I owned a 2017 and it was the most problematical vehicle I ever owned. Transmission overheating/shudder, vcm issues, fuel injectors, adaptive motor mounts and torque converter are all issues that myself and multiple other owners have with even newer models. See for yourself and join the 2nd gen Honda Ridgeline group on Facebook. And then there all the little annoyances one starts having once you own one for a few years. After 53000 miles I now have a 2019 TRD Tacoma without any headaches compared to the Ridgeline.
Just passed 250,000 miles on my 2007 Ridgeline. Other than regularly scheduled maintenance I have replace the alternator, one cooling fan, 1 O2 sensor, and finally the struts. I just drove it across country (2200 miles) last week. Everything on the interior of the truck still works like the day it drove off the lot.
@@ohsnapzitzmeng Yeah, those were the Ridgeline's before they got the VCM engine in them. What is the reliability on that VCM V6 long-term? That's what I want to know. I'm sticking with my 2009 Ridgeline until I know for sure.
@@normt430 yeah, honestly I like the v6 from Honda before they ruined it with VCM, but I’ll never buy another vehicle with a timing belt. It’s a totally unnecessary expense and poor design choice
I have a 2017 Ridgeline. I live on a Farm and Commute 66 miles Round Trip 5 Days a Week. I Also have 94 F150 and 2002 Surburban. I have all my Heavy Equipment Vehicles to do Heavy stuff. But have yet to use them yet. Truck fits Lifestyle. It's the JACK OF ALL TRADES, BUT MASTER OF NONE!!! IT JUST DOES WHAT U ASK IT TO DO.
The Ridgeline's biggest problem is that it makes too much sense. People don't like stuff that makes sense cause it usually isn't flashy and perception is where it's at nowadays.
Right. People love the APPEARANCE of capability and ruggedness. How many people who own Raptors, TRD Pros and tricked out Jeeps use them to their capabilities?
First off, it is a truck. Second, it's a light duty truck, yes... not a "body on frame" truck... that being said, those looking for light hauling and towing with a terrific ride and plenty of amenities, this is your truck!! If you're going to really go do "off roading" then purchase the appropriate vehicle. If you're looking light duty, 300K mile +/ 10 yr + ownership... Ridgeline... you can't go wrong!! Nice review btw!!
Why does everyone who has a Ridgeline feel the need to defend it all the time? Ive had plenty of trucks, and never once said, "this is a real truck!" Its like the guy eating a veggie burger telling the guy with a bacon cheeseburger that they taste the same!
@@MrHand-ih4sz I don't own one yet.... I've been driving F150's for years and always will. However, in my 62 years.... I've owned numerous Honda's and always enjoyed driving them and the " no problems" they provide if you're maintaining them. I also sold them a few years back for a short time because I believe in them. My F150 Super Crew is the main vehicle my wife is now driving and I pull our RV with it as well. I am considering a new Ranger FX4 or a Ridgeline Sport for my next vehicle just for the versatility and light duty/off roading I'd being doing. Lastly, the Ridgeline is a great little truck.... Reason for defending.... not everyone needs a body on frame, Lift Kit, 35's, roll bars and a wench and skoal in their back pocket, or the "Mudder's" who feel the need to remind a Ridgeline owner, that they're really not driving a truck! To each is own is what I say....whatever fits your own needs and desires! Let it go man, life's too short!!
I owned a 2017 Black Edition and it was really phenomenal. Back seat was just too snug for my 3 kids, but I really loved the truck. Total Swiss-army knife, like nothing else out there.
@@jakes5530 They were like 2, 6 and 7, and after about 1 1/2 years I replaced it with an F-150. We also wanted to get a good sized travel trailer, so we needed more towing ability. Now we are up to an F-250 lol. But the Ridgeline is really a fantastic truck unless you tow a lot (and almost no one does, statistically.)
@@grisa12345 seems like the logical progression haha. I plan on getting a 19 ft boat that should weigh under 3500 lbs, so the ridgeline seems like a capable choice. Dont have kids yet, but good to see it can handle 3 kids up to 7 years old pretty comfortably.
The back seat legroom is what killed the idea for us. My wife and I are tall and with our 2 kids just not enough leg room especially as they get bigger. If it only had another 2 inches of rear leg we would have bought it. Too bad because it is a great vehicle. When Honda does redesign hopefully they will make back seat more spacious as it is the only truck they sell so not like they are going to cannibalize sales of a bigger truck like Ranger and F150
I've had 4 Honda Ridgelines, a 2008, 2012, 2014, I purchased used & I currently have a 2019 RTL-E I bought new. In the past I've owned a few Rangers & Tacomas & I've driven plenty of full size trucks. I have even test driven the new Chevy, Tacoma & even a Nissan. I can tell you with certainty that the Ridgeline is the best truck I have ever driven or owned. I used to really love my Rangers & Tacomas but the Ridgeline is on a whole other level. If you don't believe me all I can say is go drive one! It has lots of features you'll actually use like the in bed trunk which has become indispensable to me & the dual action tailgate makes loading and unloading much easier. The first gen Ridgeline was a bit of an ugly duckling and the gas mileage left a bit to be desired but there were so many other advantages to owning & daily driving it , that even back then the good far outweighed the bad. I have worked construction for over 31 years & I get a lot of flack over the Ridgeline. Too many haters who have never driven one & have an opinion that "Its not a truck". You all know what "opinions" are like. Lol. Telling me the Ridgeline is not a truck when you've never at least driven one, is like someone trying to tell me what the food tastes like at a restaurant they've never been to. The Ridgeline is not for everyone, I get that. If you need to tow a lot of weight (over 4,000 lbs. with people in it) or plow or haul cows or something then yeah its probably not for you. However for most regular Joe Shmoes like me who need a truck to tow reasonably sized loads and do some work, trips to the lumber yard, haul motorcycles, furniture, do some off-roading , camping & so on its all the truck you'll ever really need. Its a dam fine pick-up truck that's reliable, fun to drive, super comfortable, fits a family of 5, gets best in class gas mileage, practical, and now it's even more rugged looking and handsome. Don't knock it 'til you try it.
Excellent review. I tell people routinely that only know the other midsize trucks to go drive one. The Ridgeline is 100x more comfortable than Tacoma. Plus it rips harder from that silky smooth V6. Such a great truck.
I work for Honda and build these. We all certainly appreciate you and others who have bought one, so thank you. When I first seen this new model I knew it was going to be a hit. Like he said it looks more like an actual truck now. I love how they redesigned it and the new red looks so good on it too.
@@benhaze1010 Some people just like to upgrade every few years(I know it defeats the purpose of paying one off and always staying in debt). I use to work for a guy that did that with his Chevy Silverado, every few years he would get a new one. No reason in particular, he just liked to keep a new model
Hey fuel prices are set to rise, so I dumped my 15 mpg ‘19 Ram Longhorn for the restyled Ridgeline Black Edition (in pearl white). I’ve had the truck a few days and on a 550 mile trip through the Ozarks I averaged right at 24 mpg (that’s with only 20 miles on it when I started my journey). The Ridgeline rides absolutely splendid through the hills with plenty of get up and go...no issues flying past slow pokes in the passing areas. The truck feels extremely planted and in severe rain it had no issues with hydroplaning or getting squirmy. Cornering, especially with bumps is very planted and stable, no live axles jumping around. Overall I’m very pleased I jumped before the gas gods go nuts with prices. Yes, I made fun of the Ridgeline in the past, it was a SUV/Minivan looking poser to me. With the refresh update the truck looks much better the part of a true truck with a lot of great features. So don’t snob out, I’ve owned many F150s, Rams and even a HD2500 Chevy. If you’re a person that’s looking at a daily driver truck, why not broaden the search range and at least check it out...I think you’ll find out, like me, why it’s a great ride.
One other point. Even though the Ridgeline has a lower tow capacity than the Tacoma it’s increased payload makes that 5000lbs range stretch farther. Most quad cab Tacoma’s I’ve been looking at have like a 950 payload. By the time I put my wife, kids and camping gear in that doesn’t leave much room for tongue weight.
Toyota lists the 2020 toyota tacoma quad cab with a passenger payload of 1155 pounds. And apparently they list the bed payload at 1440 lbs. I kind of wonder how those two numbers work out if you stuff 2600 lbs of people in stuff in the cab and bed. Probably not well.
@@erikmiles5536 lol I’ve towed with a 2019 Tacoma and I’ve towed with my ridgeline same trailer same car on the trailer. Difference is the ridgeline accelerates on grades still the Tacoma is a sitting duck up grades and the new ones don’t even come with trans coolers. Toyota has a long history of Bullshitting ratings and numbers.
It's all about the suspension. The tacoma usually needs a leafspring, the reality is that people who buy small trucks don't really buy them to haul heavy things often so they make the suspension softer. The tacoma is more of a off road vehicle. I own a 19 and was considering a ridgeline, the ridgeline was better in every way except the off road part. I actually do a lot of camping and hiking and I knew for a fact that the ridgeline just simply couldn't get me where I needed it to so I bought the tacoma. Even f150s you have to add a leafspring for heavy loads or ad airbags or something because they don't want the suspension to be super stiff like say a f350. All in all adding a leaf spring to your tacoma is not hard or expensive.
