Last year, the Honda Ridgeline received some cosmetic changes to modernize its appearance.
These changes include a hood with a more pronounced sculpture, a more imposing grille and new front fenders. The redesigned rear bumper highlights the dual exhaust outlets. All Ridgeline variants feature 18-inch rims and a 20mm widened track.
The Honda Ridgeline is available in four distinct versions: Sport, EX-L, Touring and Black Edition. Prices range from $48,505 to $57,505, including freight and preparation costs. The Touring model tested in this story sells for $55,705. Here’s what we thought.
Spacious and comfortable
Unlike many competing models like the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier and Ford Ranger, the Honda Ridgeline uses a unibody platform instead of the traditional ladder frame configuration.
The pickup therefore adopts road behavior similar to that of an SUV. This results in a smooth ride thanks to suspensions calibrated for comfort: neither too firm nor too soft.
The cabin is spacious for both front and rear occupants. The seats offer adequate support and a long seat. The driving position is optimized thanks to a tilting and telescopic steering wheel. Equipped with large windows, the van provides good visibility.
When driving, the steering is precise. As is the case with many vehicles these days, the steering wheel is adorned with an array of buttons. Unfortunately, their layout does not represent a model of ergonomics…
Photo: Antony Lajoie-Beaudoin
The instrumentation is lined with analog dials and a 4.2-inch digital display. Easy to use, it nevertheless exhibits an aesthetic that dates from another era. Same story for the multimedia system. Due to the design of the center console, the monitor is placed away from the driving position, which makes its use more or less user-friendly. Furthermore, the navigation system is rather slow and displays a low quality image.
However, we appreciated the quality of the 540-watt audio system, which incorporates eight speakers including a subwoofer. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also on the menu.
Mechanically, the Honda Ridgeline can count on a 3.5-liter V6 equipped with smooth-running VTEC technology. It develops 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Everything is paired with an efficient nine-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.
Photo: Antony Lajoie-Beaudoin
As the mercury hovered around freezing point, we got a fuel economy rating of 11.2 L/100 km. This is 0.3 L/100 km less than the official rating announced by Natural Resources Canada.
Convenient, but…
The Ridgeline stands out from the competition thanks to the versatility of its bed. In particular, it has several anchor points and a 207-litre trunk which contains the spare wheel. In addition, the tailgate can open vertically and horizontally.
Photo: Antony Lajoie-Beaudoin
The box is 1625mm (5.3ft) long, 1270mm (4.17ft) wide and 425mm (1.4ft) deep. Depending on the version chosen, the payload ranges from 674 to 694 kg.
Unfortunately, the pickup is eclipsed by the majority of its rivals when it comes to towing capacity. Many can pull loads in excess of 6,000 lbs and even 7,000 lbs in some cases. The Ridgeline sits more at 5,000 lbs (2,267 kg).
Photo: Antony Lajoie-Beaudoin
Several driving aids
As is the industry trend, the Honda Ridgeline incorporates active and passive safety features. As standard, it includes the technologies of the Honda Sensing suite, namely: adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring system, lane keeping system and rear cross traffic alert.
It also incorporates several active safety features such as the automatic emergency braking system and trailer stability assistance, to name but two.
Basically, the Honda Ridgeline offers comfort worthy of an SUV and the versatility of a pickup truck. Despite his many skills, he struggles to find a place in the market. The dated technologies, the questionable aesthetics of the cabin and the towing capacities lower than the majority of the competition are among the elements to be reviewed.