Overview & Reviews

Although millions of full-size pickup trucks are sold each year, only a fraction of them actually see an off-road trail, a large travel trailer or a boat ramp. The rest are daily drivers that make an occasional trip to Home Depot for 2x4s and patio furniture. For those consumers who desire a less bulky, less thirsty alternative that can still handle those occasional jobs, there's the Honda Ridgeline. This four-door ("crew cab") pickup truck has a number of distinctive features and, true to Honda's philosophy, it makes sense for smart consumers.

Current Honda Ridgeline
The Honda Ridgeline pickup is available in just one four-door body style. There are five trim levels: RT, Sport, RTS, RTL and top-of-the line SE. The Ridgeline's sole powertrain is a 250-horsepower V6 mated to a five-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is standard.

Standard feature highlights for the base RT include a power-sliding rear window, air-conditioning, a 60/40-split lift-up rear seat, a rearview camera, full power accessories, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player. Moving up through the other trims adds luxuries such as alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power driver seat, upgraded audio systems, heated seats, leather seating and a navigation system with voice recognition and Bluetooth phone connectivity.

Rather than having a separate cab and bed, the Ridgeline's body unites the two. The Ridgeline's architecture combines the techniques of both unibody and full-frame construction. All Ridgelines include a hidden trunk in the cargo bed that doubles as an ice chest, a dent-proof bedliner, a four-wheel independent suspension (for a smoother ride and more agile handling) and a trailer hitch. Maximum towing capacity stands at 5,000 pounds.

In all but the most taxing situations, performance is respectable, and on the open highway the Honda Ridgeline is an effortless and quiet cruiser. As such, it is an ideal road trip vehicle, especially when said trip involves carrying bulky items. That easy-going demeanor, along with comfortable seats, plentiful storage cubbies, sound ergonomics and a relatively manageable size make the Honda Ridgeline a viable option as the sole family vehicle. While the cabin provides sedan-like comfort, the cargo bed effortlessly transports things such as camping gear or lawn supplies. Criticisms include the Ridgeline's aversion to off-road adventures, where its lack of a low-range gear and a tendency to bottom out don't help when tackling more rugged trails. Fuel economy for a V6-powered pickup is also disappointing.

If these shortcomings are meaningful to you, then you'll want to consider a pickup with true truck DNA. But if all you really need is the passenger space of an SUV and the utility of a pickup truck, the Ridgeline is an excellent choice.

Used Honda Ridgeline Models
The Ridgeline was introduced for the 2006 model year, available in RT, RTS and RTL trim levels. The following year the chrome-accented RTX debuted. There were only minor features updates until '09, when the RTX trim was dropped and the exterior and interior styling was updated.

Things stayed pat until 2012, when a new grille design and a new Sport trim level debuted, the latter slotted between the RT and RTS trims. That year also saw minor aerodynamic improvements and engine tweaks that boosted highway mileage by a single mpg. The following year brought a standard rearview camera for all trim levels.

User Reviews:

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  "Great Running truck" - 2008 Honda Ridgeline
  By Mike - March 25 - 12:00 pm

  I have owned several trucks, and none compare to the Honda Ridgeline it is a smooth riding truck. It has a car like feel but still has the performance of a full size truck. I can have my family in the truck and still haul everything else.

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  Great truck, could use more power - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By Woby - March 23 - 8:16 pm

  Used as a commuter and family trips. Occasional off road use at the beach or back roads. Great in the sand. Ride is excellent. Power is lacking - slightest hills on the highway cause downshift. No maintenance issues after 36,000 miles. Very comfortable for 4 adults. A little tight for 5 or with a baby seat installed and 4 adults. In bed trunk is awesome, dual action tailgate is very convenient.

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  So far, So Good - 2008 Honda Ridgeline
  By RS - March 18 - 2:27 pm

  Sold my 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac and bought the Honda Ridgeline. Ive had the Ridgeline for almost 1 month and am not disappointed. It has the quality that I expect from Honda. (My 2001 Ford Sport Trac failed in comparison to the Ridgeline with respect to quality, roominess, comfort, design, handling & 4wd performance). We got a six inch snow the day that I bought the Ridgeline. The 4WD with vehicle stability assist (VSA) is an excellent performer. I took the Ridgeline to an empty lot and tried to get it to fish-tail or spin-out. It didnt....good engineering.