Especially the Ram. It’s always $70k limited. People look at the interior and go crazy but what you have to realize is that on the popular ram trends like the big horn the interior does not look like the limited
My wife recently confessed she was happy to support me during my Ridgeline phase, but she was glad I got over it before I bought one. This video brought me RIGHT back! Sorry wife!
This is a tougher lite duty truck than most people think. Quality built through and through. Ridgeline will work daily at or near its designed capacity and not suffer any issues before it reaches 150,000 km or more. Grab any full size domestic truck out there and just daily drive it with nothing in the bed and nothing in tow and before it hits 100,000 km it will need bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends and u-joint. There are some exceptions. Done it, been there, got the T-shirt and I know plenty of others who have gone through it.
Omg man you couldnt be more bang on. I just traded my 2018 RAM for a 2021 Ridgeyy cause I had to replace both CV axles at like 60000km the 80000km. I rarely left the road and did moderate towing. Why such crap FCA, why! Looking forward to my real truck from; Honda.
@@pennypingu My dad ended up getting his 2019 ram lemon law repurchased. I would list what was wrong, but it's easier to say what wasn't. The final straw was the engine needing a rebuild at 15k miles. He bought a Tundra and couldn't be happier
Just got a Honda Ridgeline 2021 RTL-E Steel model. Love it! Can't say enough positives about it. I also have a BIG F350 truck. It pulls my 5th wheel and tools for Major jobs. However, it's so hard to park. The Ridgeline is my everyday drive vehicle that still gives me the capability of a truck for smaller jobs, and it is so much easier to park.
I just bought a 2021 RTL. I LOVE IT! Honestly, I was a bit unsure because I really didn't want a truck for my main vehicle, however, I have a small farm and needed a truck. Honestly, when I'm driving this vehicle I forget all about being in a truck. It feels like an SUV since it's built on the Honda Pilot/Odyssey frame. Handles bumps in the road like a dream and is quieter than my Toyota Venza was. I love this vehicle! So much technology too!
I have a 2020 RTLE. I love everything about it except the auto start stop and push button trans. The truck does surprisingly well off-road, handles like a champ on road and can cruse on the highway at a 100 without breaking a sweat. The interior in my RTLE is so nice and the in bed trunk is awesome.
My previous trucks: Chevy S10, GMC Sierra 2500 Duramax (2) , 2016 tacoma. My previous vehicles: Honda Civic and Pilot. Current truck: 2019 Ridgeline The Ridgeline is BY FAR the best vehicle out of everything on this list. The all wheel drive doesn't get enough praise; it makes it a completely different vehicle than even the 2016 tacoma. The rear wheel drive of any truck inhibits/changes it's performance on the road. You won't be cruising down a mountain in the rain with a tacoma and slam on the gas. You will be wondering what the weird noise is when you try to turn sharply in 4WD because it's not meant for regular driving. The full time rear wheel drive puts all the other trucks on that list in an inferior class when it comes to driving without a load or towing. I routinely grab 2,000 lb pallets from a wholesale supply company and the ridgeline handles it without a problem. And I use the built in, super convenient tie downs included with the truck to strap it down; not some aftermarket BS I have to take an afternoon to install because the people at GM/Toyota didn't want to make my life easier. The only weakness is that it can't tow a lot. But you know what? Neither could my S10 or Tacoma relative to the needs of a farm. Get a diesel that can tow if you need a real work truck. The Ridgeline isn't a real work truck. It's the best vehicle you'll ever own and it just happens to be able to do most everything a "real" truck can.
I'll bet most of the people claiming it's not a truck are the same silly SOBs in Jeep Gladiators that I see slow down to 2mph to go over a 2" speed bump in the mall parking lot.
@@Teporame It is. Any definition you come up with to try and exclude means you will be excluding either traditional built trucks or calling things like a Crown Victoria a truck.
Searching for empty complaints are we? I thought speed bumps were supposed to slow you down?! And only 2” tall? You must have a lot of low riders in your area, that the city regulations department are mindful of. How nice of them. Just because you drive a nice truck doesn’t mean you need to go flying over a speed bump @ 10 to 20 mph. Especially in a parking lot. If I was being a real smart Alec I guess I would say, maybe the speed bumps are so short so the Ridgeline can get over it?
My 2006 model handled everything Montana could throw at it. I pulled many other “better” pickups and SUV’s out of snow and muck. It was the best vehicle for snow and ice I ever owned
We really like our 2018 RTL-T. Ridgeline does 90% of what people buy a pickup to do. Few people tow anything than a 5x8 utility trailer and it does that. If I had to tow large trailers often I would have bought a body on frame pickup.
While a professional forester and timberland real estate broker I bought the original 2006 in spring of 2005. It never failed to get me where I needed to go and back home. Twelve years and 312,000 miles later I traded for another Ridgeline (2013). Loved it, too, and just traded for 2021 RTL. Few people ever NEED to go anywhere off-road that Ridgeline won’t go. I’m so hooked on the trunk that any truck without one is a nonstarter for me. Maybe all I really miss is the big beefy interior door handles in the pre-2017 models.
Check the US honda site. The HPD package is just bronze rims and stickers basically. There are other packages that include nice black rims same style just different cor and functional upgrades for a better price in my opinion. Worth looking into the packages. Cheers!
Don't do it. Pay off the '17 and pocket the extra $$$$. It's just skin on the front end, stickers on the back, dual exhaust which provide no increase in HP. Just a pragmatic guy and his thoughts.
I drive a 2018 F150 STX 4x4 with a 2.7L ecoboost. If I did not have full sized truck needs, I would STRONGLY consider the Ridgeline. This truck is just super cool.
I have a 2019 Ridgeline and absolutely love it as a farm vehicle and daily driver. However, two drawbacks that are rarely emphasized, and are not off-road-related concern the bed height (shallow) and ground clearance (low, e.g., snow). As the bed floor-to-sidewall height is only 17in. you need to take extra care transporting taller items. And if you use a tonneau cover, don't expect to store taller items underneath it. Some luggage won't even fit using a cover. The lower ground clearance will not allow pushing through deeper snow vs other midsize trucks as the snow will pack underneath the truck more quickly (dependent on snow depth of course).
I own a 2017 Ridgeline and I would not trade it for any other truck. It is the best all around truck I have ever owned. Most of the time I am on pavement but when I do go off-road - I have no problems and its more comfortable!
Love my '06 Ridgeline and am glad they brought the styling from Gen 1 back and improved on it. Your comment about other mid-size trucks being an awful towing experience at their stated limits also applies to the Ridgeline though. I've towed at near 5K lbs and it's a struggle. 3K is great, 4K is ok once in a while. But near the max, you're almost always going to be wishing for a more capable rig.
Odysseys are the best - if I didn't go offroad so often I'd definitely be getting one of those. Can haul more than trucks and keeps them dry and locked away!
My 2017 Black Edition is great for most things, especially fuel mileage. I average over 24 mpg combined and well over 30 mpg highway ( I don’t drive aggressively). Heavy loads and towing drop those numbers quite a bit, which is expected with a 3.5 litre V6. As I seldom have a heavy load, it’ not an issue for me. It truly has a great ride on pavement and gravel roads. My biggest complaint is the lack of after market ‘things’. Two companies make expensive fibreglass toppers but no one makes an aluminum topper. I was looking at putting a pop top camper on it but most of the manufacturers (4wheel campers, GFC, etc) don’t make one for Ridgeline. One company said they won’t make their pop top aluminum topper for the Ridgeline because of questions regarding the structural integrity of the side walls in the box. I followed up with Honda and all they said was they do not recommend any kind of structure to be put on the truck box. Other than that, for 90% of people that want a truck, it is great.
Last year I spent 4 months going over which truck to get: Colorado, Ranger, maybe the F150, and Tacoma. So many evenings watching RUclips on these and one day, my nephew asked if I considered the Ridgeline. I was thinking to myself "they still make those things???" So I started to review the new 2021 coming in January not knowing anything about it's Pilot lineage. The more reviews I read and and listened to, the more I realized this was the truck I needed. I was never the off-road type; never on my bicycle nor my motorcycles. The Ridgeline is the perfect "city" truck for someone like me. One test drive and I knew this was the one. I didn't even consider the other 4 after that (I've ridden in a few body over frame trucks so I knew what those felt like). I picked up my 2021 Black Edition on 3/1 and have been having fun in this truck, learning so much of all it's features. It's honestly more complex compared to the Audi A5 it replaced but that A5 was first gen. 2008 so the leap into the creature comforts really overwhelmed me but boy do I enjoy this vehicle. Already spent nearly $2,000 in accessories! This review is spot on for me.
I actually quite liked this in person. I need the towing capacity of my ram atm, but if I were to find myself in a position where I wanted to downsize, I'd consider a ridgeline, there I said it! I like Honda quite a bit, their vehicles seem so finely tuned with no nit picks. I had a civic and it rode like a cloud.
Just bought a 2020 and love it. Like you said, it does 95% of what I need in a truck and the rest of the time it’s a great vehicle for everyday use. A hit. And add Honda reliability and it’s the one for many.
Same here, I have an extended cab Dakota with a 6 footer, 8 foot with tailgate down. If they could shrink the back doors down and lengthen the bed I would be sold. It is the best driving truck of the lot, but as of now I would have to go with a Lariat Ranger as it is the only one with small cab long bed.
