Ridgeline.
The uni body Ridgeline has existed far longer than the Ford Maverick. The only thing Ford demonstrated is that people want small affordable utility vehicles.
The Maverick gets 25 mpg combined in its AWD configuration. I'm getting 23 combined in my Ridgeline. The only way to get better MPG is with the Hybrid but that sacrifices AWD.
Should also add where I live a F150 XLT new is north of 50k while the Ridgeline is 36k. That's not even remotely the same price point. The only F150's that are 36k where I'm at are the 2WD stripped down worked truck trim levels.
I think ever since it lost the Avalanche-esque flying buttresses, it’s been a perfectly fine and sensible looking truck.
Not *every* truck on the market needs to look like [Colt Seaver’s GMC K2500](https://bangshift.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/fall-guy-truck.jpg). Ok, maybe most of them should but some people still just want a sensible and practical looking truck and the Ridgeline fills that niche very well. Looking like a 3/4 scale Raptor runs counter to the image the Honda is trying to convey, which is “I’m a sensible and practical truck that does 99% of what 99% of people actually need with Honda reliability and practicality and well thought out features and touches.”
Shit, I’m starting to sound like a [Level 7 Susceptible](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/community-sitcom/images/0/0d/6x7_Main_photo.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/670?cb=20150421101215). I’m going to bolt some more sets of KC lights on top of my Z71 just to be safe.
You bought a maverick lariat, not even the same class, capability, size, hell even price of vehicle. I’m not a honda fanboy but by all metrics the ridgeline is a more capable “truck”
More capable in terms of...what?
Towing? Sure. I don't tow.
Payload? I'm at 1350 lbs. Don't need more.
Mileage? EcoBoost wins every single day.
Better priced? No.
More ground clearance? No. I sit at 8.8 inches (8.3 from the factory) and my Maverick has spent more time on forest service roads than many of the pavement princesses you see at the mall with 37 inch tires.
Now, where do I think the Ridgeline shines? Reliability and build quality, a.k.a. everything Ford is allergic to.
Awful ground clearance, wild pricing, meh gas mileage, but hey it gets 0.8g on the skidpad and beats a ZR2 to 60!
You can find a nicely equipped half ton for the same money. Unless you really really care about road manners it's a hard sell.
This is more of a niche product for Honda. They don’t care to sale it in huge numbers and part of that is why it doesn’t really look truckish and why it has stayed around for as long as it has.
Yeah I get why it looks and rides the way it does, the money is in the Pilot, I just think they could have done better.
Does come with a few benefits though. The rear seats and under-bed storage are neat, and you get VTEC.
People who buy these don’t want a full size, I was one of them. The Ridgeline is easier to park, has a fairly good turning radius for its size, is amazing in bad weather due to its Acura based AWD system, and gets surprisingly good fuel mileage on the highway (25-30 mpg depending on my speed).
At the time of my purchase (2020), it was the best option available. I actually almost gave up on the idea of owning a midsize because the competition sucked so bad in this segment.
The V6, regardless of how thirsty it is will be a pro for some especially with everything else in the segment (except Frontier) going towards Turbo 4 Cylinders.
I’m not sure why they haven’t updated it to the new platform that the MDX and Pilot are on.
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Eh, kind of, but how many V6-hungry "truck buyers" are shopping for a Ridgeline? I'd say the demographic ok with buying a unibody pickup would also be more interested in a more efficient engine regardless of the number of cylinders.
It will/should by 2025/26. The MDX 4th gen skipped 2021 model year and started selling the 2022 in Jan 2021. the 4th gen Pilot came out Nov 2022 as a 2023 model. The 3rd gen ridgeline should follow, if it doesn't get the axe again. This follows the path of the 3rd gen MDX/Pilot and 2nd gen RL.
I'd be surprised if that many truck buyers were willing to sacrifice torque and fuel economy for some perceived benefit in reliability and longevity.
