Pros: Unique bed functionality; great on-road ride and handling; sophisticated standard all-wheel-drive system; more family friendly interior than other small trucks
Cons: Controversial design; shallow bed height; limited ground clearance; less family friendly interior than crossover SUVs
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is sort of obviously not a normal truck. It has more in common with car-based “utes” sold in Australia than the F-150s and Tacomas of this world. Once you accept that it’s OK to be different, and admittedly look a bit dweeby, the Ridgeline could make a lot sense. Its under-bed trunk compartment never ceases to be useful. Its rear cabin’s flat floor and flip-up seat bottom grant it full-size truck versatility in a mid-size package. Its ride and handling are far superior to any “proper” truck.
We could go on, but mainly, the Ridgeline could be considered a substitute for either midsize trucks or midsize crossover SUVs. To the latter group, we’re betting there’s quite a few individuals who’ll more often use the Ridgeline’s bed and underfloor trunk than the third row of a Honda Pilot, for example. One of our editors brought a 5-foot-tall tree home using the Ridgeline bed/trunk – that was not happening in a Pilot. Now, there’s not as much backseat legroom present, so it’s admittedly less friendly from a passenger perspective. And, back to midsize trucks for a moment, you won’t have the ability to tow as much or go as far off-road.
So, the Ridgeline actually won’t be for everybody, but it would at all times be uniquely appealing for those slotted inside a particular area of interest.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it’s prefer to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What’s latest for 2024?
The big news is the brand new Ridgeline TrailSport, which adopts lots of the same elements of the all-new Pilot TrailSport and the recently revealed updated Passport TrailSport. The suspension gets unique spring rates, damper valve tuning and stabilizer bars. The tires are General Grabber A/T Sports. Visually, the TrailSport gets a unique grille insert complete with Pewter Gray ending, a color also on the special-to-TrailSport 18-inch wheels and lower fascia garnish. Below that’s added steel underbody protection to go together with unchanged ground clearance.
As for the remainder of the lineup, every 2024 model gets RIDGELINE stamped across the tailgate, together with some notable interior changes. The instruments are latest and the infotainment system is updated to a newer, quicker system with a 9-inch touchscreen and a little ledge added at the underside to rest your hand while making inputs. The center console was also redesigned to expand the phone-holding tray and replace its minivan-like center bin and seat-mounted armrests with a smaller but more conventional bin and cantilevered armrest/cover.
What are the Ridgeline interior and in-car technology like?
The Ridgeline is predicated on the previous-generation Honda Pilot, and the inside from the B pillars forward clearly shows it. It was a boring design for a three-row family crossover, and it continues to be a real sad trombone for a pickup. Materials and construct quality are not less than excellent for a pickup on this price range. There were changes made for 2024 (which were shared with the also-related Honda Passport), but they fall into the “functionality” folder as an alternative of the “style” one.
Among those functional changes is the brand new center console. Technically, it’s a little less useful – you possibly can fit a purse in its central bin before, but you possibly can’t now. People didn’t just like the old minivan-style armrests attached to the seats, though, so the more conventional center bin/armrest combo is bound to be more popular. The enlarged phone-holding tray for always-growing smartphones must be universally appreciated, together with wireless charging and a grippy surface.
Another improvement is the infotainment system, which finally gets a proper upgrade. It’s not quite Honda’s latest and best, but it surely has a larger screen (9 inches), quicker responses and all-around higher functionality. Is it still broadly behind the times? Sure, but it surely’s easy to make use of, and that’s crucial thing for a lot of.
How big is the Ridgeline?
On the surface, the Ridgeline is essentially the identical length and height as other midsize crew cab pickups. Its wheelbase is not quite as long, and it has less ground clearance (7.6 inches), but it surely’s notably wider. However, the Ridgeline’s unibody “crossover” construction means these similar dimensions on the surface don’t translate into similar measurements inside. Simply put, the Ridgeline cabin is much roomier and more comfortable for passengers. You can see this most by way of rear-seat legroom, and all that extra width leads to a similar advantage in shoulder room. If you’re considering the Ridgeline as a substitute for large crossover SUVs just like the Pilot or Passport, though, it’s value noting that there’s less rear-seat legroom and the seat doesn’t recline.
In terms of storage, the Ridgeline’s back seat has a flat floor (very like full-size crew cab trucks and unlike the assorted midsize trucks), meaning it’s more useful for storing luggage and other items. The seat bottom also flips up in a 60/40-split arrangement meaning you should use it for people and their stuff. Better still, you possibly can forget putting stuff within the cabin altogether. The Ridgeline has a 7.9 cubic-foot, water-tight trunk compartment under the bed that we found can hold three small suitcases or a whole lot of something else (you wouldn’t imagine what number of ice bags it takes to refill).