@@paulh6517 yes but you can't get it in the Limited trim or TRDPRO. Same with the new Frontier. Can get extended (king) cab long bed but can't get it if you want the upgraded interior or locking differential which are locked to PRO4X
I really like the Honda Ridgeline, and from what I'm seeing worldwide as a vehicle enthusiast, it is the kind of pickup that a vast majority of owner's actually need and I applaud it for that. I'm really glad that I don't live in America where your car or truck is an extension of what dangles. Being forced into vehicles that people don't need simply because they'll never be allowed a moments peace without having to justify their vehicle choice sounds *exhausting*.
@@smithjones1906 , sometimes it takes someone who's a step back to make an unbiased observation. I think Joanna got it pretty much right, except that it's only exhausting if you choose to engage. I'm able to take jokes about my Ridgeline, and my friends are equally willing to take jokes about their "Compensator 3500."
Sadly most of the people who don't like this truck have never driven it. I drove this back to back with a Colorado and Ford Ranger and the ride isn't even close. If I were towing a large haul I would get a Full size, if I were seriously rock crawling I wouldn't get a truck in the first place and go with a Jeep or New Bronco. If somebody wants a different midsize then go for it, but you feel the need to bag on what you have never even driven then I completely agree with Joanna's assessment.
There's someone at my work who drives an F250 to her office job. Parks it in the parking lot with that bed sticking out about 4 or 5 feet past the other cars parked next to her. Always clean and shiny, no scratches or dents. lol
Just to let you know some dealerships are offering the Traxda lift kit up to 3.5" and skid plates. The new ridgeline 2020 forward also has a 1st gear 20 to 1 ratio. Not jeep off-road capable but certainly more than most would ever think from this truck.
Concur. I traded a 2017 Tacoma SR5 4x4 on a 2020 Ridgeline RTL-E and I could NOT be happier! For everything I use it for, the Ridgeline is the superior vehicle. Everything it can't do well are things I won't be doing in it anyway.
I love this truck. It’s what most people need in an everyday truck. I do worry about it’s depreciation compared to a tacoma. That’s the only thing holding me back from being completely sold on it.
Ridgeline had just as good residual value as tacoma. Both trucks barely deprecate and when I was looking for a used ridgeline, there was none to be found. It seems that people hang on to them for a long time.
New owmer of a Nissan Frontier here. I went with a midsized truck because i knew i wasn't really gonna tow anything heavy and would mostly use it for overlanding or light off roading. I love the freaking thing but boy it is not the most comfortable thing on earth. Honestly considering these Ridgelines as my next truck. Way more rational truck for most people out there
How do you like the Tacoma? I'm on the fence about which one I want, Honda and Toyota are the same dealership here so I was able to drive both last night. I think overall I like the Ridgeline better, but I've never owned anything but Toyota. I love Toyota reliability so I'm scared to buy a Honda, plus the one thing I really hate about the Ridgeline is the tiny little armrests.
Never thought I’d consider a Ridgeline. But after buying a 2005 Pilot for a 2nd vehicle, I might actually grab one of these in the future. Great builds
Shoot, if it can out perform my 2007 Element then I’m in! My Element pulls my dirt bikes and snowmobile trailer. It hauls 4 dogs, all 12-16’ lumber for my deck builds, 1200sqft of flooring (in a single trip!) and still gets my daily jobs done without killing me at the gas pump. It essentially has a 6-8ft. “bed” and a tailgate which is better than most midsize and lots of full size trucks I see on the roads.
Good review. Honest and to the point. Great product with some interesting features. I seriously considered this for my needs. Watched lots of reviews. Checked the Ridgeline forums and noticed some engine issues that were concerning. However, most products have issues. Some more than others. The next thing I wasn’t fond of was the push button transmission. I know Honda’s are reliable but my sister just spent 1k to get a cabin water leak fixed on their CRV. Again, things happen. Ultimately, I decided on a 2020 Tacoma. It’s got it’s quirks but meets my needs. Would have the Ridgeline been more comfortable & livable day to day? Most likely. But I went with what I’m familiar with. Had a 2003 Pathfinder for the past 14 years while the kids were small. Prior to that I had a brand new 1992 Toyota V6 extra-cab 4x4 5spd truck for 15 years. Wife & I loved that truck before kids. So we went with what we had and was familiar with. So far the double cab long box Tacoma has been great and fits our family of 4. I tend to keep my vehicles for a long time. I’m hoping that this Truck will be the same with little to no issues.
Reliable, fuel-efficient, drive like a car which is the most comfortable truck to drive. Very well rounded in terms of usage. I'll trade in my MDX with this 2021 honda ridgeline.
I actually purchased a 2021 RTL with the HPD package and I'm someone who spends most of the time in my truck going to and from work and the store, with the need to go to home depot for home remodeling needs or somewhere a little off the beaten path for camping every now and then. It is the perfect vehicle 99% percent of the time since I'm the person who's on road without the truck at full load the majority of the time. So quiet, so comfortable. Only complaint is the stock speakers are bad/muffled. Replacing them soon and then it's the perfect vehicle to own until it does at 200k+ miles.
Its exactly as the review said. Im looking at going from a SUV beck to something with a bed in it. Im not towing anything heavy(maybe a kayak at most) or a utility trailer or something like that.. my current Subaru forester can do that so the Ridgeline can obviously do it. Im not going "off road" with it as in rock crawling, some "course" set up to test your 4x4.. most im doing is going down a old rutted logging road, over a farm field to get closer to the fishing or hunting spot.. but noting serious .. im going to haul stuff like Mulch, maybe some lumber, stuff from a big box store, im going to toss my hunting or fishing gear in the back or in the storage area under the bed, i may take some brush from spring cleanup away or maybe get a small load of firewood for the firepit campfires.. it needs to be good in the snow in the North East winters.. I narrowed it down to 2 or 3 trucks. Dodge 1500 Big Horn with the v6, and the Chevy and GMC mid size trucks and the Ridgeline..im more worried about MPG than hauling ability.. all these have similar(listed) MPG and all are also slightly different.. The thing that struck home about this review and with the Ridgeline are... are you buying it for what you MAY do but probably wont(4x4 off road towing a camper or something heavy etc) or what you know you WILL do.. Ridgeline is at the head of this class for those that want truck utility but dont need big towing/hauling ability but what the bed., Thanks for the review/thoughts.
had an 08 ridgeline rtl, a 16 frontier pro4x, and a 17 tacoma trd offroad. the ridgeline is the one i miss the most. it rode nice, had the most useable storage, and the awd drive was great in the snow.
@@imribs Either the blue or red.. what ever one shows up first.. I put a deposit on one so I should be getting a call soon.. dealership didn't give me a date.
People need to stop hating on the small trucks! Which were big business in the 70’s! Now Ford is coming out with the Maverick. Small trucks are so awesome! So much more practical! The big trucks have gotten too big.
you could include me in the group of people who dont consider this a real truck, but i want one. i think it would fit my needs better than a taco or frontier.
I think the Ridgeline is a great looking truck with some really interesting features. It's a great on road truck with a great AWD system. I wish people would stop trying to convince us (offroad enthusiasts) that the Ridgeline is rugged. Though it has a great AWD system, its bad angles and awful ground clearance keep the system from really shining. I think Honda should just go ahead and double down on the street truck and offer a street performance package. I completely agree that truck buyers buy a truck for what they think it will do, not what they really do. IMHO those are the real posers.
Big truck is busy and we need to take the camper back to the storage lot. Ranger, Gladiator, and Colorado/Canyon (Jeep and GM need to be properly equipped) can do it safely and legally. Ridgeline can't. Ridgeline offers no locking rear differential, not even a limited slip like the Colorado. Offers no low-range. Offers only one powertrain. You can say these are niche needs, and I can say go look at the sales data, it seems to suggest something different. It's more expensive than most competitors, especially when big rebates come around. There are a lot of Honda loyalists and evangelists just like with every other brand, I'm not condemning those people. I just don't want them polluting an objective evaluation of this product.
They fixed a lot of the issues I had with it, and I owned a 2017. But I still don’t understand why their top trims don’t offer ventilated seats or the rear seat warmers in the USA but they do in Canada...
Pride and stereotypes keeps the arrogant critics employed as they seek to condescend against those who favor the feisty little Honda truck that could. I never cared for narcissists anyway. Great job Honda! GREAT VIDEO!
Honda .. means reliability... affordability...I'd buy one over the others for that reason alone....and it's a gasser not a diesel...no expensive service charges or turbochargers to go bang in the back country... I'll definitely be looking at one in the future!! 🤔😎🇺🇸
That seems to have always been the buyer age range for Ridgeline from even 1st Generation. You could extend that age range 45-70. Somebody getting out of sedan. Doesn't need seating of Pilot type vehicle Crossover. Bed utility for Home Depot runs trips or light hauling to dump. Excellent for camping fishing trip.
Im definitely about it, the capability of a lifted element is enough to prove that with the same dna in suspension and handling honda has made another winner
I bought a Ford Ranger instead of the Ridgeline because of my needs. I like the Honda and back in 2004 I had a Subaru Baja. It did everything i wanted it to do back then and I loved my Subie! If things change in a couple of years from now, a Ridgeline will be on my list. Great Review!
This video actually mentions an uncomfortable truth about the day to day life of most truck buyers, which is a weird but accurate defense of this thing’s short comings. That said, the one design flaw that I have trouble overlooking is the spare tire location. While the bed is typically empty far more often than not, I’d rather not have to unload my bed on the side of the road if I have a flat when I’m hauling.