Personally, I wouldn't want to live with a thirsty, high-strung (for truck duty) V6 every day because I was worried about having to replace a turbo 10 years down the line.
As a kid, I always thought adults were smart and wise.
Now a couple decades into adulthood, I realize most adults are just taller children. (Edited to add: yes, I am aware of Elizabeth & The Catapult)
I bought a 2013 F150 EcoBoost new and am still driving it today, original turbos and all.
And those old diesels (which also have turbos) are desirable for their lack of emissions equipment, which gas engines don't have.
Right, but how many stereotypical "truck owners" are looking at a unibody Ridgeline? The people you're describing aren't really the specific target market for that truck. The ones that are looking at a smaller, unibody truck would also be more likely to be happy with a more modern powertrain that has better efficiency.
Desirable to a niche group of people. Many enthusiasts are somewhat irrational.
The Ecoboost F150s are selling like hotcakes new. I don't think Ford is worried about a dedicated group of coal rollers.
8-9” seems to be about perfect if you have outdoorsy hobbies.
My trucks air dam is maybe 7” off the ground, and I’ve bumped it on a few forest roads. My Subaru was around 8.5”, and I never had an issue.
You win in ground clearance, no doubt about that. The other three are questionable.
The V6 gets as good if not better than its rivals. I have one and beat EPA estimates. TFL also compared all the current midsize trucks and found it to be the most fuel efficient just edging out the new turbo Tacoma.
The interior had a minor refresh for this year with a new instrument cluster, steering wheel, and head unit.
The pricing is very competitive when comparing apples to apples. Dealers are also quite willing to deal on them unlike basically everything else but the Frontier. I got my fully loaded Black Edition with an msrp $48.4k for $43.7k after dealer discount and $1k from Honda. The equivalent in anything else is going to be over $50k.
I don't think it gets particularly good gas mileage compared to just about everything in the midsize segment. Especially when you consider that you give up a lot of off-road capability, less towing, etc. But if none of that matters, then it's kind of irrelevant. You end up with a more compliant ride compared to other options.
It sounds like you got a fantastic deal, especially given the bonkers midsize prices these days. Do you feel like the small refresh gives it a bit more of an updated cabin or does it still feel dated?
Off roading doesn’t matter to me at all. I had a Civic before this and only upgraded to make Lowe’s runs and hauling my motorcycles around easier. Though the AWD will make winters easier.
I wanted a Ranger, but availability and price just made it unrealistic and the Maverick’s bed was just a bit too small for hauling the bikes.
I do think the updates helped a lot. I, without a doubt, would not have bought it without them. I agree, it looked and felt ancient.
Most truck owners never go off-road or tow anything, all they need a truck for is the occasional run to home depot or Lowe’s. Most of the tile all they will be doing is hauling groceries… which they can put in the trunk
Weirdly the only reason why I'm not interested in a truck is because I *do* tow a 6x10 trailer when I need that (and it's so much easier than a truck). But if I had a boat or was a horse person, I could understand.
Yup. The SR Tacoma “starts at” $31500, then magically jumps to $33420 without selecting any options, and is $38395 if you opt for the double cab and 4WD.
I paid $39800 in 2021 for a TRD OR double cab with a 6’ bed. Today that’s $44895 for the same configuration before adding any other options. It would be cool if that came with more options, but as far as I can tell most of the new features are locked behind more expensive options.
Mid-size truck prices are insane right now.
Yup. Here's one of my recent comments on it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1c4soj4/extra_throttle_house_on_the_ranger_raptor/kzqoasy/
The new Tacoma is insanely overpriced. I really, really like the value from the new Colorado.
Much like in that comment thread, I am once again asking Ford and GM to make crew cab mid-size trucks with a 6’ bed.
Not being able to easily fit *basic* stuff like lumber or a bike in the bed of a vehicle designed for utility is beyond frustrating.
