2009 Honda Ridgeline review - is this Honda a REAL truck? Or just a rolling identity crisis?
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- Опубликовано: 3 авг 2024
- The Bad Ideas Garage reviews this 2009 Honda Ridgeline "truck" thing. Read our commentary below to learn more:
When Honda introduced the Ridgeline in 2006, there was hate shown towards its introduction due to its unusual design and some technical features. Is it a van? A big car? There is no way it can be a truck! It's on a unibody frame! It doesn't have real 4wd! Et cetera. Despite the backlash, Honda has continued to produce the Ridgeline to the present, besides a generation break in 2015 and 2016. As of 2020, have built 412,000 units.
Since I am not really a "truck guy" - the Ridgeline seems especially interesting to me. In a world of daily driving F150s and crossover SUVs everywhere, it's refreshing to see Honda taking the risk and steeping out of the narrative of what a traditional truck is. Through their efforts in making this fantastic vehicle, they have created a solid niche for these vehicles. The Ridgeline originally came out in an era before electric trucks, before concepts like the Ford Maverick hybrid, where the idea of a pickup is strict setup of a body-on-frame chassis and a V8 power plant. Now, it seems like there are all sorts of companies who are challenging the idea of a traditional pick up, but back in 2006, this was a really radical idea.
The Ridgeline shares parts across Honda and Acura models, including the Acura MDX SUV, the Honda Accord car and Honda Odyssey van. Because of this, and due to the unibody frame, you feel like you could be hopping into a plethora of Honda products the moment you step in. There are some larger plastic grab handles and more aggressive style to some areas, but all in all, the familiar Honda setup is comforting, especially to those who are familiar with the ergonomics and interior setup. The comfort continues into the driving experience with an extremely smooth and quiet ride. Visibility is good and I never felt like I was in a large vehicle. Handling around turns was tight and unfussy, as one would expect in a Honda. I was also quite happy to hear the beautiful sounds coming from the J35 V6, rated at 250hp. While the Ridgeline is not fast whatsoever, the motor sounded excellent and the transmission fairly quick to shift through the gears when pushed.
Overall, the Ridgeline should be a strong consideration for anyone who is shopping for a crossover SUV or a truck as their daily driver. The solid driving experience and interior comfort (including the rear passenger compartment), tied with some unique features, such as the in-trunk bed and 2-way tailgate, create an incredible value proposition. At pricing between $38,140 and $45,570 for the current trim levels, this seems like a bargain compared to a lot of vehicles out there. 
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I have a 2008 ridgeline. Base model 160k and I'm telling you. I Love It!! Live in New York and the winters can get a little crazy 2 or 3 weeks out the year..never had a problem. Never got stuck.. this truck is so reliable.. only problem rust factor. Make sure you stay on top of the rust underneath the truck. I put Strictly 87 gas ⛽️ in my truck 89 if I'm driving long distance. Delware/Maryland/Virginia/ Poconos.. stay on top of oil changes and this truck will last a life time.. walmart runs/home depot runs.. more than enough room for most people. Call it a car if you wish would not trade this thing in for nothing!!!
We live on the west coast so rust isn’t much of an issue here at all! It’s still wild some of the vehicles we see that are from back east.
My Ridgeline will last 80 years of normal use? Sold!
Used vehicle prices went wild over the last two years. The truck market seemed to be the worst. Right now, the 1st gen Ridgelines are the best bang for buck. Typical truck shoppers say these aren't real trucks and I'm very grateful for that. They sit on lots for months and can be had for reasonable prices. A fully misunderstood and under-rated vehicle. In my area- an 08 or 09 4wd Tacoma with 120K on it would be over 20k all day, if it even existed. I'm looking at an 09 Ridgeline with that mileage and perfect maintenance records for less than 13k out the door.
If people were honest about what they really needed in a pickup, they would see Honda did a great job with this one. Towing and payload are plenty for private use. It just wont haul an ego and that's a large percentage of what the pickup market is really looking for.
Thanks for the review, subbed.