The unfortunate solution is taking your spare out and setting it in the bed when filling it. I'll take it, I don't want my spare out in the elements anyways
Ford is targeting a different market, though. Honda is targeting old retired people who still want a truck but don't want the spine-jarring drive that comes with a solid rear axle and leaf springs, and are willing to sacrifice some capability in the name of comfort. Ford is targeting young buyers who would rather drive a truck (or even something that looks like a truck) than a Honda Civic, but they can't afford a truck so they buy the Civic. Essentially, the idea is to make the Maverick an entry-level vehicle to get new young buyers into a Ford with the hope that when they get older and more successful they'll come back and graduate to a Ranger or an F-150. The different markets that the manufacturer's are targeting are best reflected in their pricing, Ford has promised that the Maverick will start under $20,000 while the Ridgeline is almost twice as expensive with a base price of almost $40,000. Interestingly enough, Hyundai is also making a unibody trucklette based on the Hyundai Tucson which should slot between the Maverick and Ridgeline with a base MSRP of just under $30,000.
@@dave3682 Bang on! I've yet to see someone under 55 years old driving a Ridgeline. Pity Honda don't offer a longer and deeper bed, otherwise it's a solid all-round truck.
@@MIZUNOMP60 35yo here with 17 rtl-t. Grew up in dad's ranger, learned to drive in an f150. Had no need for trucks after high school. Then I got to 33, needed a home depot runner for remodeling and landscaping projects. Needed to tow my 18ft camper (4100 lbs loaded), my 20 ft boat (3500 lbs), and a utv on an aluminum trailer. Also needs to be economical daily driver and fit car seats for 2 kids. Only midsized truck to do it all with no compromise is the honda. My father mocked it, until a bad Wisconsin snow storm left his current Silverado 4x4 and mom's outback stuck in the driveway, stock tires on the Subaru and open differential for the chevy. So my ridgeline came to the rescue (full disclosure, I replaced the stock tires with meatier a/t with 3peak snowflake rating) and pulled them out. My dad no longer mocks it.
Many reviews have panned the performance of the radar cruise control on this truck. I absolutely love this feature on our new Subaru Forester - it brakes and accelerates very smoothly and works to a complete stop. Has anyone here experienced problems / annoyances with the Ridgeline’s cruise?
Very good video. Own a 2017 ridgeline that I bought used. Prior to this all I owned were toyota trucks, the most recent a 2012 tacoma. The ridgeline is the best day to day driving truck hands down. The interior is the nicest hands down. The trunk is very nice. It is not good good for non-paved roads due to its low clearance and front wheel drive. I am looking to buy a 2021 Ridgeline in at least the RTL trim but preferably the RTL E trim. Very pricey, but I suspect I can get at least 10 years out of it. If i still lived on the mainland and was using a truck to explore the deserts and the mountains I would get a Toy TRD offroad. But as the video guys says for 95% of the time I am using the truck on road and to haul regular stuff.
I have been driving Honda's for a long time. I never liked the Ridgeline. I always said, If Honda built a pickup I would buy one, but jeez I never considered the Ridgeline a pickup, until recently. Maybe it has something to do with age. Maybe I'm getting tired of keeping a full sized truck clean and maybe I've finally realized I just don't need more than that.
Have a Taco, my 2nd, and I love my Taco but… now I’m probably going Ridgeline once I’m ready to move on. I would have never considered Ridgeline before 2021 (the look) but now it makes good sense for me. My Toyota’s we’re great for ten years easy and I believe the Honda will match that.
This is a ca-truck for city people who occasionally need to do some truck stuff. Or truck-lite if you like. It's not a work truck or an offroad truck. I think if more people were more honest about what they actually use their vehicle for there would be a lot more of these on the road.
Love this! Hated the Gen 2 design and now I'm actually interested again. I have a G1 2013 with 250k miles and LOVE IT!! Incredibly reliable and amazing value, comfortable family vehicle for 99% of the time, and exactly what I need for hauling four-wheelers, mulch, dirt, drywall, and everything in-between. Oh, and the tie downs? Nobody talks about them but my dad was amazed at how many options I had to tie into when tying down his TV. Love this truck, can't wait to buy a 21 in 6-7 years 😂
I’ve owned half ton, three quarter ton, diesel and gas body on frame trucks… I’m 54 years old. I do not want my hemorrhoids shook out like on a conventional body and frame trucks. For small loads carrying and towing……comfortable distance driving….It will be my next truck.!
2019 Ridgeline Sport here.. its turned out to be a much better "truck" than I thought it would be. We are absolutely sold and our next new car will be a RTL-E I got the sport because it was on sale and the price was excellent (lease). The only thing I didn't and still don't like are the cloth seat surfaces. They are perfectly comfortable.. but get dirty and have to be wet scrubbed and cleaned.
It's a nice truck and I like about 75% of it. Something that you didn't cover was aftermarket support, what's that like. I've been a yoda fan boy for most my life. Honda isn't a bad company by any means, they just aren't built for my needs. Your right for most people what they think they will do vs what they do are different. I'm one of the few who dose go to ares a stock rig can't with out breaking Something. It's a truck for most and that's fine
Ridge line Is a a great product right at the beginning. And I also like how Honda deal with the little problems, things in the earlier version of the ridgelline get improved over the years. Like the wider open angels of the back doors, volume knot, more truck like front design.
I bought a 2022 Black Edition in White. Love the truck, disabled the start stop function. Only wish it had ventilation in the seats like the Canadian models.
What do you think of the Ridgeline's updated styling?
Better but not angry or intimidating enough. Needs 6” lift, 35” knobby tires and more beer holders!
Looks much better. The headlights could use a bit of work to bring them more inline with the new square front.
I like it but it may look too Land Cruiser-ish! They do look better with an aftermarket 2" lift and slightly larger tires.
I owned a 2017 and it was the most problematical vehicle I ever owned. Transmission overheating/shudder, vcm issues, fuel injectors, adaptive motor mounts and torque converter are all issues that myself and multiple other owners have with even newer models. See for yourself and join the 2nd gen Honda Ridgeline group on Facebook. And then there all the little annoyances one starts having once you own one for a few years. After 53000 miles I now have a 2019 TRD Tacoma without any headaches compared to the Ridgeline.
@@andreasm2882 150k on my 2011 Ridge and going strong. Most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.
The Ridgeline is so good that I bought one despite working for a rival car company. It's the best all-purpose vehicle I've ever owned.
yep, its the truck most people need, but wont buy
Just passed 250,000 miles on my 2007 Ridgeline. Other than regularly scheduled maintenance I have replace the alternator, one cooling fan, 1 O2 sensor, and finally the struts. I just drove it across country (2200 miles) last week. Everything on the interior of the truck still works like the day it drove off the lot.
240k on my 06 rtl
@@ohsnapzitzmeng Yeah, those were the Ridgeline's before they got the VCM engine in them. What is the reliability on that VCM V6 long-term? That's what I want to know. I'm sticking with my 2009 Ridgeline until I know for sure.
dont forget to replace the water pump at some point
@@FrancoCastro and timing belt? This is getting more costly than oil changes and tire rotations.
@@normt430 yeah, honestly I like the v6 from Honda before they ruined it with VCM, but I’ll never buy another vehicle with a timing belt. It’s a totally unnecessary expense and poor design choice
This is the truck that like 80% of people actually need, the perfect all around truck.
More like 90%...
@@vivalasvegas702 haha agreed
Seems like a ridiculous argument, like saying a 400 pound woman meets 80 percent of peoples needs, blah!
@@Shakerhood69 Not quite, it’s not like consumers are towing or hauling 1929838393 pounds everyday, it’s comfortable and reliable.
The truck that people need, not the one they deserve... because it's Ridgeline.
I have a 2017 Ridgeline. I live on a Farm and Commute 66 miles Round Trip 5 Days a Week. I Also have 94 F150 and 2002 Surburban. I have all my Heavy Equipment Vehicles to do Heavy stuff. But have yet to use them yet. Truck fits Lifestyle. It's the JACK OF ALL TRADES, BUT MASTER OF NONE!!! IT JUST DOES WHAT U ASK IT TO DO.
MY CAPS LOCK IS STUCK BUT I WANTED TO SAY THIS IS A GOOD VIDEO.
LOL
Press shift?
The Ridgeline's biggest problem is that it makes too much sense. People don't like stuff that makes sense cause it usually isn't flashy and perception is where it's at nowadays.
This is tru ... People take there egos and wants over there requirements and needs ...
Then when you called them out on it they get an attitude lol
I want a tundra and I got a crewcan 5.7 🤷♂️ it’s the best truck ever
It really does. The new tundra is so much more badsss though.
Right. People love the APPEARANCE of capability and ruggedness. How many people who own Raptors, TRD Pros and tricked out Jeeps use them to their capabilities?
🤣
First off, it is a truck. Second, it's a light duty truck, yes... not a "body on frame" truck... that being said, those looking for light hauling and towing with a terrific ride and plenty of amenities, this is your truck!! If you're going to really go do "off roading" then purchase the appropriate vehicle. If you're looking light duty, 300K mile +/ 10 yr + ownership... Ridgeline... you can't go wrong!! Nice review btw!!
Well stated.
I had a dog and BINGO was his name! After a couple of years, still loving my 2017 Ridge
I want one!