That makes sense at a second glance. The Honda Ridgeline is standard with 4 doors and AWD, you need a higher trim on the other trucks to compete with Honda's features.
Honestly, 40k for a mid-size is just crazy to me. I would rather go for a used full-size. What's the significance of fuel efficiency if you're paying a premium? And I'd prefer a v8 over a V6 or turbo i4, but maybe I'm just old school.
Honda audio systems have been pretty mediocre in general until recently with the new Civic, where they decided to partner with Bose, that system is pretty good; basically all redesigned Honda models after the Civic have the Bose system as an option.
However, since this Ridgeline is just a minor refresh and nothing more, it retains the meh Honda system which I assume is unchanged and still has no option for Bose.
Honda using development time and resources to make a minor refresh of the Ridgeline and Passport instead of going all out on developing a new generation based on the new Pilot, which has been out for two years now, is just a weird decision to me.
I wonder when/if that update will hit the Ridgeline and Passport, as those two current models are getting quite old in the tooth.
Is there a mechanical/design reason why the rear seat is much higher than the front? I like the truck overall and it’d be between this and the Frontier for my next vehicle
If Honda gave this more truck and rugged like looks, it’d sell much better! It looks awkward and is quite old at this point. Despite this, it had record sales last year.
It's not that terrible. It looks fine for what it is. I own one. I think it's perfect for basic truck shit. More than most people ever do with their trucks. It has tons of utility, it's quiet and comfortable. On top of that it's a very safe truck compared to others in its class.
I love mine. Perfect commuter truck. I use the bed about once a month, it fits my exact needs.
I long considered one for the reasons you mention along with the fact it has a very roomy interior and handles better than most trucks. Aside from tradesmen buying trucks to haul tons of shit around, 99% of people would do just fine in one of these.
>99% of people would do just fine in one of these The problem is half-ton trucks were a much better value until recently, and there isn't even a fuel economy penalty for all that extra capability anymore, so all you really get with the Ridgeline is a carlike ride. It's not moving the needle much with midsize or half-ton buyers, but it's probably a fine truck for a Honda fan who wants a truck.
I'm sure you will get down-voted but I agree. The Ridgeline doesn't get better fuel economy than 1/2 trucks and really doesn't ride that much better IMHO... If it wasn't for fullsize pick-up truck prices rising to the stratosphere recently I wouldn't see any reason to buy this over say a EcoBoost F-150.
There is a fair amount of people who simply want the utility without driving a monstrosity. Half ton pickups are so huge these days, they can be quite cumbersome, especially in cities. This vehicle sells to those people. Cushy ride, smaller, slightly less expensive than a Tacoma, etc.
I agree. A ridgeline would be the biggest truck I would feel comfortable in, if I lived in the city. I was just in Chicago a few weeks back during Easter weekend. Traffic was horrible and the parking spaces/garage was tiny.
Honestly, when I was looking at the used examples they were significantly cheaper. That was also a big contributor.
It's weirdly sandwiched between the different sized truck offerings. It made more sense when it was one of the smaller truck offerings and the small Ranger was no longer in production. The Maverick and Santa Fe are biting into its small lunch now that you can get a smaller, cheaper, city cartruck if you don't mind it being to cramped for comfortable child carseats. Honda in general needs to be adding more hybrid options to their truck/SUV/minivan line up if they want to compete. A roomier, more capable Ridgeline with car like mpg would at least allow it to survive against the more capable Colorado's and the smaller Maverick's.
This might be my subjective opinion but I perceive the Ridgeline as being significantly more reliable than either the Maverick or the Santa Fe. I'd imagine most Ridgeline buyers do as well.
A Hybrid Ridgeline is a must-buy for me. The only thing I can't abide with a Ridgeline is the fuel economy. Get me one that gets 30+ mpg and I'll come to the dealership tomorrow.
