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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  Stellar Truck - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By happy with my truck - February 22 - 5:10 am

  I love this truck. The ride is better than any truck out there. Smooth and quiet. Off road handling is most impressive. Handles deep sand with ease. Love the flexible storage through out the vehicle. The interior is very classy in leather. The drivers seat is very comfortable. I feel like Ive arrived in this truck.

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  Enjoying it - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By daiverson - February 22 - 12:20 am

  I first looked at this truck when exploring which vehicle to buy to last the longest and be thI first looked at this truck when exploring which vehicle to buy to last the longest and be the most versatile. Anecdotal evidence from Honda owners and mechanics led me to rely on the brand for longevity. A truck seemed the likely choice but I had been driving a Sedan Deville – so I needed the big car features of a family car that I was used to. The Ridgeline was therefore the perfect choice and at a reasonable price. So far the gas mileage isn’t as good as my old Deville but its getting better..

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  Great Package Overall - 2007 Honda Ridgeline
  By Don - February 17 - 9:49 pm

  Honda built a vehicle that meets 95% of a truck owners needs. Weve received quite a bit of snow this year in Chicago, and the truck has handled it amazingly. My family feels very safe and comfortable in this truck. As for rearward visibility, buy a couple of $2 1.5" convex mirrors for the exterior mirros - helps a lot. The vehicle is extremely versatile - can haul 1500 lbs of rock during the day and take 5 adults out for the evening. Tows pretty well for occassional use. Gas mileage is as expected given the stance/aerodynamics. Corners pretty well given its size/height. Great summertime vehicle too (all windows go down all the way, and with sunroof/rear window almost convertible like).

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  Love my Ridge - 2008 Honda Ridgeline
  By LD - February 14 - 12:18 pm

  Its the perfect vehicle, its fun, rugged, roomy, luxurious, versitle, comfy, and reliable. What more could you ask of a midsize truck? It also has a class leading payload of 1550.lbs, it can tow 5000.lbs w/500lb toung. Im sold on the Ridgeline for life. The engine, transmission and drivetrain are as refined as they come. No vibration, shifts are silky smooth which you rarely feel. The only time I will get rid of my Ridge is when they redesign it with a V-8. A lot of people out there are really missing out on a great truck. If youre in the market for a midsize truck dont follow the sterio types opinions of what a truck should be you be the judge and test drive it, you will love it

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  Gas Mileage - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By Emaas - February 14 - 4:56 am

  Overall a great truck. Im a contractor, home inspector and it works great for what I do. I have over 6K miles on the truck and I havent see any thing close the 16-21 gas mileage ratings.

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  Great Truck ! - 2007 Honda Ridgeline
  By B Chase - February 13 - 10:09 am

  Use the truck to pull recreational vehicles. Works great. Drives like a nice car on the freeways. Has many great features in the interior and exterior. Best all around vehicle i have ever had !

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  Pros and Con - 2007 Honda Ridgeline
  By steve villarreal - February 10 - 4:25 pm

  Easy to drive and manuever in traffic, enjoy the trunk space underneath. Very poor on gas mileage, Engine has a hesitation problem when taking off fast. Radio fades out but otherwise OK for this 07 Ridgeline.

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  Wow, I love my Toyota - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By Rbrss - February 10 - 3:50 pm

  I am a die hard toyota gal. I am so disappointed in Toyota what they did to the tacoma. BUT! Once I saw what the 06 Ridgeline had, I was sold after a 10 minute test drive. What a machine. Bought the extended warranty too. I keep my vehicles anywhere from 7 to 13 years. I need dependablity and comfort. The lumbar is wonderful for bad backs. Not crazy about where the cruise button is. Down under the console. But so far that is my only complaint. I think the get and go is fine, I have always driven either a diesel or 4 cyl. AGAIN, my husband was right! I hate that too!

