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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  Just the right size - 2009 Honda Ridgeline
  By David - August 21 - 11:42 pm

  Since 1985 Ive owned an F-150 and four Silverados. By far the Honda is better built and more versatile. I dont need to tow my house or haul cattle. I park it instead of docking it. It is agile, and rides as well as my wifes Acura. We drove it to Colorado from Houston with another couple and the ladies only complaint about the back seat was the height of the seatbelt anchors.

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  Nice all around vehicle - 2009 Honda Ridgeline
  By Rick - August 13 - 8:00 pm

  Just completed a 3500 mile road trip with the wife and all the luggage that brings. Drove well on freeways and secondary roads, also did did well in the southwestern sun and downpours back east. Mileage was 19.4 for the trip and though it runs well at eighty the gas mileage really takes a hit. It is a tight vehicle with no rattles, vibrations or sqeaks. My general use other than road trips is around town and to the hardware store. Honda did well as this is one great truck.

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  Bad Air Leak - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By jegor - July 17 - 1:43 am

  Took delevery on my new Rdgeline 8 days ago like everything OK except a bad air leak in windshield area near rearview mirrow. At 55 or 60 mph sounds like bagpipes big annoyance.

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  Two thumbs up - 2007 Honda Ridgeline
  By bman - July 15 - 1:12 pm

  Bought mine new in 2007. Love it! Perfect for most guys who dont use a truck every day, but need it once in a while. I have 3 kids and they fit comfortably in the rear. Love the Michelin tires!

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  Very Smooth - 2007 Honda Ridgeline
  By Michal - July 8 - 4:04 pm

  Love the trunk and the two-way tailgate. Very smooth, comfortable ride that feels more like a car than a truck. Excellent traction in all conditions. I had to have the transmission replaced at 34,000 miles. The dealership did it in two days once they were able to determine that it was slipping while in drive. I have pulled boats and trailers totaling more than 5K lbs with no problem. Not as easily as my V8 Tundra did but adequately.

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  You will never know your driving a truck - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By Daniel J Edwards - May 25 - 4:14 am

  This truck is very quiet and smooth, the corning and ride are so controlled that you will have to constantly remind yourself that you are driving an AWD truck and not a fancy European sports sedan. I had to drive 200 miles to a dealer out of my area to get the base model RT with AWD. My trip home was a mix of four lane Highway, small towns with a lot of stops, school buses and school zones yet I still managed just under 28 MPG. I hooked my trailer loaded with my Argo 8x8 just to see how the Ridge Line would respond pulling 2000 pounds. Hooking the trailer was very easy because of the excellent back up camera. Once underway the engine worked a little harder than I expected but the truck handled the load without any drama. I fully expect to get over 20 MPG pulling my trailer loaded with an Argo 8x8 and lots of equipment, that kind of fuel mileage is impressive for any truck. The truck impresses in little ways. While I was driving home several large bugs hit my windshield. Instead of splattering as I expected they passed over my truck. When I got home I noted the very steep rake of the windshield, it may not seem like much but it kept the window clean and adds to the RTs ability to ease down the highway on windy days. The seats felt a little firm at first but after I settled in they were quite comfortable. I was really disappointed that my standard RT didnt come equipped with an XM radio but the standard AM/FM has excellent sound quality and picked up distant stations without an issue. This truck is very easy to get in and out of and is super quiet on the highway with a ride quality that will remind you of an expensive luxury sedan. The engine is a little louder then I would like under hard acceleration but I can live with it. This truck is handsome. Maybe not the best looking truck ever built but better looking then the competition. The tail gate opens two ways and there is a ton of water proof storage under the rear of the bed that is easy to reach for loading and unloading and this storage area can double as an ice chest with a drain plug in the bottom. I am impressed by the composite bed which is strong, durable and resistant to dings and scratches. I wouldnt take this truck four wheeling but I am sure that if you use the AWD system within its limitations it will serve you very well. If you want something that will serve your needs as a truck, keep you moving with AWD in winter driving conditions and drive and handle like a luxury car I dont see how you can do better then the Honda Ridge Line. Alright, just a few updates. The truck is averaging about 20.9 MPG in mixed driving conditions. Its not doing as well as I thought it would pulling a trailer with an average of somewhere between 15 and 16 mpg. I miss not having an XM radio and a dealer installed XM with a backup camera is over two thousand dollars. I still think the engine is a little to loud under acceleration but really thats about my only complaint. I have had the chance to use the AWD on three different occasions and was very impressed. The ability to drop into low gear and puck the AWD mode is a very nice feature and worked well for me when I had to drag a fallen tree across my front yard. I have also had to use the AWD mode pulling a loaded trailer up a step sandy hill that would have stuck a lot of other 4 wheel drive trucks, with the Honda it was no problem. I havent driven this truck in snow yet but I am sure its excellent traction and low center of gravity would work very well in winter conditions.