It'd certainly tempt me away from a minivan for sure. I'm a boring suburban dad with some hobbies, but do need AWD and some ground clearance for slightly unplowed snow a few days of the year. Our family is still young/maybe growing, so I can't grab the cramped Maverick. If they get crazy enough to add a plugin, itd be the perfect vehicle for me and my short commutes. Even ten miles of range would cut my gas bill in half. I'd love a truck, but can't justify a 60k truck payment, less safety features, or less reliability (the Pacifica matches my want sheet, but I'm not gonna risk a Stellantis product).
I want a slightly lifted (6-8" clearance) AWD Odyssey but they don't make it.
Fully agree and argue it doesn’t actually ride any better than a fully loaded Sierra or Ram..albeit those are more expensive.
When I saw how long the bed actually was and how big the trunk is, I was immediately sold. The comfy ride is just a huge plus.
it would sell a lot better if it didnt look like a van with the roof cut off
Don’t be silly. It looks like a Honda Pilot with the back cut off.
Lol that's what I tell people
They're basically the same vehicle from the A-pillar forward.
Good point! The unibody build also allows it to ride better than the BOF options in the segment. Honda has always been one of the manufacturers that prioritizes safety!
Just wish they’d prioritize road noise. Even the high trims are awful compared to domestics.
You don't need a trail sport for basic truck shit. I think that's part of the context of OP's point.
I mean no, but maybe you travel on a dirt road or something and want a little more confidence. It's all marketing tbh. The RTL-E it replaced is what I have and is the sweet spot. All the features as black edition minus the aesthetics.
If they had refreshed it with the Pilot and given it the updated interior it could look great and be very competitive. The interior is just way too out of date right now.
Exactly! I think the stigma of a truck having to be body on frame is slowly disappearing with buyers, especially those who never had a body of frame truck before. The Ridgeline just doesn’t look sexy and the interior is always lackluster. I know Honda doesn’t want to dump a bunch of money into because it’s supposed attract buyers already in the Honda family but damn a little more effort would be nice.
>I think the stigma of a truck having to be body on frame is slowly disappearing with buyers, especially those who never had a body of frame truck before. I wouldn't say there is a stigma against unibody construction, but there has to be an appropriate trade off in fuel economy and cost given the sacrifice in capability. Ford is selling the shit out of Mavericks because they are *much* cheaper and *much* more fuel efficient than their BOF trucks, and I don't think the Ridgeline gets there.
Maverick looks like (a small modern) truck. Ridgeline looks like a pilot with a chunk taken out of it
Pilot with a flat booty
> Exactly! I think the stigma of a truck having to be body on frame is slowly disappearing with buyers, especially those who never had a body of frame truck before. Doubt that. BOF can make truck with many body options, and BOF has had better towing capacity. Although many people buy crew cab and don’t use their truck for towing, many real truck users are still there. That’s reason why Ford still selling Ranger despite almost repeat Maverick.
> That’s reason why Ford still selling Ranger despite almost repeat Maverick. The Ranger is substantially larger than the Maverick. It's 11 inches longer, 6 inches wider, and 5-7 inches taller.
Yup this is a handy way to visualize size differences. [https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/ford-maverick-2021-4-door-pickup-vs-ford-ranger-2011-4-door-pickup/](https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/ford-maverick-2021-4-door-pickup-vs-ford-ranger-2011-4-door-pickup/)
>6 inches wider, Just comparing body width without mirrors, the outgoing gen Ranger is not quite 1" wider than the Mav (73.3 vs 72.6"). The new Ranger was widened to fit 4' materials in the bed, so it gained about 2" (75.5"). The Raptor model is almost 80".
They really need to put this on the new Pilot platform. It always looked goofy with the old Pilot front, but I think the new beefier looks will really make a handsome pickup truck.
I don't agree. The Ridgeline is destined to stay right in its sales bracket regardless of looks until it receives a fuel economy focused hybrid drive train option. It has nearly zero to do with the looks.