Why does everyone who has a Ridgeline feel the need to defend it all the time? Ive had plenty of trucks, and never once said, "this is a real truck!" Its like the guy eating a veggie burger telling the guy with a bacon cheeseburger that they taste the same!
@@MrHand-ih4sz I don't own one yet.... I've been driving F150's for years and always will. However, in my 62 years.... I've owned numerous Honda's and always enjoyed driving them and the " no problems" they provide if you're maintaining them. I also sold them a few years back for a short time because I believe in them. My F150 Super Crew is the main vehicle my wife is now driving and I pull our RV with it as well. I am considering a new Ranger FX4 or a Ridgeline Sport for my next vehicle just for the versatility and light duty/off roading I'd being doing. Lastly, the Ridgeline is a great little truck.... Reason for defending.... not everyone needs a body on frame, Lift Kit, 35's, roll bars and a wench and skoal in their back pocket, or the "Mudder's" who feel the need to remind a Ridgeline owner, that they're really not driving a truck! To each is own is what I say....whatever fits your own needs and desires! Let it go man, life's too short!!
I owned a 2017 Black Edition and it was really phenomenal. Back seat was just too snug for my 3 kids, but I really loved the truck. Total Swiss-army knife, like nothing else out there.
Nice man, how old/bug were your kids when you replaced it, and whatd you replace it with?
@@jakes5530 They were like 2, 6 and 7, and after about 1 1/2 years I replaced it with an F-150. We also wanted to get a good sized travel trailer, so we needed more towing ability. Now we are up to an F-250 lol. But the Ridgeline is really a fantastic truck unless you tow a lot (and almost no one does, statistically.)
@@grisa12345 seems like the logical progression haha. I plan on getting a 19 ft boat that should weigh under 3500 lbs, so the ridgeline seems like a capable choice. Dont have kids yet, but good to see it can handle 3 kids up to 7 years old pretty comfortably.
@@jjm2948 Yeah, they’re especially spoiled now in our 2021 Sienna Platinum... 😂
The back seat legroom is what killed the idea for us. My wife and I are tall and with our 2 kids just not enough leg room especially as they get bigger. If it only had another 2 inches of rear leg we would have bought it. Too bad because it is a great vehicle. When Honda does redesign hopefully they will make back seat more spacious as it is the only truck they sell so not like they are going to cannibalize sales of a bigger truck like Ranger and F150
I've had 4 Honda Ridgelines, a 2008, 2012, 2014, I purchased used & I currently have a 2019 RTL-E I bought new. In the past I've owned a few Rangers & Tacomas & I've driven plenty of full size trucks. I have even test driven the new Chevy, Tacoma & even a Nissan. I can tell you with certainty that the Ridgeline is the best truck I have ever driven or owned. I used to really love my Rangers & Tacomas but the Ridgeline is on a whole other level. If you don't believe me all I can say is go drive one! It has lots of features you'll actually use like the in bed trunk which has become indispensable to me & the dual action tailgate makes loading and unloading much easier. The first gen Ridgeline was a bit of an ugly duckling and the gas mileage left a bit to be desired but there were so many other advantages to owning & daily driving it , that even back then the good far outweighed the bad. I have worked construction for over 31 years & I get a lot of flack over the Ridgeline. Too many haters who have never driven one & have an opinion that "Its not a truck". You all know what "opinions" are like. Lol. Telling me the Ridgeline is not a truck when you've never at least driven one, is like someone trying to tell me what the food tastes like at a restaurant they've never been to. The Ridgeline is not for everyone, I get that. If you need to tow a lot of weight (over 4,000 lbs. with people in it) or plow or haul cows or something then yeah its probably not for you. However for most regular Joe Shmoes like me who need a truck to tow reasonably sized loads and do some work, trips to the lumber yard, haul motorcycles, furniture, do some off-roading , camping & so on its all the truck you'll ever really need. Its a dam fine pick-up truck that's reliable, fun to drive, super comfortable, fits a family of 5, gets best in class gas mileage, practical, and now it's even more rugged looking and handsome. Don't knock it 'til you try it.
Excellent review. I tell people routinely that only know the other midsize trucks to go drive one. The Ridgeline is 100x more comfortable than Tacoma. Plus it rips harder from that silky smooth V6. Such a great truck.
Just curious: why did you get so quickly a 2014 after the 2012?
I work for Honda and build these. We all certainly appreciate you and others who have bought one, so thank you. When I first seen this new model I knew it was going to be a hit. Like he said it looks more like an actual truck now. I love how they redesigned it and the new red looks so good on it too.
@@benhaze1010 Some people just like to upgrade every few years(I know it defeats the purpose of paying one off and always staying in debt). I use to work for a guy that did that with his Chevy Silverado, every few years he would get a new one. No reason in particular, he just liked to keep a new model
@M Maple Thank you so much! I absolutely love the redesign too! We work very hard on these I promise you, we are located in Lincoln, Alabama.
I like this guy’s reviews! Calm, cool and informative.
Hey fuel prices are set to rise, so I dumped my 15 mpg ‘19 Ram Longhorn for the restyled Ridgeline Black Edition (in pearl white). I’ve had the truck a few days and on a 550 mile trip through the Ozarks I averaged right at 24 mpg (that’s with only 20 miles on it when I started my journey). The Ridgeline rides absolutely splendid through the hills with plenty of get up and go...no issues flying past slow pokes in the passing areas. The truck feels extremely planted and in severe rain it had no issues with hydroplaning or getting squirmy. Cornering, especially with bumps is very planted and stable, no live axles jumping around. Overall I’m very pleased I jumped before the gas gods go nuts with prices. Yes, I made fun of the Ridgeline in the past, it was a SUV/Minivan looking poser to me. With the refresh update the truck looks much better the part of a true truck with a lot of great features. So don’t snob out, I’ve owned many F150s, Rams and even a HD2500 Chevy. If you’re a person that’s looking at a daily driver truck, why not broaden the search range and at least check it out...I think you’ll find out, like me, why it’s a great ride.
All it needed was that redesigned nose...seems plenty competitive to me
I agree, the other one was a tad too feminine. Not saying that's a problem but the majority of the pickup market is men.
@@mermaidman961 I read an article saying more women buy tacomas than men so that’s probably the case with most new midsize trucks?
@@mermaidman961 still all gay
Yeah that chrome look was all wrong. You can black out chrome though! Hint hint.
@@Porsche996driver ....Thats exactly what I had the dealer do
One other point. Even though the Ridgeline has a lower tow capacity than the Tacoma it’s increased payload makes that 5000lbs range stretch farther. Most quad cab Tacoma’s I’ve been looking at have like a 950 payload. By the time I put my wife, kids and camping gear in that doesn’t leave much room for tongue weight.
Toyota lists the 2020 toyota tacoma quad cab with a passenger payload of 1155 pounds. And apparently they list the bed payload at 1440 lbs. I kind of wonder how those two numbers work out if you stuff 2600 lbs of people in stuff in the cab and bed. Probably not well.
@@erikmiles5536 lol I’ve towed with a 2019 Tacoma and I’ve towed with my ridgeline same trailer same car on the trailer. Difference is the ridgeline accelerates on grades still the Tacoma is a sitting duck up grades and the new ones don’t even come with trans coolers. Toyota has a long history of Bullshitting ratings and numbers.
True, most people don't look at the payload rating and believed towing number is everything
@@papercut1987 and truck manufacturers absolutely abuse that in their advertising.
It's all about the suspension. The tacoma usually needs a leafspring, the reality is that people who buy small trucks don't really buy them to haul heavy things often so they make the suspension softer. The tacoma is more of a off road vehicle. I own a 19 and was considering a ridgeline, the ridgeline was better in every way except the off road part. I actually do a lot of camping and hiking and I knew for a fact that the ridgeline just simply couldn't get me where I needed it to so I bought the tacoma. Even f150s you have to add a leafspring for heavy loads or ad airbags or something because they don't want the suspension to be super stiff like say a f350. All in all adding a leaf spring to your tacoma is not hard or expensive.
I love that Honda sent you a model that is not fully loaded. We almost never get to see regular versions of cars in reviews.
Especially the Ram. It’s always $70k limited. People look at the interior and go crazy but what you have to realize is that on the popular ram trends like the big horn the interior does not look like the limited
My wife recently confessed she was happy to support me during my Ridgeline phase, but she was glad I got over it before I bought one.
This video brought me RIGHT back! Sorry wife!
My wife was the same way. We finally took a test drive in one Friday and are now proud owners of one.
This is a tougher lite duty truck than most people think. Quality built through and through. Ridgeline will work daily at or near its designed capacity and not suffer any issues before it reaches 150,000 km or more. Grab any full size domestic truck out there and just daily drive it with nothing in the bed and nothing in tow and before it hits 100,000 km it will need bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends and u-joint. There are some exceptions. Done it, been there, got the T-shirt and I know plenty of others who have gone through it.
Omg man you couldnt be more bang on. I just traded my 2018 RAM for a 2021 Ridgeyy cause I had to replace both CV axles at like 60000km the 80000km. I rarely left the road and did moderate towing. Why such crap FCA, why! Looking forward to my real truck from; Honda.
The final straw for the RAM was a leaking timing chain cover at 98000km. Dodged and Rammed that bullet.