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  Perfect Retirement Vehicle - 2008 Honda Ridgeline
  By Apexshot - March 16 - 9:48 pm

  We purchased this vehicle as our last retirement vehicle. We needed a light duty pickup that has a 5000 lb. towing limit. I am 55 years old and wanted to be able tow our sports car around to shows and races. My bride had a few things that she wanted for her 1) comfort 2) passenger ability 3) resale 4) durability. So far we got it all from Honda Ridgeline

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  Excellent truck. - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By bubba smith - March 16 - 1:49 am

  The 2017 design is much improved over the earlier Ridgelines. So far, highway gas mileage is better than 30 mpg. However, city mileage is around 16.5 mpg. Overall the average mpg meets the sticker numbers. The big improvement is how quiet this truck is! I love it. The RTL-E is really loaded with goodies, with excellent safety improvements. Really glad I bought one. Not crazy about the turning radius - hard to pull in to a lot of parking spots without backing up to get centered. The original horn was so anemic so I got another one installed - a two-town real truck horn instead of a "meep, meep" kind of noise. I wish the back doors would open even 3" wider. Im averaging 21.3 mpg overall, which is a big plus. I have gotten a number of compliments on the truck. I am really enjoying this truck.

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  Cant beat it - 2008 Honda Ridgeline
  By thebigv21 - March 11 - 10:23 am

  I have owned practically everything over the last few years, not being able to be satisfied. I owned trucks (Frontier, Tacoma), cars (Forester, Matrix), and have finally settled on a Ridgeline. I chose the base model and is has plenty of equipment. I am one who likes vehicles loaded. This one is not loaded, but for a truck is equipped well enough for me. The ride is the best part. It rides like a car and is extremely quiet inside. My wife loves it in the snow. We had some snow in PA and she bragged about how she was in the passing lane while 4X4 full sized trucks were fishtailing in the slow lane. I chose the base model to try it. Now that I have one, the next time, I will go up.

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  Ridgeline Needs a couple of changes - 2007 Honda Ridgeline
  By Madjd - March 9 - 11:20 am

  We just purchased a 2007 RTL with Nav. And we had to make a trip from Montana to California, the Navigation was great, wont buy another vehicle without it, Everything is great about this vehicle except for the front seats, they are way too hard for long trips, we just couldnt get comfortable(we had to buy cushions to put on the seats)Honda Company should consider putting Acura MDX seats in this truck and make the steering column telescopic. I had trouble getting close enough for the steering without my knees hitting the dashboard, and Im only 55". If those two things were corrected this truck would be a definite 10 all the way!

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  2017 Ridgeline; vibration issues due to poor VCM - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By Michael Faircloth - March 3 - 5:44 pm

  I have the RTL-T front wheel drive. It is a nice truck, but I started off out the dealership with vibration issues. We fixed several noise issues along the way to figuring out that the truck has an issue with a poor design in the valve control management system (I say this; Honda says it is a feature of the truck). It has been a year now (10k miles) and all I have is a case number with Honda. I also feel the vibration sometimes during normal driving at low speeds, but it really shows up in cruise control. If you test drive one, make sure you find a road with inclines and declines and engage the cruise control. Do this for many miles to make sure your model doesnt do this. I test drove an all wheel model for comparison and the issue was not there. All in all, I like my truck as long as I dont use cruise control; when I do use it, I regret buying it.

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  Broken struts, damaged transmission - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By Donkey Kong - March 3 - 5:20 am

  Only 1500 miles on this "truck" and Ive already broken the front struts and damaged the transmission by taking it on a hunting trip. The roads werent terrible -- just rutted mountain logging roads -- but the Ridgeline is now in the shop for an extended stay. I learned one thing: its not a real truck. Dont believe the ads....

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  My first Honda, and what a truck! - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By John Molinatto - February 26 - 8:56 pm

  This vehicle is amazing! When I drove it off the lot, I didnt want to stop driving it. It has everything that I was looking for in a truck. A ride that is unbelievably quiet and smooth, controls that are easily accessed, great fuel economy for a q-cab 4x4. I keep saying wow everytime that I drive it and I can tell that its a feeling that I will continue to experience every time that I hop in and turn the key.