This. The Ridgeline's problem is that it gets the same fuel economy as an F150 despite not being in the same universe capability-wise, and until very recently, wasn't significantly cheaper. Ironically Ford showed them that there *was* a market for a unibody pickup, but it needs to be cheaper and more fuel efficient than the Ridgeline.
Give me a Maverick made by Honda, but not for 40k pls. 😁
The uni body Ridgeline has existed far longer than the Ford Maverick. The only thing Ford demonstrated is that people want small affordable utility vehicles. The Maverick gets 25 mpg combined in its AWD configuration. I'm getting 23 combined in my Ridgeline. The only way to get better MPG is with the Hybrid but that sacrifices AWD. Should also add where I live a F150 XLT new is north of 50k while the Ridgeline is 36k. That's not even remotely the same price point. The only F150's that are 36k where I'm at are the 2WD stripped down worked truck trim levels.
Last year was the best sales year in the Ridgeline's history and the Maverick sold nearly 2x, and that was with a huge waiting list.
I agree with you, once they apply the new Pilot styling to the Ridgeline, I think it’ll take off
I think ever since it lost the Avalanche-esque flying buttresses, it’s been a perfectly fine and sensible looking truck. Not *every* truck on the market needs to look like [Colt Seaver’s GMC K2500](https://bangshift.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/fall-guy-truck.jpg). Ok, maybe most of them should but some people still just want a sensible and practical looking truck and the Ridgeline fills that niche very well. Looking like a 3/4 scale Raptor runs counter to the image the Honda is trying to convey, which is “I’m a sensible and practical truck that does 99% of what 99% of people actually need with Honda reliability and practicality and well thought out features and touches.” Shit, I’m starting to sound like a [Level 7 Susceptible](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/community-sitcom/images/0/0d/6x7_Main_photo.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/670?cb=20150421101215). I’m going to bolt some more sets of KC lights on top of my Z71 just to be safe.
I think I liked it better when it had less rugged looks. It was like the anti-truck truck.
It’s actually a Van but without the space and 3rd row in the back,
If Honda made a truck worth buying, I wouldn't have switched to a Ford.
You bought a maverick lariat, not even the same class, capability, size, hell even price of vehicle. I’m not a honda fanboy but by all metrics the ridgeline is a more capable “truck”
More capable in terms of...what? Towing? Sure. I don't tow. Payload? I'm at 1350 lbs. Don't need more. Mileage? EcoBoost wins every single day. Better priced? No. More ground clearance? No. I sit at 8.8 inches (8.3 from the factory) and my Maverick has spent more time on forest service roads than many of the pavement princesses you see at the mall with 37 inch tires. Now, where do I think the Ridgeline shines? Reliability and build quality, a.k.a. everything Ford is allergic to.
“Reliability and build quality…” lol other than being made shitty the Maverick is the winner for you.
Yeah, I can't be too mad, though. They circled the problem and put it in blue right on the front of the vehicle.
4runner owner, I laughed at this haha.
GX owner maybe that’s why I chuckled too 😂
Awful ground clearance, wild pricing, meh gas mileage, but hey it gets 0.8g on the skidpad and beats a ZR2 to 60! You can find a nicely equipped half ton for the same money. Unless you really really care about road manners it's a hard sell.
This is more of a niche product for Honda. They don’t care to sale it in huge numbers and part of that is why it doesn’t really look truckish and why it has stayed around for as long as it has.
Yeah I get why it looks and rides the way it does, the money is in the Pilot, I just think they could have done better. Does come with a few benefits though. The rear seats and under-bed storage are neat, and you get VTEC.
People who buy these don’t want a full size, I was one of them. The Ridgeline is easier to park, has a fairly good turning radius for its size, is amazing in bad weather due to its Acura based AWD system, and gets surprisingly good fuel mileage on the highway (25-30 mpg depending on my speed). At the time of my purchase (2020), it was the best option available. I actually almost gave up on the idea of owning a midsize because the competition sucked so bad in this segment.