@@pennypingu My dad ended up getting his 2019 ram lemon law repurchased. I would list what was wrong, but it's easier to say what wasn't. The final straw was the engine needing a rebuild at 15k miles. He bought a Tundra and couldn't be happier
@@BrandonEht glad to hear he got his dream truck.
My dad has a 2017 Ridgeline RTL-T now with 90k miles & has been great so far! Ride & handling are amazing & love the hidden in bed trunk.
Just got a Honda Ridgeline 2021 RTL-E Steel model. Love it! Can't say enough positives about it. I also have a BIG F350 truck. It pulls my 5th wheel and tools for Major jobs. However, it's so hard to park. The Ridgeline is my everyday drive vehicle that still gives me the capability of a truck for smaller jobs, and it is so much easier to park.
I just bought a 2021 RTL. I LOVE IT! Honestly, I was a bit unsure because I really didn't want a truck for my main vehicle, however, I have a small farm and needed a truck. Honestly, when I'm driving this vehicle I forget all about being in a truck. It feels like an SUV since it's built on the Honda Pilot/Odyssey frame. Handles bumps in the road like a dream and is quieter than my Toyota Venza was. I love this vehicle! So much technology too!
I have a 2020 RTLE. I love everything about it except the auto start stop and push button trans. The truck does surprisingly well off-road, handles like a champ on road and can cruse on the highway at a 100 without breaking a sweat. The interior in my RTLE is so nice and the in bed trunk is awesome.
My previous trucks: Chevy S10, GMC Sierra 2500 Duramax (2) , 2016 tacoma. My previous vehicles: Honda Civic and Pilot.
Current truck: 2019 Ridgeline
The Ridgeline is BY FAR the best vehicle out of everything on this list. The all wheel drive doesn't get enough praise; it makes it a completely different vehicle than even the 2016 tacoma. The rear wheel drive of any truck inhibits/changes it's performance on the road. You won't be cruising down a mountain in the rain with a tacoma and slam on the gas. You will be wondering what the weird noise is when you try to turn sharply in 4WD because it's not meant for regular driving. The full time rear wheel drive puts all the other trucks on that list in an inferior class when it comes to driving without a load or towing.
I routinely grab 2,000 lb pallets from a wholesale supply company and the ridgeline handles it without a problem. And I use the built in, super convenient tie downs included with the truck to strap it down; not some aftermarket BS I have to take an afternoon to install because the people at GM/Toyota didn't want to make my life easier.
The only weakness is that it can't tow a lot. But you know what? Neither could my S10 or Tacoma relative to the needs of a farm. Get a diesel that can tow if you need a real work truck. The Ridgeline isn't a real work truck. It's the best vehicle you'll ever own and it just happens to be able to do most everything a "real" truck can.
I'll bet most of the people claiming it's not a truck are the same silly SOBs in Jeep Gladiators that I see slow down to 2mph to go over a 2" speed bump in the mall parking lot.
But, it is not a truck.
@@Teporame It is. Any definition you come up with to try and exclude means you will be excluding either traditional built trucks or calling things like a Crown Victoria a truck.
Searching for empty complaints are we? I thought speed bumps were supposed to slow you down?! And only 2” tall? You must have a lot of low riders in your area, that the city regulations department are mindful of. How nice of them. Just because you drive a nice truck doesn’t mean you need to go flying over a speed bump @ 10 to 20 mph. Especially in a parking lot. If I was being a real smart Alec I guess I would say, maybe the speed bumps are so short so the Ridgeline can get over it?
Or the 2 inches of rain water in the damn street... I hate those ppl .... Lol
They don't want to scratch the rims, but bought the desert edition.
My 2006 model handled everything Montana could throw at it. I pulled many other “better” pickups and SUV’s out of snow and muck. It was the best vehicle for snow and ice I ever owned
We really like our 2018 RTL-T. Ridgeline does 90% of what people buy a pickup to do. Few people tow anything than a 5x8 utility trailer and it does that. If I had to tow large trailers often I would have bought a body on frame pickup.
While a professional forester and timberland real estate broker I bought the original 2006 in spring of 2005. It never failed to get me where I needed to go and back home. Twelve years and 312,000 miles later I traded for another Ridgeline (2013). Loved it, too, and just traded for 2021 RTL. Few people ever NEED to go anywhere off-road that Ridgeline won’t go. I’m so hooked on the trunk that any truck without one is a nonstarter for me. Maybe all I really miss is the big beefy interior door handles in the pre-2017 models.
This update almost makes me want to trade in my 2017 RTL-E. Love the HPD package.
Do it... YOLO!
if you're not having issues, just keep it. YOLO, but you might end up living a long time... with more debt.
Check the US honda site. The HPD package is just bronze rims and stickers basically. There are other packages that include nice black rims same style just different cor and functional upgrades for a better price in my opinion. Worth looking into the packages. Cheers!
DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't do it. Pay off the '17 and pocket the extra $$$$. It's just skin on the front end, stickers on the back, dual exhaust which provide no increase in HP. Just a pragmatic guy and his thoughts.
If it can carry 4x8 plywood flat on the bed, it passes my test. I love the covered storage under the bed, too.
I have owned Hondas for 20 plus years. I have never looked back. I haven't owned the Ridge but I'm working my way there.
I drive a 2018 F150 STX 4x4 with a 2.7L ecoboost. If I did not have full sized truck needs, I would STRONGLY consider the Ridgeline. This truck is just super cool.
Just purchased my 2021 Ridgeline, traded in my 2017 F150. Both are great trucks, but for me Honda is so easy to live with day to day. Great review!!
I have a 2019 Ridgeline and absolutely love it as a farm vehicle and daily driver. However, two drawbacks that are rarely emphasized, and are not off-road-related concern the bed height (shallow) and ground clearance (low, e.g., snow). As the bed floor-to-sidewall height is only 17in. you need to take extra care transporting taller items. And if you use a tonneau cover, don't expect to store taller items underneath it. Some luggage won't even fit using a cover. The lower ground clearance will not allow pushing through deeper snow vs other midsize trucks as the snow will pack underneath the truck more quickly (dependent on snow depth of course).
I own a 2017 Ridgeline and I would not trade it for any other truck. It is the best all around truck I have ever owned. Most of the time I am on pavement but when I do go off-road - I have no problems and its more comfortable!
New Ridgeline is 💰 I like it a lot! Honda is on the right track with this truck.
Love my '06 Ridgeline and am glad they brought the styling from Gen 1 back and improved on it. Your comment about other mid-size trucks being an awful towing experience at their stated limits also applies to the Ridgeline though. I've towed at near 5K lbs and it's a struggle. 3K is great, 4K is ok once in a while. But near the max, you're almost always going to be wishing for a more capable rig.
I own a 06 odyssey and I can fit plywood,dry wall, 2x4's (with the center seats out). This truck would be all I would ever need.
Odysseys are the best - if I didn't go offroad so often I'd definitely be getting one of those. Can haul more than trucks and keeps them dry and locked away!
My 2017 Black Edition is great for most things, especially fuel mileage. I average over 24 mpg combined and well over 30 mpg highway ( I don’t drive aggressively). Heavy loads and towing drop those numbers quite a bit, which is expected with a 3.5 litre V6. As I seldom have a heavy load, it’ not an issue for me. It truly has a great ride on pavement and gravel roads. My biggest complaint is the lack of after market ‘things’. Two companies make expensive fibreglass toppers but no one makes an aluminum topper. I was looking at putting a pop top camper on it but most of the manufacturers (4wheel campers, GFC, etc) don’t make one for Ridgeline. One company said they won’t make their pop top aluminum topper for the Ridgeline because of questions regarding the structural integrity of the side walls in the box. I followed up with Honda and all they said was they do not recommend any kind of structure to be put on the truck box. Other than that, for 90% of people that want a truck, it is great.
Last year I spent 4 months going over which truck to get: Colorado, Ranger, maybe the F150, and Tacoma. So many evenings watching RUclips on these and one day, my nephew asked if I considered the Ridgeline. I was thinking to myself "they still make those things???" So I started to review the new 2021 coming in January not knowing anything about it's Pilot lineage. The more reviews I read and and listened to, the more I realized this was the truck I needed. I was never the off-road type; never on my bicycle nor my motorcycles. The Ridgeline is the perfect "city" truck for someone like me. One test drive and I knew this was the one. I didn't even consider the other 4 after that (I've ridden in a few body over frame trucks so I knew what those felt like). I picked up my 2021 Black Edition on 3/1 and have been having fun in this truck, learning so much of all it's features. It's honestly more complex compared to the Audi A5 it replaced but that A5 was first gen. 2008 so the leap into the creature comforts really overwhelmed me but boy do I enjoy this vehicle. Already spent nearly $2,000 in accessories! This review is spot on for me.
Trucks people want: Ram
Trucks people NEED: Ridgeline
Unless you're towing 7000 lbs
agree
I actually quite liked this in person. I need the towing capacity of my ram atm, but if I were to find myself in a position where I wanted to downsize, I'd consider a ridgeline, there I said it!
I like Honda quite a bit, their vehicles seem so finely tuned with no nit picks. I had a civic and it rode like a cloud.
Just bought a 2020 and love it. Like you said, it does 95% of what I need in a truck and the rest of the time it’s a great vehicle for everyday use. A hit. And add Honda reliability and it’s the one for many.