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  Next to my Lexus, the best vehicle Ive owned - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By Ken - February 4 - 8:52 pm

  My new Ridgeline RTL-E is everything I hoped for and expected it to be. Very comfortable, smooth quiet ride (almost as good as my Lexus RX-350). Great safety features such as Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Parking Sensors, etc. Excellent sound system (the RTL-E features the upgraded sound system and 8" touch-screen infotainment system). Navigation system is easy to use. I especially like the voice activated commands for the Navigation and other systems. Storage under the rear seats is really nice as well as the in-bed trunk. The dual action tailgate (opens down as a traditional tailgate and swings open like a door) is very handy. As other owners have noted I wish the tailgate locked, especially since I plan to get the Honda tonneau cover. Overall this is one excellent vehicle!

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  Improvements to previous generation are spot on - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By A.Kuffner - February 3 - 9:06 am

  I previously owned the 2007 version of this truck. When I purchased that truck in 2012 I paid 19K and I sold it for 10K (4 years later) after putting 65K miles on it. That is an amazingly low annual cost. I had absolutely no issues with the previous version. Needless to say, I put a lot of miles on my car and I wanted better gas mileage and something I knew would last me a long time so I looked at the new version. I also loved the versatility of the Ridgeline and the very good road manners. The improvements are perfect. I absolutely love the option to turn off a few cylinders and go into "eco" mode. I even got 30 MPG wile taking a road trip! My average over the first 2200 miles has been a very respectable 23 MPG. I love the technology and all the bells and whistles, which is why I opted for the Black Edition. So far, I have appreciated the lane departure and front collision warning, but I am still getting used to the beeping when I get close to things. One benefit of the beeping is that when someone walks in front of your car while you are stopped but looking the other way, you hear it! My kids have loved the Apple Carplay and completely taken over the music which sounds incredible in this truck. They also love the truck-bed audio system and controlling it from their phone through bluetooth. I thought I would miss the CD player, but I discovered that I can put a bunch of mp3 files on a memory stick and it will play it. My biggest compliment to this new version is the ride comfort and quality. Clearly Honda made very significant improvements to the sound dampening because it is very quiet in the cabin even at freeway speeds. Everything feels quicker and more nimble. The engine has lots of power especially when eco mode is off. I have not towed anything yet with this new one, but I did completely fill the bed and the interior and while the suspension felt a little softer, it was still very secure. The previous version was very solid towing (it felt like a full sized SUV towing) The headlights are amazing, I can see things clearly at night. I was also so amazed when the brights turned off automatically when I was driving on a country road at night and there was an oncoming car. Yes, the controls for the touchscreen take a little while to get used to, but I actually appreciated that some of the features and settings were limited to when I was not driving so as to not distract the driver. Now that I am used to them I appreciate them, but I do think a physical lever or button for sound would be nice beyond the steering wheel controls. I really like the red accents and lighting but in all honesty, I was disappointed that in this top of the line black edition the red lighting was only in the front seat-wells and door handles and there were none for the back seats. The interior has good quality and soft materials. I did notice that the access to the back seats through the doors is a little less on this new model. Not a big deal but getting bigger things into the back seat is a little more challenging. I really like the new exterior styling, very sleek. While not an overly rugged looking truck, it appeals to me because it looks sophisticated and at home in the city which is where I do the majority of my driving. I do not consider myself an off-roader but I did take this new truck out on the beach and tested out the "sand mode" and it performed with flying colors. My previous version was simply stunning in the snow so I expect the same with this generation. No deals to be had at the dealership, at least not yet while demand is high and inventory is low. I had to drive an hour and a half away to find a dealership with this one in stock. Overall, I believe that Honda took the best parts of the Ridgeline (ride quality, performance, versatility, features) and improved each one significantly. They also fixed my biggest complaint with the previous version (16 mpg average in mixed driving). I also fit the demographic Honda was targeting very well: mostly city driver, rarely tows/hauls/offroads but wants the versatility only a truck can provide while also wanting the comfort of an SUV. Bingo!