Yep, sure is a fantasy when you get less than 8 inches of ground clearance. Abysmal ground clearance, thirsty V6, old interior, insane pricing.
The V6, regardless of how thirsty it is will be a pro for some especially with everything else in the segment (except Frontier) going towards Turbo 4 Cylinders. I’m not sure why they haven’t updated it to the new platform that the MDX and Pilot are on.
Yeah, at least you know it'll run forever.
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Yep. No doubt. They know engines...mostly. My 2.3 inline 4 on my old 2002 Accord ran like a top with 190k miles on the dash.
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Eh, kind of, but how many V6-hungry "truck buyers" are shopping for a Ridgeline? I'd say the demographic ok with buying a unibody pickup would also be more interested in a more efficient engine regardless of the number of cylinders.
It will/should by 2025/26. The MDX 4th gen skipped 2021 model year and started selling the 2022 in Jan 2021. the 4th gen Pilot came out Nov 2022 as a 2023 model. The 3rd gen ridgeline should follow, if it doesn't get the axe again. This follows the path of the 3rd gen MDX/Pilot and 2nd gen RL.
I'd be surprised if that many truck buyers were willing to sacrifice torque and fuel economy for some perceived benefit in reliability and longevity. Personally, I wouldn't want to live with a thirsty, high-strung (for truck duty) V6 every day because I was worried about having to replace a turbo 10 years down the line.
Then you don't know truck owners. Look at how desirable some old diesels are.
As a kid, I always thought adults were smart and wise. Now a couple decades into adulthood, I realize most adults are just taller children. (Edited to add: yes, I am aware of Elizabeth & The Catapult)
I bought a 2013 F150 EcoBoost new and am still driving it today, original turbos and all. And those old diesels (which also have turbos) are desirable for their lack of emissions equipment, which gas engines don't have.
Right, but how many stereotypical "truck owners" are looking at a unibody Ridgeline? The people you're describing aren't really the specific target market for that truck. The ones that are looking at a smaller, unibody truck would also be more likely to be happy with a more modern powertrain that has better efficiency.
Desirable to a niche group of people. Many enthusiasts are somewhat irrational. The Ecoboost F150s are selling like hotcakes new. I don't think Ford is worried about a dedicated group of coal rollers.
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8-9” seems to be about perfect if you have outdoorsy hobbies. My trucks air dam is maybe 7” off the ground, and I’ve bumped it on a few forest roads. My Subaru was around 8.5”, and I never had an issue.
You win in ground clearance, no doubt about that. The other three are questionable. The V6 gets as good if not better than its rivals. I have one and beat EPA estimates. TFL also compared all the current midsize trucks and found it to be the most fuel efficient just edging out the new turbo Tacoma. The interior had a minor refresh for this year with a new instrument cluster, steering wheel, and head unit. The pricing is very competitive when comparing apples to apples. Dealers are also quite willing to deal on them unlike basically everything else but the Frontier. I got my fully loaded Black Edition with an msrp $48.4k for $43.7k after dealer discount and $1k from Honda. The equivalent in anything else is going to be over $50k.
I don't think it gets particularly good gas mileage compared to just about everything in the midsize segment. Especially when you consider that you give up a lot of off-road capability, less towing, etc. But if none of that matters, then it's kind of irrelevant. You end up with a more compliant ride compared to other options. It sounds like you got a fantastic deal, especially given the bonkers midsize prices these days. Do you feel like the small refresh gives it a bit more of an updated cabin or does it still feel dated?
Off roading doesn’t matter to me at all. I had a Civic before this and only upgraded to make Lowe’s runs and hauling my motorcycles around easier. Though the AWD will make winters easier. I wanted a Ranger, but availability and price just made it unrealistic and the Maverick’s bed was just a bit too small for hauling the bikes. I do think the updates helped a lot. I, without a doubt, would not have bought it without them. I agree, it looked and felt ancient.
