I'll go farther. I had a Lexus LC 500 at the same time as my 2017 RL... and preferred the RL! The Lexus was fine, but the RL is very luxurious and has great tech. 1 year later, the Lexus is sold and the RL is my daily driver.
I stop counting how many Raptors I see and Ram 3500, and big F series Super Duties that will never ever see the dirt. If image is your thing? Then money obviously isn't because these beasts are expensive. The Honda Ridgeline is so much for what you get, I call it my hauler for most reasons and seasons, and makes no excuses for things it wasn't meant for. I just recommended one to a gardener friend of mine looking for a truck. How about that?
I 100 percent agree with your final thoughts. Most people don't need a "real" truck in suburbia. I know several people with trucks that don't tow anything and never haul more than 1000 pounds. I think Honda would have sold more of these with the last generation if the styling was better. I still don't think this new model looks really good, but it's way better than the last one. I think this thing will sell well.
Honda is inventive. They are a different breed in the pickup truck. Yes it is not a F150 in towing but if your looking for a convenient truck that your not doing heavy duties with it this Honda is for you.
Honda is inventive, but the tailgate was invented in 1966 by a Ford engineer for all Ford Country Squire wagons, it was called the Magic Door Gate. Kudos to Honda for incorporating that old technology.
Watching this in 2018. It's amazing how the critics forget that this is far less truck and more FAV (family activity vehicle). Any newly wed or new homeowner starting a family will swear by how important having the right family vehicle is, and I don't just mean transporting kids in the back. Anything you buy at Home Depot you can take home with this, anything you buy at Ikea you can take home with this. I can throw three heavy full-size ebikes in the bed which are impossible to carry on any hitch-mounted bike carrier. And if it's an airport trip this will haul 5 large suitcases with five people easy. But the real value of this vehicle is it's versatility with bed extenders, tonneau options, truck caps, a bed tent and the ability to switch between them. I can easily take the tonneau off if I need to transport bikes, slap on the tent when I get to my destination and then reinstall the tonneau at the end of the trip. The bed rails are low enough to get your hands inside to tie stuff down without having to climb inside, the bed height is low enough to easily lift even heavy items in, and the trunk can be used to hide all your every day stuff keeping the entire bed empty for full use. Did I mention that it drives and handles like a car and not a traditional truck? That's important for drivers who may be intimidated getting behind the wheel of a big vehicle, especially shorter drivers. Lifted trucks are not for everyone. Honestly my only nitpick would be an extra two inches of leg room in back. But that's it. Honda has hit on a small but important niche market that is growing. It's just a matter of time before the automotive industry catches on and follows.
I sometimes laugh when I hear a truck guy say that this isn't a real truck...especially if that guy is driving a 1993 Ford Ranger with 145 horses and worn out shocks.
drove one today after driving a canyon and a colorado, HUGE difference in quality and the price is decent. I have been glued to my minivans for ages for comfort and because i haul around a wheelchair. As someone with physical limitations I can actually get in and out of this thing without the need for running boards or feeling like I am going to be eating pavement. we tow a small 1970 lowflyte camper thats pretty light, this should do the job. I was impressed with the zip if you put your foot down. we get snow and lots of rain here and we go to the nearby mountains a lot. I have been in a life altering car wreck and can be a little nervous, ok I have panic attacks in a car. This thing feels solid and like you are glued to the road yet doesnt drive like a tank. think we are gonna pull the trigger on one of these.
Absolutely love my 2017 Ridgeline!!!! Had a 2006 and loved it as well, just upgraded due to the better fuel economy the 2nd generation offers!!!!!!!! Probably will keep it till it dies....and since it's a Honda that's probably gonna be a long time from now!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the Excellent review and the off road test! I love that it's offered in FWD and AWD for superior results on snowy roads. I wish it was *slightly* more fuel efficient, but looks like a great all-around/camping/city driving truck!
It's funny that everyone who reviews this truck thinks it's amazing, but the sales are like 3k/month. I have had my 2017 Black Edition Ridgeline for over a year, I've got 21,000 miles (many of which towing 3,000lbs or more) and nothing but positive experiences with the truck. Through the Rockies, through the desert, on the beach, in any weather, this truck is the business. I wish Honda made it look a little tougher, but I appreciate the aerodynamics when I'm getting nearly 30mpg on the highway. If you need a truck, this thing is a quality Leatherman, whereas the other trucks are just big dumb pliers.
Most people (And I'm really talking about guys here) buy a "Real" truck not because they really need it but because it's the manly thing to do. My buddies give me crap all the time about driving a small car. Yet, it still drives great after 13 years while they've switched and replaced their gas guzzling and unreliable manly trucks quite a few times!
Well you or any fanboy hasn't helped sales in 2018 as they were down and all of the other small trucks were in the positive. Love the ending...yes, city truck!