Buttttttt can you fly flags out the back of the Honda AND fit an ego in anything less than the F350? I don’t think so ;)
(But seriously, we totally agree with you and thank you for the sub!)
@@BadIdeasGarage I ended up buying the Ridgeline I mentioned in that comment. Already it has been a benefit to my household. $12,200 after tax tag and title. It was a Georgia vehicle with no rust- the underside looks brand new and is the centerpiece of the vehicle. Maintenance records from Walsh Honda are everything you look for in a used vehicle; service every 7,000 miles like a Swiss watch, one owner. A few tiny dings on the body but the paint seems garage kept. Someone loved this one and I'd like to buy them a drink. I drove 300 miles to pick it up and couldn't be more pleased.
Thanks for the replies and hopefully more people will see the obvious value this vehicle brings. It's a life hack, honestly.
As a side note I live in Appalachian NC and have been averaging 19 MPG. That's mixed driving around the Asheville area, that is to say- up down up down up down, and city driving. I pulled 23 MPG to DC today with cruise set on 60. 60MPH is peak cruising if fuel mileage is your concern with this vehicle. Picked up a stick transmission for an 04 Corolla and got the same MPG coming back. It looks pretty cool, depending on your taste, but it's unarguably practical for a pickup.
Thanks for the update! Not a bad deal at all. I’ve been to Asheville before! Beautiful area for sure. I was up at Banner Elk!
@@BadIdeasGarage This video was recommended to me again today so I may as well give an update. We have since moved to Utah for career reasons. The drive was over 2K miles and the Ridgeline pulled a trailer that was just a tick over 5K pounds. We took the I-40 route from NC and averaged 12 MPG pulling that weight over that distance. I can say that the biggest weakness of this vehicle is that you can only control first through third gear on a 5 speed trans. Honda should have given the driver control to lock it into 4th. When towing at the limit, the trans hunts between 5th and 4th to maintain highway speed. That is exactly what builds heat in an auto trans. It has a trans fluid cooler so, it wasn't a problem but, it is unnecessary wear in my opinion. The massive cabin plus the trunk under the bed meant that everything was in the dry and secure during the drive. It's a very space efficient vehicle and we were able to lock everything up for overnights at hotels. It's currently at 150K and I'm about to do a timing belt/water pump job in the coming weeks. That's the major service that the J series requires at a 80K interval and it will cost me about $350 in parts and a Saturday to install. It's still my daily, and I can say that these are wonderful vehicles. I average about 17.5 MPG at this high altitude and 80MPH highway speeds on I-15. The 4WD system has been put to the test in a southern Utah winter where you can get a 8 inch snow dump overnight. I run Michelin Defenders and never had a problem. Still waiting for an excuse to use the VTM-4 lock. We will likely move to AK in the next few years and this vehicle will take us there. Can't recommend the Ridgeline enough. The first gens are a great value for a young family. Don't overlook the stellar crash safety ratings!
I have my 2006 rts with 250,000 miles & still running 👍
We had a 2006 Ridgeline from new. We've towed a small RV from coast to coast with it. Great little truck. Quarter million miles, 16 years. Regular maintenance until about 220 K, then alternator failed, plus suspension issues. Sold it to a more mechanically inclined friend who DIYs, now uses it for hauling stuff, taking dog to vet, etc. Just bought a 75K mile '07 RL. Great around town vehicle, grocery shopping, Costco runs, etc.
Yeah they’re great. Really good fit for anyone who doesn’t need to haul a LOT or goes on large Costco runs 😅
@@BadIdeasGarage For sure. For Costco runs the wife takes the F-450. That monster can hold a ton of stuff! 😂
@@tomc8115 most impressive part about that is parking the 450 at Costco.
I am getting a 2012 Ridgeline next week 100,000 mi I am so excited
Make sure and check to see if the timing belt has been done! Those are due every 105k.
I picked up an 06 riggy for 7500 from an old doctor who did everything at the dealership and garage kept in north Florida, with 147k Miles. Heated seats and dual climate. Guy post it 2 days before I went in person 2 hours away to get it. Thing is a tank!