I’d love a Ridgeline but really want a 6 foot bed. The instant they put one on it would move to the top of my list.
Same here, I have an extended cab Dakota with a 6 footer, 8 foot with tailgate down. If they could shrink the back doors down and lengthen the bed I would be sold.
It is the best driving truck of the lot, but as of now I would have to go with a Lariat Ranger as it is the only one with small cab long bed.
@@tbm275 You can get a Taco with a 6 ft bed
@@paulh6517 yes but you can't get it in the Limited trim or TRDPRO.
Same with the new Frontier. Can get extended (king) cab long bed but can't get it if you want the upgraded interior or locking differential which are locked to PRO4X
If I need pick up truck this is a my kind of pickup truck.
I like both the Ridgeline and Tacoma
I really like the Honda Ridgeline, and from what I'm seeing worldwide as a vehicle enthusiast, it is the kind of pickup that a vast majority of owner's actually need and I applaud it for that.
I'm really glad that I don't live in America where your car or truck is an extension of what dangles. Being forced into vehicles that people don't need simply because they'll never be allowed a moments peace without having to justify their vehicle choice sounds *exhausting*.
Perhaps you just don't understand consumer needs/desires in that specific market and are responding by expressing anti-American bigotry?
@@smithjones1906 , sometimes it takes someone who's a step back to make an unbiased observation. I think Joanna got it pretty much right, except that it's only exhausting if you choose to engage. I'm able to take jokes about my Ridgeline, and my friends are equally willing to take jokes about their "Compensator 3500."
Sadly most of the people who don't like this truck have never driven it. I drove this back to back with a Colorado and Ford Ranger and the ride isn't even close. If I were towing a large haul I would get a Full size, if I were seriously rock crawling I wouldn't get a truck in the first place and go with a Jeep or New Bronco. If somebody wants a different midsize then go for it, but you feel the need to bag on what you have never even driven then I completely agree with Joanna's assessment.
There's someone at my work who drives an F250 to her office job. Parks it in the parking lot with that bed sticking out about 4 or 5 feet past the other cars parked next to her.
Always clean and shiny, no scratches or dents. lol
Always loved the ridgeline
Just to let you know some dealerships are offering the Traxda lift kit up to 3.5" and skid plates. The new ridgeline 2020 forward also has a 1st gear 20 to 1 ratio. Not jeep off-road capable but certainly more than most would ever think from this truck.
Best truck in the class just got better.
Concur. I traded a 2017 Tacoma SR5 4x4 on a 2020 Ridgeline RTL-E and I could NOT be happier! For everything I use it for, the Ridgeline is the superior vehicle. Everything it can't do well are things I won't be doing in it anyway.
I love this truck. It’s what most people need in an everyday truck.
I do worry about it’s depreciation compared to a tacoma. That’s the only thing holding me back from being completely sold on it.
Ridgeline had just as good residual value as tacoma. Both trucks barely deprecate and when I was looking for a used ridgeline, there was none to be found. It seems that people hang on to them for a long time.
Fair point, but most people I know who own these hang onto these forever, lots of 200k+ owners.
My is 2011 still going strong 💪🏽
I have seen a few on the Gen 1 for sale here AB Canada with over 400000km
New owmer of a Nissan Frontier here. I went with a midsized truck because i knew i wasn't really gonna tow anything heavy and would mostly use it for overlanding or light off roading. I love the freaking thing but boy it is not the most comfortable thing on earth. Honestly considering these Ridgelines as my next truck. Way more rational truck for most people out there
I own a 4x4 Tacoma and I have to admit... I like this thing.
How do you like the Tacoma? I'm on the fence about which one I want, Honda and Toyota are the same dealership here so I was able to drive both last night. I think overall I like the Ridgeline better, but I've never owned anything but Toyota. I love Toyota reliability so I'm scared to buy a Honda, plus the one thing I really hate about the Ridgeline is the tiny little armrests.
Never thought I’d consider a Ridgeline. But after buying a 2005 Pilot for a 2nd vehicle, I might actually grab one of these in the future. Great builds
This front end looks much better than before. Honda needs to offer a lifted version.
Or you can save money and lift it yourself at a shop.
@@reload.8056 LOL! So True!
Shoot, if it can out perform my 2007 Element then I’m in! My Element pulls my dirt bikes and snowmobile trailer. It hauls 4 dogs, all 12-16’ lumber for my deck builds, 1200sqft of flooring (in a single trip!) and still gets my daily jobs done without killing me at the gas pump. It essentially has a 6-8ft. “bed” and a tailgate which is better than most midsize and lots of full size trucks I see on the roads.
Good review. Honest and to the point. Great product with some interesting features. I seriously considered this for my needs. Watched lots of reviews. Checked the Ridgeline forums and noticed some engine issues that were concerning. However, most products have issues. Some more than others. The next thing I wasn’t fond of was the push button transmission. I know Honda’s are reliable but my sister just spent 1k to get a cabin water leak fixed on their CRV. Again, things happen. Ultimately, I decided on a 2020 Tacoma. It’s got it’s quirks but meets my needs. Would have the Ridgeline been more comfortable & livable day to day? Most likely. But I went with what I’m familiar with. Had a 2003 Pathfinder for the past 14 years while the kids were small. Prior to that I had a brand new 1992 Toyota V6 extra-cab 4x4 5spd truck for 15 years. Wife & I loved that truck before kids. So we went with what we had and was familiar with. So far the double cab long box Tacoma has been great and fits our family of 4. I tend to keep my vehicles for a long time. I’m hoping that this Truck will be the same with little to no issues.
Reliable, fuel-efficient, drive like a car which is the most comfortable truck to drive. Very well rounded in terms of usage. I'll trade in my MDX with this 2021 honda ridgeline.
I actually purchased a 2021 RTL with the HPD package and I'm someone who spends most of the time in my truck going to and from work and the store, with the need to go to home depot for home remodeling needs or somewhere a little off the beaten path for camping every now and then. It is the perfect vehicle 99% percent of the time since I'm the person who's on road without the truck at full load the majority of the time. So quiet, so comfortable. Only complaint is the stock speakers are bad/muffled. Replacing them soon and then it's the perfect vehicle to own until it does at 200k+ miles.
Its exactly as the review said. Im looking at going from a SUV beck to something with a bed in it. Im not towing anything heavy(maybe a kayak at most) or a utility trailer or something like that.. my current Subaru forester can do that so the Ridgeline can obviously do it. Im not going "off road" with it as in rock crawling, some "course" set up to test your 4x4.. most im doing is going down a old rutted logging road, over a farm field to get closer to the fishing or hunting spot.. but noting serious .. im going to haul stuff like Mulch, maybe some lumber, stuff from a big box store, im going to toss my hunting or fishing gear in the back or in the storage area under the bed, i may take some brush from spring cleanup away or maybe get a small load of firewood for the firepit campfires.. it needs to be good in the snow in the North East winters.. I narrowed it down to 2 or 3 trucks. Dodge 1500 Big Horn with the v6, and the Chevy and GMC mid size trucks and the Ridgeline..im more worried about MPG than hauling ability.. all these have similar(listed) MPG and all are also slightly different.. The thing that struck home about this review and with the Ridgeline are... are you buying it for what you MAY do but probably wont(4x4 off road towing a camper or something heavy etc) or what you know you WILL do.. Ridgeline is at the head of this class for those that want truck utility but dont need big towing/hauling ability but what the bed., Thanks for the review/thoughts.
had an 08 ridgeline rtl, a 16 frontier pro4x, and a 17 tacoma trd offroad. the ridgeline is the one i miss the most. it rode nice, had the most useable storage, and the awd drive was great in the snow.
My 2021 RTL-E is on the way. Almost four years and 70K with my 2018 RTL-E sold me on the new one.
I ordered one too and can't wait for the blue one... RTL-E.
Mine too...should be by the end of this week. What color did you go with? Pacific Pewter here...
@@imribs Either the blue or red.. what ever one shows up first.. I put a deposit on one so I should be getting a call soon.. dealership didn't give me a date.
@@bombidude I had same options including the Pewter. Can't go wrong on any of them.
@@imribs I test drove a 21 sport and loved the way it drove, looked, handles the road.. this is the only truck I need..
People need to stop hating on the small trucks! Which were big business in the 70’s! Now Ford is coming out with the Maverick. Small trucks are so awesome! So much more practical! The big trucks have gotten too big.
I have a 2020 ridgeline. My friend has a full blown Tacoma and for the little off road he does, he wishes he had gotten the Ridgeline!!!
My 2010 has been the best car I've owned. It has 300,000 miles and still drives great
I wish I didn't have to tow 8k lbs, else the Ridgeline would be parking in my driveway
you could include me in the group of people who dont consider this a real truck, but i want one. i think it would fit my needs better than a taco or frontier.
I think the Ridgeline is a great looking truck with some really interesting features. It's a great on road truck with a great AWD system. I wish people would stop trying to convince us (offroad enthusiasts) that the Ridgeline is rugged. Though it has a great AWD system, its bad angles and awful ground clearance keep the system from really shining. I think Honda should just go ahead and double down on the street truck and offer a street performance package.
I completely agree that truck buyers buy a truck for what they think it will do, not what they really do. IMHO those are the real posers.