Sam, thanks for the review. It answered a lot of questions. Have you driven a 2017 Ridgeline with All Terrain tires, and how did it run with them. I'm mostly interested in the quality of the ride and the noise level compared to stock All Season tires. Or, has anyone else had experience with All Terrains on the 2017 Ridgeline. Thanks.
This is the perfect truck for someone who wants the utility of a truck without the shit gas mileage, shit ride quality, and lack of refinement and driving dynamics that trucks are known for.
I have a 2017 Ridgeline Touring (Canadian top of the line edition excluding the Black Edition) I was surprised that the top of the line American edition is missing a number of standard equipment items that are included in the Canadian top of the line edition. The Canadian Ridgeline Touring has all the standard items that American Ridgeline RTL-E has plus: Heated rear seats Cooled front seats Complete HVAC controls in back of centre console for rear seat passengers control. Retracting side mirrors Signal lights on side mirrors CD player PS: Even with these differences, when you do the currency exchange, the Canadian version is more than $1000.00 USD less expensive than the American version...go figure??
hondatrix it's best in class because it's in a class of its own, it's not a truck, it's a minivan with a full time one speed transfer case and a box, it's a great vehicle/car but not a truck, not even close to the rest in the midsize truck class.
Andreas M , many people would strongly disagree with you, I'm a Honda fan too, but this is a huge disappointment on so many levels , at the same time it has many great creature comforts its a nice cross over, reliable , safe, great size, nice interior features, it's the driveline that kills it for me, no two speed transfer case, no lockers, tires are too small, no aftermarket support for suspension upgrades, no aftermarket bumpers... I would love to see Honda build a raptor fighter, I'm dreaming, they never will, but if they did it would be the most sought after truck hands down, image all the people that drive the raptor... it's awesome but a Ford...
hondatrix , not an opinion, it's well informed & fact based , I realize you are probably way down on the chain of people capable of pushing for a raptor fighter, but push for it! I want a Honda truck that is as capable or more than the rest, a raptor fighter preferably, the drive terrain would have to completely change.
Thiago Maciel those noises are probably from the lug nut locker in the glove box. I was getting a slight rattle my first test drive and none of us could figure out what it was well come to find out it was in the glove box. This truck is sealed like a noise resistant chamber. It's so well sealed that when you close the doors hard you can feel compression. your ears will even pop at times during high way speeds rolling the windows down. I absolutely love my new Ridgeline!
Alex lol dude I've sold cars for three years and driven more cars then most ppl. Not all cars rattle on rough roads. High end cars like a BMW or Mercedes don't rattle the only thing you might here is tire noise depending on the model. That's just an example btw.
Transversely mount the drivetrain predominately front will drive no it is not a pick up truck. You load that thing up the predominate drive wheels lose traction.
You will have to do more convincing than that. It's based off of a crossover, it's front wheel drive based, and it's a Honda. People are just stuck in their ways.
Most anticipated? Lol I can't wait for Honda to make a real truck, I would never buy this ever! Aside from the car tires and lack of suspension and no 2speed transfer case or lockers and no locking transfer case... why make half a truck and try to market it as a truck? I do love the size of this truck, I don't care how ugly it is, Honda are great vehicles, very safe and reliable... please Honda make a real truck!
Vince, I've been a Construction Diesel Mechanic for over 30 years and have driven and repaired some of the largest and toughest machines out there. A truck or even a car are just tools. You select the right tool for the right job if you know what you are doing. This "truck" is just the right tool for many buyers, and since you are not on their "Job", you must let those individuals decide which is best. Apparently, you were not aware of that concept.
glcruiser , I say this mostly because I'm a Honda fan and want Honda to make a tool that works for me, this Honda is a princess to me, it doesn't have much more off road prowess than my 2007 civic, if Honda made an off road package that included a two speed transfer case, more wheel travel, larger tires I'd buy one, if Honda did this this tool would still work for the present owners.
Vince Fairleigh richard joash tan is a troll i have encountered in every honda ridgeline video anyway, i'm in the same position as you. I want Honda to make an offroad ridgeline with locking differentials, a bit more power, more ground clearance, and bigger tires.
its too late for Honda to make this. people in the USA have 100 years of trucks from Ford and Chevy trucks and when it comes to people buying trucks, it's all about power and looks and that's two things this truck doesn't have. it looks ugly and I can't get over the look of it that it's just a pilot and they cut the back to make it look like a truck. any sales they make is just going to be ultra minor and no competition to any real brand....maybe Toyota. I think with a $40,000 price tag with the top of the line, people would choose a Chevy over this...my friend has a Chevy High Country for $10,000 more...it's a lot but the high country is only made after every 1,000 regular Silverados are made...facts