I bought a 2009 Ridgeline RTS and have over 150,000 miles on it. I've had absolutely no issues since new. My cost for this truck was $30,000 which you can't buy a new one under $48,000 similarly equipped. Mileage has been an average of 21mpg highway and have seen 24mpg. City mileage is around 17-18mpg. if I slow down. This truck is comfortable, handled well and still tight. Lots of storage and convenience items.
Some truck owners say this is not a real truck. I'm not a youngster and I don't need an oversize off road monster as I am a family man and appreciate the utility and the ability to tow my boat or travel trailer.
I would highly recommend the Honda Ridgeline to anyone who need a good utility truck.
If you are considering a small truck, then check out the Ridgeline. I know you'll be impressed.
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Thank you for your commentary and perspective! Sounds like a great fit. These are really underrated!
Have you ever had a valve adjustment on your ridgeline
@@shadowman1992 this wasn’t mine but did get it at 100k!
Just picked up a 2011 RTL in black. 👍 66k miles. The words out on these vehicles. Hard to find in decent shape.
I just picked up a 2011 RTS today, has 62k miles, paid $15k. Hope she can last me at least 8 to 10 years. Not sure if I paid too much. Seller was asking for $17k.
I have no idea about the pricing, but seems to be on par. Thanks for sharing you both!
@@sheldonh.3906 You did good. Anything decent gets top dollar.
I paid 20k .on a 2013 rtl 80kmi maintenance was flawless dealer maintenance every 5kmi , timing belt and water pump done at Honda dealer. I have no regrets .. worth it to me. Comfort and ac vents for rear passenger was what sold me for family. Taco had niether
I just picked up a 2009 in very good shape that looks like this one. The motor runs like a swiss watch. I'm pretty handy so i can do the CV axle replacement myself. Paid $4,200. Happy camper here.
Wow! That seems like a great deal! Nice work on the axel replacement 😄
Steven, I got the same year and trim. 80 k mi on it. I learned the other day that the door ajar warning beep is the letter "H" in morse code. This might sound crazy but replacing the Honda air filter on mine made a big difference in acceleration. Owner might want to try as well.
Well that tidbit of information is a breath of fresh air indeed!
@@BadIdeasGarage I see what you did there. I prefer the 1st gen to the 2nd gen. They just let the engineers drive the styling and ergonomics on the first one. Then marketing changed things for the 2nd gen. For example, the way the rear passenger compartment has an angled transition to the bed is purely for torsionally strength since its not a body on frame In the second gen, they tried to give it a normal truck look by putting in a fake seem between cab and bed, to create a "normal" 90 degree transition. In order to do that they had to put in a lot of reinforcement and add weight just to give it the look that marketing said they needed to appeal to truck buyers. Also they moved away from the column shifter which allowed for a lot of space in the center console and in front. They increased the bed length, but in doing so the rear doors are smaller and to add insult to injury they didn't open up at 90 degrees anymore. Switched from port injection to direct inject to improve gas milage. .
I like the old center council better than the new ones. They seemed to have much more storage space. It was handy on road trips. @@nova-oy4qy
The Ridgeline gives you:
2/3 of the performance (but all of the capabilities, it can haul and tow) that a half ton truck has to offer
All of the comfort and utility of an SUV
Significantly leading gas mileage for its time
Honda reliability and low maintenance cost
Essentially the Ridgeline would be perfect for most truck owners, especially with its trunk, unless they either pull an almost yacht sized boat or horse carrier sized trailer, haul around 2000 pounds, or really need a transfer case.
“BUT iTs nOt a ReAL TrUcKKKKkkk!” - irrational F150 owners 🤣😇
Totally agreed, joking aside. People like the idea of having a vehicle that has significantly more capabilities than anything that will ever be used. But just the idea of being able to do it. I’ll take the mpg and Honda reliability 😀
@@BadIdeasGarage exactly mpg and maintenance cost > unused capabilities.