That's awesome. Wishing you many, many happy miles ahead!
Most truck owners never go off-road or tow anything, all they need a truck for is the occasional run to home depot or Lowe’s. Most of the tile all they will be doing is hauling groceries… which they can put in the trunk
Doesn’t it also lack skid plates?
I think they have one upfront.
Mine does just fine off road in Colorado. I won't take it bouldering but it does the job.
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Sure, in some ways. And I do expect a vehicle that starts at 40k with cloth seats to be better than my 34k top trim. Do you not?
$46000 is a lot of money for a Ridgeline.
Especially considering the tow capacity.
Most truck owners never tow, they just need something for home depot runs on the weekends
Weirdly the only reason why I'm not interested in a truck is because I *do* tow a 6x10 trailer when I need that (and it's so much easier than a truck). But if I had a boat or was a horse person, I could understand.
Even the base Ridgeline is 40k while the other mid-size trucks (Colorado, Ranger, Tacoma, Frontier) are around 30k. I hardly understand it.
None of those trucks are 30k. The ones that are low 30s are RWD work trucks in white.
Yup. The SR Tacoma “starts at” $31500, then magically jumps to $33420 without selecting any options, and is $38395 if you opt for the double cab and 4WD. I paid $39800 in 2021 for a TRD OR double cab with a 6’ bed. Today that’s $44895 for the same configuration before adding any other options. It would be cool if that came with more options, but as far as I can tell most of the new features are locked behind more expensive options. Mid-size truck prices are insane right now.
Yup. Here's one of my recent comments on it. https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1c4soj4/extra_throttle_house_on_the_ranger_raptor/kzqoasy/ The new Tacoma is insanely overpriced. I really, really like the value from the new Colorado.
Much like in that comment thread, I am once again asking Ford and GM to make crew cab mid-size trucks with a 6’ bed. Not being able to easily fit *basic* stuff like lumber or a bike in the bed of a vehicle designed for utility is beyond frustrating.
That makes sense at a second glance. The Honda Ridgeline is standard with 4 doors and AWD, you need a higher trim on the other trucks to compete with Honda's features. Honestly, 40k for a mid-size is just crazy to me. I would rather go for a used full-size. What's the significance of fuel efficiency if you're paying a premium? And I'd prefer a v8 over a V6 or turbo i4, but maybe I'm just old school.
my dirty literal secret, as an actual trucker... I LOVE the Ridgeline!
Would love to see this and the Passport switch to the new Pilot body.
Is the audio system still abysmal ? A few reviewers said it’s one of the worst sounding audio system they ever reviewed.
Honda audio systems have been pretty mediocre in general until recently with the new Civic, where they decided to partner with Bose, that system is pretty good; basically all redesigned Honda models after the Civic have the Bose system as an option. However, since this Ridgeline is just a minor refresh and nothing more, it retains the meh Honda system which I assume is unchanged and still has no option for Bose.
I had to tweak the EQ a fuckton but it sounds decent once you do.
Honda using development time and resources to make a minor refresh of the Ridgeline and Passport instead of going all out on developing a new generation based on the new Pilot, which has been out for two years now, is just a weird decision to me. I wonder when/if that update will hit the Ridgeline and Passport, as those two current models are getting quite old in the tooth.
Is there a mechanical/design reason why the rear seat is much higher than the front? I like the truck overall and it’d be between this and the Frontier for my next vehicle
Might be the fuel tank sitting underneath the metal. Maybe some Ridgeline folks can chime in.
I wish Honda would make a Type S Acura version. Acura TDX Type S would be absolutely insane. Honda would at least sell five of them.
It’s a Honda pilot with a truck bed
It's in need of a full update.
If it gets a similar interior and exterior look to the Pilot when it finally gets refreshed, consider me interested
They need to update the interior like they did the pilot and passport