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skilled: Distinctive mattress performance; Nice on-road experience and dealing with; subtle normal all-wheel-drive system; Extra family-friendly inside than different small vehicles
Shortcoming: Controversial design; shallow mattress top; restricted floor clearance; Much less family-friendly inside than crossover SUVs
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is clearly not a standard truck. It has extra in widespread with the car-based “utes” offered in Australia than the F-150s and Tacomas of this world. When you settle for that it's okay to be totally different, and settle for wanting just a little nerdy, the Ridgeline could make numerous sense. Its under-bed trunk compartment by no means ceases to be helpful. Its flat rear cabin flooring and flip-up seat backside give it the flexibility of a full-size truck in a midsize package deal. Its experience and dealing with are far superior to any “correct” truck.
We might go on, however principally, the Ridgeline may be thought of an alternative choice to midsize vehicles or midsize crossover SUVs. As for the latter group, we're betting there are lots of people who will use the Ridgeline's mattress and underfloor trunk extra typically than the Honda Pilot's third row, for instance. One among our editors introduced residence a 5-foot-tall tree utilizing a Ridgeline mattress/trunk – which wasn't taking place within the Pilot. Now, there isn't a lot legroom within the again seat, so it's positively much less pleasant from a passenger perspective. And, going again to midsize vehicles for a second, you gained't have the ability to tow as a lot or go as far off the highway.
So, Ridgeline definitely gained't be for everybody, however it should all the time be uniquely enticing to these inside a selected location.
Inside & Know-how | Passenger and cargo area Efficiency & Gasoline Economic system
How is it to drive? Pricing and Trim Ranges | Crash Score and Security Options
What's new for 2024?
The massive information is the brand new Ridgeline TrailSport, which adopts related parts to the all-new Pilot TrailSport and the lately revealed up to date Passport TrailSport. The suspension will get distinctive spring charges, damper valve tuning and stabilizer bars. The tires are Basic Grabber A/T Sports activities. Visually, the TrailSport will get a novel grille insert with Pewter Grey ending, a coloration additionally on the exclusive-to-TrailSport 18-inch wheels and decrease fascia garnish. Metal underbody safety has been added with unchanged floor clearance beneath.
As for the remainder of the lineup, each 2024 mannequin comes with RIDGELINE stamped on the tailgate, together with some notable inside modifications. The devices are new and the infotainment system has been up to date to a brand new, sharper system with a 9-inch touchscreen and a small ledge added on the backside to relaxation your hand when making inputs. The middle console was additionally redesigned to increase the phone-holding tray and exchange its minivan-like middle bin and seat-mounted armrest with a smaller however extra typical bin and cantilever armrest/cowl.
How are the Ridgeline inside and in-car tech?
The Ridgeline relies on the earlier era Honda Pilot, and the inside from the B pillars ahead reveals this clearly. It was a boring design for a three-row household crossover, and it stays an actual unhappy trombone for a pickup. Supplies and construct high quality are at the very least superb for a pickup on this worth vary. Modifications have been made for 2024 (which have been additionally shared with the associated Honda Passport), however they fall into the “performance” folder quite than “fashion.”
Amongst these practical modifications is the brand new middle console. Technically, it's rather less helpful – you would beforehand put a handbag in its central compartment, however you possibly can not try this. Nevertheless, individuals didn't just like the previous minivan-style armrests hooked up to the seats, so a extra conventional middle bin/armrest combo will certainly be extra standard. The wi-fi charging and grippy floor in addition to the enlarged phone-holding tray for ever-expanding smartphones ought to be universally appreciated.
One other enchancment is the infotainment system, which lastly will get a correct improve. It's not precisely Honda's newest and biggest, nevertheless it has a much bigger display screen (9 inches), faster responses, and higher performance in each means. Is it nonetheless largely not on time? Certain, nevertheless it's simple to make use of, and that's a very powerful factor for many individuals.
How huge is the ridgeline?
On the skin, the Ridgeline is principally the identical size and top as different midsize crew cab pickups. Its wheelbase isn't as lengthy, and it has much less floor clearance (7.6 inches), nevertheless it's noticeably wider. Nevertheless, the Ridgeline's unibody “crossover” building implies that these similar dimensions on the skin don’t translate into the identical measurements on the within. Merely put, the Ridgeline cabin is roomier and extra comfy for passengers. You may see this most by way of rear seat legroom, and that additional width leads to a corresponding achieve in shoulder area. In case you're contemplating the Ridgeline as an alternative choice to bigger crossover SUVs just like the Pilot or Passport, it's price noting that rear seat legroom is brief and the seat doesn't recline.
By way of storage, the Ridgeline's again seat has a flat flooring (very like full-size crew cab vehicles and in contrast to numerous midsize vehicles), which implies it's extra spacious for storing baggage and different objects. Is helpful. The seat backside additionally folds up in a 60/40-split association which means you should use it for individuals and their baggage. Even higher, you possibly can overlook about preserving baggage within the cabin altogether. The Ridgeline has a 7.9 cubic-foot, water-tight trunk compartment below the mattress that we discovered can maintain three small suitcases or numerous different issues (you gained't imagine what number of ice luggage it takes to fill it).