Good for %85 of people out there. Prove me wrong haha
Big truck is busy and we need to take the camper back to the storage lot. Ranger, Gladiator, and Colorado/Canyon (Jeep and GM need to be properly equipped) can do it safely and legally. Ridgeline can't. Ridgeline offers no locking rear differential, not even a limited slip like the Colorado. Offers no low-range. Offers only one powertrain. You can say these are niche needs, and I can say go look at the sales data, it seems to suggest something different. It's more expensive than most competitors, especially when big rebates come around. There are a lot of Honda loyalists and evangelists just like with every other brand, I'm not condemning those people. I just don't want them polluting an objective evaluation of this product.
@@smithjones1906
I've yet to see a Ridgeline sitting broken down on the side of the road. Can't say the same for the others you mentioned.
Try 85% lol
@@oceanhedonist265 So true!
@@Homerlovesbeer2 closer to 95%
Fixed the front end! Now it is acceptable. I don’t know why they made the previous version look like the front end of a sedan.
They fixed a lot of the issues I had with it, and I owned a 2017. But I still don’t understand why their top trims don’t offer ventilated seats or the rear seat warmers in the USA but they do in Canada...
I would die for heated steering wheels
I wish they sold a 2 door x-cab. I definitely don't need a 4 door.
I like everything else about the truck.
Great review..
are two door midsize trucks even a thing anymore? lol
Pride and stereotypes keeps the arrogant critics employed as they seek to condescend against those who favor the feisty little Honda truck that could. I never cared for narcissists anyway. Great job Honda! GREAT VIDEO!
Honda .. means reliability... affordability...I'd buy one over the others for that reason alone....and it's a gasser not a diesel...no expensive service charges or turbochargers to go bang in the back country... I'll definitely be looking at one in the future!! 🤔😎🇺🇸
Won’t rock crawl but everything else seems on par. I’m sure all the 40-50 year olds on RUclips will approve.
That seems to have always been the buyer age range for Ridgeline from even 1st Generation. You could extend that age range 45-70. Somebody getting out of sedan. Doesn't need seating of Pilot type vehicle Crossover. Bed utility for Home Depot runs trips or light hauling to dump. Excellent for camping fishing trip.
Well said👍🏻 exactly the demographic (me) that is considering this Truck
Im definitely about it, the capability of a lifted element is enough to prove that with the same dna in suspension and handling honda has made another winner
I bought a Ford Ranger instead of the Ridgeline because of my needs. I like the Honda and back in 2004 I had a Subaru Baja. It did everything i wanted it to do back then and I loved my Subie! If things change in a couple of years from now, a Ridgeline will be on my list. Great Review!
This video actually mentions an uncomfortable truth about the day to day life of most truck buyers, which is a weird but accurate defense of this thing’s short comings. That said, the one design flaw that I have trouble overlooking is the spare tire location. While the bed is typically empty far more often than not, I’d rather not have to unload my bed on the side of the road if I have a flat when I’m hauling.
The unfortunate solution is taking your spare out and setting it in the bed when filling it. I'll take it, I don't want my spare out in the elements anyways
So competitive that Ford see’s a market for it and is why they’re make the “Maverick” a unibody trick.
Interesting,, I owned a 1970 Ford Maverick and it sure as hell wasn't a pick up.
Ford is targeting a different market, though. Honda is targeting old retired people who still want a truck but don't want the spine-jarring drive that comes with a solid rear axle and leaf springs, and are willing to sacrifice some capability in the name of comfort. Ford is targeting young buyers who would rather drive a truck (or even something that looks like a truck) than a Honda Civic, but they can't afford a truck so they buy the Civic. Essentially, the idea is to make the Maverick an entry-level vehicle to get new young buyers into a Ford with the hope that when they get older and more successful they'll come back and graduate to a Ranger or an F-150. The different markets that the manufacturer's are targeting are best reflected in their pricing, Ford has promised that the Maverick will start under $20,000 while the Ridgeline is almost twice as expensive with a base price of almost $40,000.
Interestingly enough, Hyundai is also making a unibody trucklette based on the Hyundai Tucson which should slot between the Maverick and Ridgeline with a base MSRP of just under $30,000.
@@dave3682 Bang on! I've yet to see someone under 55 years old driving a Ridgeline. Pity Honda don't offer a longer and deeper bed, otherwise it's a solid all-round truck.
@@MIZUNOMP60 35yo here with 17 rtl-t. Grew up in dad's ranger, learned to drive in an f150. Had no need for trucks after high school. Then I got to 33, needed a home depot runner for remodeling and landscaping projects. Needed to tow my 18ft camper (4100 lbs loaded), my 20 ft boat (3500 lbs), and a utv on an aluminum trailer. Also needs to be economical daily driver and fit car seats for 2 kids. Only midsized truck to do it all with no compromise is the honda. My father mocked it, until a bad Wisconsin snow storm left his current Silverado 4x4 and mom's outback stuck in the driveway, stock tires on the Subaru and open differential for the chevy. So my ridgeline came to the rescue (full disclosure, I replaced the stock tires with meatier a/t with 3peak snowflake rating) and pulled them out. My dad no longer mocks it.
Don't forget the Hyundai santa cruz for 2022.
Many reviews have panned the performance of the radar cruise control on this truck. I absolutely love this feature on our new Subaru Forester - it brakes and accelerates very smoothly and works to a complete stop. Has anyone here experienced problems / annoyances with the Ridgeline’s cruise?
Most of those bullies who says this isn't a real truck, can't afford to buy a truck in the first place.
Very good video. Own a 2017 ridgeline that I bought used. Prior to this all I owned were toyota trucks, the most recent a 2012 tacoma. The ridgeline is the best day to day driving truck hands down. The interior is the nicest hands down. The trunk is very nice. It is not good good for non-paved roads due to its low clearance and front wheel drive. I am looking to buy a 2021 Ridgeline in at least the RTL trim but preferably the RTL E trim. Very pricey, but I suspect I can get at least 10 years out of it. If i still lived on the mainland and was using a truck to explore the deserts and the mountains I would get a Toy TRD offroad. But as the video guys says for 95% of the time I am using the truck on road and to haul regular stuff.
Function of this kind of pickup reminds of of the El Camino of yesteryears
Its alot more like a Dodge Rampage, the El Camino was closer to a truck because it was rear wheel drive based and was body on frame.
@@Shakerhood69 Good point
@@Shakerhood69 and actually looked good. Especially 71 and 72
I have been driving Honda's for a long time. I never liked the Ridgeline. I always said, If Honda built a pickup I would buy one, but jeez I never considered the Ridgeline a pickup, until recently. Maybe it has something to do with age. Maybe I'm getting tired of keeping a full sized truck clean and maybe I've finally realized I just don't need more than that.
We have a 2014 model only thing I dont like about is the transmission is soft to me but have not had any problems
The best truck I ever had. Love it. More then enough truck for 98% of ppl getting a truck.
Have a Taco, my 2nd, and I love my Taco but… now I’m probably going Ridgeline once I’m ready to move on. I would have never considered Ridgeline before 2021 (the look) but now it makes good sense for me. My Toyota’s we’re great for ten years easy and I believe the Honda will match that.
It’s also the only truck to be a a top safety pick.
This is a ca-truck for city people who occasionally need to do some truck stuff. Or truck-lite if you like. It's not a work truck or an offroad truck. I think if more people were more honest about what they actually use their vehicle for there would be a lot more of these on the road.
I just bought RTL-E today. Very very comfortable ride👍👍
Love this! Hated the Gen 2 design and now I'm actually interested again. I have a G1 2013 with 250k miles and LOVE IT!! Incredibly reliable and amazing value, comfortable family vehicle for 99% of the time, and exactly what I need for hauling four-wheelers, mulch, dirt, drywall, and everything in-between. Oh, and the tie downs? Nobody talks about them but my dad was amazed at how many options I had to tie into when tying down his TV. Love this truck, can't wait to buy a 21 in 6-7 years 😂
I’ve owned half ton, three quarter ton, diesel and gas body on frame trucks…
I’m 54 years old. I do not want my hemorrhoids shook out like on a conventional body and frame trucks.
For small loads carrying and towing……comfortable distance driving….It will be my next truck.!
2019 Ridgeline Sport here.. its turned out to be a much better "truck" than I thought it would be. We are absolutely sold and our next new car will be a RTL-E
I got the sport because it was on sale and the price was excellent (lease). The only thing I didn't and still don't like are the cloth seat surfaces. They are perfectly comfortable.. but get dirty and have to be wet scrubbed and cleaned.
It's a nice truck and I like about 75% of it. Something that you didn't cover was aftermarket support, what's that like. I've been a yoda fan boy for most my life. Honda isn't a bad company by any means, they just aren't built for my needs. Your right for most people what they think they will do vs what they do are different. I'm one of the few who dose go to ares a stock rig can't with out breaking Something. It's a truck for most and that's fine
As soon as Honda makes a hybrid with a combined 27-30 mpg or an EV ridgeline with 400 miles range I am all in.
Ridge line Is a a great product right at the beginning. And I also like how Honda deal with the little problems, things in the earlier version of the ridgelline get improved over the years. Like the wider open angels of the back doors, volume knot, more truck like front design.
I bought a 2022 Black Edition in White. Love the truck, disabled the start stop function. Only wish it had ventilation in the seats like the Canadian models.
The Ridgeline is the Swiss army knife of mid size trucks. Not really great at any ine thing but VERY good at many different things.
Well done. I love my 2019 rtle.