That’s also why I wouldn’t buy a nice sport / supercar. US has horrible traffic and badly maintained roads, unless you lived in an ideal place those cars wouldn’t be able to be driven hard.
You CAN put a 4' wide sheet of plywood in the back. Measure it yourself. And the length is almost the same as a crew cab pickup bed.
It has a 5,000 towing capacity, which is plenty for most everyday things, but way below the full size pickups, that are used for work.
I mean, I put sheets of plywood on my Mercedes that I cut into a truck. “Truck”. I think people just like the idea of a vehicle. They can do absolutely everything. I really do like the Ridgeline though. I think it was a nice compromise for people that have to go to Home Depot every once in a while and want it to be easier.
I picked up a White 2012 Ridgeline RTL recently with 142 K and love it but have two questions in regard to maintenance. My factory book that comes with the car recommends changing the timing belt every 60K miles witch sounds crazy and I have a good mechanic friend who told me to never flush the transmission fluid to change it as it will deposit filings where they can cause damage. He said at best drain out as much as you can and replace it with new. Thanks in advance for anyone that can shed light on my questions.
I thought timing belt was every 105k. I’m a fan of regular drain and fill instead of flush if it hasn’t been done before, or if there isn’t a record of regular fluid changes. Good luck and enjoy!
But it will hold sheets of plywood with tailgate down. 4’1” wide bed just for that reason. So tows same as tacoma more payload than tacoma more room inside than tacoma drives better than tacoma just as reliable as tacoma. But not a tacoma so cheaper. 😜
The Honda probably gets better feel economy than the Toyota as well. The Tacoma is quintessential truck with how old-school it is with everything, and this Honda is a totally different concept. Thanks for sharing!
Hi from Wilsonville... looking at buying one right now.
Howdy! Great choice.
I just got my 100,000 maintenance done on my 09 ridgeline. It has 95000 on it. While I was there, I ordered a 2023. I can't wait to get it. I don't like leather or the moon roof so I had to get the sport. Unfortunately the back window does not open. Mine has no problem passing. Maybe that one needs some maintenance.
I think it's just that the motor makes a lot more noise than movement :-D The power was ok!
Willamette valley?! Hello from Lebanon! Im looking at a ridgeline tomorrow in beaverton
Hi from Albany! Good luck :)
Hi ,
I have a similar vehicle and bro it drives very smooth in Ghana. I will love to have one more if know how much a fairly used one is going for.
Prices are really variable around here. This one was like $12,000 when I checked last. Thanks for sharing!
#Light the beam
Hey can I put a 2006-2007 front bumper on my 2009 Ridgeline rtl
Probably! i’m not sure though
❤كم السعر $
Sorry, this one is not for Sale!
أوريد واحد منها كم السعر أو أينا أجدها
All over the place from $5K for older '06 -'07 models with high mileage and in rough shape up to $30K for 2014s in higher trim levels and low mileage.
If you don’t like the ridgeline , shut up. I love mine and I don’t knock big trucks, just don’t need one.
Hey I do like the Ridgeline for sure!
Comment wasn’t directed at you . To all the Ridgeline bashers.
oh I got you!@@dennisst.pierre210
It is an all wheel drive that you can lock the rear, I just figure if you are reviewing a vehicle you should know what you are talking about
I never confess to really know what I am talking about :)
It's not a truck. It's a car with a bed
Ok boo boo why don’t you tell us all the exact definition of what a truck is and what a truck isn’t 😂
@@BadIdeasGarage a vehicle with more than 7 inches of ground clearance
@BadIdeasGarage a truck has 4x4, not all wheel drive. A truck had a solid rear axle and rear wheel drive based to assist in towing. The ridgeline is an suv with a bed to allow convenience of having s bed but not having to drive a real truck.
Got it! So Ford, Allison, and ZF are putting solid rear axels on future electric EV trucks. Do those count? 😊
@@user-vt9ss3ft2zRidgeline has more than 7” of ground clearance so that makes it a truck…