The mattress itself is out there in just one dimension, 5-foot-4-inches, which is consistent with the smaller beds that sometimes come normal with mid-size crew cab vehicles (it's just like the cargo areas of mid-size SUVs). is for much longer than). Nevertheless, its partitions are very small in top. To entry the mattress in addition to the trunk, the Ridgeline includes a distinctive twin motion tailgate that swings outward along with dropping down. We discovered ourselves swinging it principally as a result of you possibly can attain contained in the mattress – the drop-down perform isn't impaired both. This could occur in 2024.
What are the Ridgeline gas financial system and efficiency specs?
The Ridgeline definitely retains issues easy by providing only one powertrain and drivetrain mixture: a 3.5-liter V6 producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque by means of a nine-speed automated and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. Sends to the drive system. You need rear-wheel drive? Too unhealthy, the Ridgeline relies on a front-wheel-drive platform. Would you like front-wheel drive? No, in fact you don't. You're not alone, Honda has discontinued that choice with its 2021 refresh.
EPA-estimated gas financial system is available in at 18 miles per gallon metropolis, 24 mpg freeway and 21 mpg mixed for many trim ranges. Trailsport returns on 18/23/20. It's principally the identical as different midsize vehicles, if truly just a little worse. Nevertheless, an all-wheel-drive Honda Pilot is just about similar.
What's the Ridgeline wish to drive?
There's little question that the Ridgeline has the smoothest experience and finest on-road dealing with of any midsize pickup. It even has a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, which shunts energy to every rear wheel to enhance dealing with and traction. Principally, the Ridgeline drives extra like a crossover than a body-on-frame truck – as a result of that's precisely what it’s. The experience is just a little firmer than the Pilot or Passport (particularly with the TrailSport's all-terrain tires), however each Ridgeline is a really civilized pickup to drive.
In fact, there are some unfavorable facets too. Its 7.6 inches of floor clearance isn't a lot, even for a crossover, and whereas its all-wheel-drive system, off-road driving mode, and HPD package deal upgrades make it surprisingly succesful off-the-beaten observe, it doesn't even contact Extra fundamental variations of mid-size vehicles. Heck, even some crossovers have extra floor clearance and capability.
The identical may be stated for the towing capability, which is lower than 5,000 kilos. Its payload of 1,583 kilos is at the very least comparable.
What different Honda Ridgeline opinions can I learn?
2021 Honda Ridgeline First Drive
In our first drive of the revised 2021 Ridgeline, we dive extra deeply into the modifications and get an opportunity to drive it off-road.
Honda Ridgeline Baggage Check
Learn the way many luggage match within the Ridgeline's mattress trunk in addition to its again seat.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Street Check
We truly use the Ridgeline for a great, old school truck exercise: hauling mulch.
long run honda ridgeline take a look at
We examined the Ridgeline for a full yr, and although there have been just a few updates since then, our impressions of (and affection for) it have remained largely the identical.
2018 Honda Ridgeline and Airstream Basecamp a match made in michigan
We take our long-term Ridgeline on a protracted, chilly weekend journey with a Mini Airstream
What’s the worth of 2024 Ridgeline?
Pricing begins greater than a typical midsize truck, however then once more Honda doesn't provide a stripped-down work truck like numerous rivals. There are additionally far fewer trim ranges than earlier than, all providing rather more than a rise in tools between them. In essence, the Sport serves because the least geared up base mannequin, however has a “sportier” darker trim than the following RTL which has extra of a standard Honda look with brightwork exterior trim. The Black Version stands out with distinctive darkish trim and crimson inside accents, but in addition has extra and/or higher tools, together with ventilated entrance seats, heated rear seats, a extra highly effective sound system, rear USB ports, and a mattress energy Retailers included.
New for 2024, the TrailSport is essentially the most unique. Along with the distinctive grey exterior trim and wheels, it has all-terrain tires, underbody safety, and a suspension with distinctive spring charges, damper valve tuning, and stabilizer bars.
All costs beneath embrace $1,395 vacation spot cost.
Sports activities: $41,145
RTL: $43,975
TrailSport: $46,375
Black Version: $47,745
What are the Ridgeline security rankings and driver help options?
Each 2024 Ridgeline consists of ahead collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping help, and adaptive cruise management with steering help. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning are on all however the base Sport. Whereas it's commendable that these options are normal, they’re a number of the oldest and least subtle options in the marketplace. Adaptive cruise management brakes too exhausting, accelerates too slowly, and the steering help pales compared to what different manufacturers provide.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration gave the Ridgeline 5 out of 5 stars for general, frontal and facet crash security. No different midsize truck can match it. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security gave it the absolute best score of “Good” in all crash checks, nevertheless it received the second-best “Acceptable” within the newest small overlap entrance: passenger-side take a look at. The ahead collision prevention system additionally obtained a Good score, however the headlights obtained a 3rd finest/second worst rating of “Marginal”.
It additionally received an “Acceptable” score for automobile seat set up and we will agree that it's exhausting to do (common for a truck, however nonetheless). The highest anchor setup is complicated and should not work with each little one seat. You should definitely deliver your automobile seat alongside on a take a look at drive and if you buy it, make sure to go to a hearth station or one other accredited automobile seat fitment specialist to be sure to have it put in appropriately.