The bed itself is accessible in just one size, 5-foot-4-inches, which is consistent with the short beds that typically come standard with midsize crew cab trucks (it is also for much longer than the cargo areas of midsize SUVs). Its partitions are much shorter in height, though. To access the bed in addition to the trunk, the Ridgeline features the unique Dual Action tailgate that swings out along with dropping down. We found ourselves mostly swinging it as you possibly can reach further into the bed – the drop-down function also isn’t damped. It must be in 2024.
What are the Ridgeline fuel economy and performance specs?
The Ridgeline sure keeps things easy by offering just one powertrain and drivetrain combination: a 3.5-liter V6 that sends 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque through a nine-speed automatic to a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. You want rear-wheel drive? Too bad, the Ridgeline is predicated on a front-wheel-drive platform. You want front-wheel drive? No, after all you do not. You aren’t alone, Honda discontinued that option with its 2021 refresh.
EPA-estimated fuel economy is available in at 18 miles per gallon city, 24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined for many trim levels. The TrailSport returns 18/23/20. This is essentially the identical as other midsize trucks, if actually a smidge worse. An all-wheel-drive Honda Pilot is virtually an identical, though.
What’s the Ridgeline prefer to drive?
The Ridgeline has without a doubt the smoothest ride and best on-road handling of any midsize pickup. It even has a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, which shunts power to every rear wheel to enhance handling and traction. Basically, the Ridgeline drives more like a crossover than a body-on-frame truck – because that’s exactly what it’s. The ride is a little firmer than a Pilot or Passport’s (especially with the TrailSport’s all-terrain tires), but every Ridgeline is a very civilized pickup to drive.
There are, after all, downsides. Its 7.6 inches of ground clearance is not even high for a crossover, and while its all-wheel-drive system, off-road driving modes and HPD package upgrades make it surprisingly capable off the beaten path, it may possibly’t touch even the more basic versions of midsize trucks. Heck, even some crossovers have greater ground clearance and capability.
The same could be said of towing capability, which tops out at a reasonably weak 5,000 kilos. Its payload of 1,583 kilos is not less than comparable.
What other Honda Ridgeline reviews can I read?
2021 Honda Ridgeline First Drive
In our first drive of the revised 2021 Ridgeline, we dive more deeply into the changes and get a probability to drive it off road.
Honda Ridgeline Luggage Test
Find out what number of bags suits within the Ridgeline’s bed trunk in addition to in its back seat.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Road Test
We actually use the Ridgeline for a good, old-fashioned truck activity: hauling mulch.
Long-Term Honda Ridgeline Test
We tested a Ridgeline for a complete yr, and although there have been some updates since then, our impressions (and fondness for it) remain broadly the identical.
2018 Honda Ridgeline and Airstream Basecamp X | A match made in Michigan
We take our long-term Ridgeline on a long, cold weekend adventure with a mini Airstream
What is the 2024 Ridgeline price?
Pricing starts higher than the everyday midsize truck, but then Honda doesn’t offer the kind of stripped-down work truck of assorted rivals. There are also much fewer trim levels than prior to now, with all providing greater than just a rise in equipment between them. In short, the Sport serves because the least-equipped base model, but has “sportier” darker trim in comparison with the next-up RTL that has more of a traditional Honda look with brightwork exterior trim. The Black Edition stands out with unique dark trim and red interior accents, but in addition has more and/or higher equipment, including ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a more powerful sound system, rear USB ports and a bed power outlet.
New-for-2024, the TrailSport is essentially the most distinctive. In addition to unique gray exterior trim and wheels, it has all-terrain tires, underbody protection and a suspension with unique spring rates, damper valve tuning and stabilizer bar.
All prices below include the $1,395 destination charge.
Sport: $41,145
RTL: $43,975
TrailSport: $46,375
Black Edition: $47,745
What are the Ridgeline safety rankings and driver assistance features?
Every 2024 Ridgeline includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control with steering assistance. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning are on all however the base Sport. Although it’s commendable that these features are standard, they’re a few of the oldest and least sophisticated in the marketplace. Adaptive cruise control tends to brake an excessive amount of, accelerates back on top of things too slowly, and the steering assistance pales compared to that offered by other brands.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Ridgeline five out of 5 stars for overall, frontal and side crash protection. No other midsize truck can match this. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it the best-possible rating of “Good” in all crash tests but the latest small overlap front: passenger-side test where it got a second-best “Acceptable.” The forward collision prevention system also got a rating of excellent, however the headlights got a third-best/second-worst rating of “Marginal.”
It also got an “Acceptable” rating for automobile seat installation and we will concur that it’s difficult to accomplish that (common for a truck, but still). The top anchor setup is confusing and may not work with every child seat. Make sure to bring your automobile seat along on a test drive and, do you have to purchase, make certain to go to a fire station or another accredited automobile seat fitment expert to make sure you’ve installed it appropriately.
Credit : www.autoblog.com