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  Could use some improvements - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By AB Minnesota - May 15 - 1:55 pm

  This truck has been a good solid vehicle for me. Its handled better in the snow and ice than any other car that Ive owned. The interior is spacious and the trunk is a unique touch that Ive utilized quite a bit. There are two downfalls that Ive experienced with this truck however: gas mileage and road noise. Ive experienced dramatic swings in gas mileage once the temperature gets below 30 degrees. Im not sure why, but my average mpg drops from 20 to 17. I had a mechanic check the tire psi and all of the filters, but it came back inconclusive. Additionally, this is one of the noisiest vehicles that Ive owned as well. Once I reach 50 mph or so, the wind and tire noise is too much.

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  Ridgeline hits the mark on the re-design. - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By Scott - May 8 - 11:53 am

  Know exactly what you want as far as infotainment options; as they are different on every level. Im a Silverado old-school guy, so the RTL is perfect for me. However, some options that are desirable (i.e.) XM radio and/or CD player, you will be forced to go up 1 level just for that. Leather seats are much more comfortable than the cloth. Drive train and layout are the same on all. I was impressed enough to give up my newer Silverado for this more manageable and comfortable truck. Access to the bed on 3 sides is unmatched. I have driven a UPS truck for 23 yeas, so I know what a rough ride is. 5k towing is adequate for my Harley. If you desire a full size bed or want to pull a house off its foundation, This isnt your truck. The Ridgeline is a combo of luxury car with a bed that fits 4x8 plywood. Was never a big fan of the previous models. This one caught my eye. Fun to drive and no ladder needed to enter the cab or bed. 4 wheel independent suspension and the AWD system are very refined. Visibility is very good. The icing on the cake is being designed, manufactured, and built in Alabama. Gm trucks contain at least 40% parts made south of the border as stated on the door sticker. I am happier keeping those folks in Alabama working an earning a living.

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  Not That Impressed - 2008 Honda Ridgeline
  By Darryl - April 30 - 3:40 am

  This was my first time ever buying (leasing) a import vehicle and so far I have not been that impressed. The Performance is good and it is fun to drive. Driving it in the snow is like a dream. It also tows my medium sized tent trailer very well but that is where the good stuff ends. I find the front seats are not comfortable on long drives and my back ends up very sore. My truck has been to two different dealerships a total of 7 times for tailgate issues and the problem is still not fixed correctly. After a year, the driver door seal wore out and had to be replaced. The paint is very soft and scratches very easily so I do not recommend a dark color (mine is a dark red).

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  The car/truck - 2009 Honda Ridgeline
  By Scott Watson - April 2 - 9:10 pm

  I would ignore the previous "hondahater" negative review obviously he made a wrong decision to lease this vehicle. If this is the type of vehicle you are looking for (read not huge trailer towing, 4x4ing,) then it is the right decision. I was looking at a Tacoma to replace my 15 year old Dakota, this Ridgeline is the ticket for me.