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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  Ridgeline #1 - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By Dawn Pulver - June 6 - 5:23 am

  It is a a great vehicle, a nice split for my husband and myself a cross between a truck and an SUV. Very happy with it and love it!

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  Fun to Drive and Innovative - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By InAZ - May 28 - 11:53 am

  This is the best driving truck on the market. I chose the Ridgeline for its drivability, safety, versatile cargo hauling, interior room and respectable gas mileage. The handling on curving mountain roads is secure and fun. The interior feels much larger than a Toyota Tacoma and almost as large as a Chevy Avalanche. There are lots of places to store items in the cab and under the rear seat. You will find the in-bed trunk so useful that you will never want to own another truck without one (it’s great for groceries). If your towing needs are under 5,000 lbs and you have moderate off road needs, this truck is for you. I get about 15-16 mpg in town and 18- 20 on the road.

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  A Grand Slam!! - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By Michael - May 24 - 4:00 am

  At 66 years old I was looking for some comfort,utility room, and some driving fun....got it with our "E". My wife and I live in Minnesota and took delivery in February after about 6 weeks of waiting. The heated seats and steering wheel are wonderful and very good control and feel in snow and ice. I have been pleasantly surprised now in the summer months when opening the sun roof and rear window at the nice ventilation and fresh air flow through the cabin. Recently did a 700 mile road trip much of which used the Ecco mode and averaged 28.5 MPG. The trips to the home and garden stores are much more pleasant now when hauling lumber and bags of mulch....hauling grandkids in back is much easier now as well. Much has been written about the information system...pro and con...Im enjoying getting out the manual...going on line and educating myself on the system....I do enjoy the large screen and the in bed speakers are fun for an old 60s rocker. I suspect Honda will address some of the grumbles that have been mentioned in these posts...yes the rear doors could open wider and yes some knobs on the radio would be nice as well but this old guy and his bride of 37 years are very pleased with our "E"

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  Im happy - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By Armando Malanga - May 19 - 2:46 pm

  First 4WD for me. Big change from my 93 Nissan KingCab. Like the ride. Average 16-17 MPG. Would like it better, but not surprised due to AWD. The AWD really helps when my work takes me into rural areas.

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  love it - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By homer s - May 17 - 2:16 pm

  Ive had this for one month and its the most fun I have had in a vehicle in a long time. It feels solid. I didnt exptect milage to be great since the mileage numbers are posted for you to see when you buy it. Navigation is great. I compared, drove and reseached Tundra and Tacoma before deciding on this one and I like my choice.

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  A huge disappointment - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By chris fountain - May 11 - 7:36 pm

  Honda has taken a perfectly acceptable little truck and ruined it with a ridiculously complicated touch-screen "information center" that is distracting, nearly impossible to access while driving and often inoperative. Together with a truly horrible, high pressure dealer experience and annoying, but telling equipment failures (the drivers seatbelt take-up/retainer spool, for instance, quit after two months, so the belt falls between the door and frame when exiting the vehicle or puddles on the front seat, waiting to be sat upon on entering - its a reminder, 6X a day, of how Honda quality has declined) the Ridgeline is a disappointing failure. In fact, Im learning to hate this vehicle. The feeble a/c gives up past 90, the seats are a torment after 2 hours of driving, the GPS often loses track of where it is, and the new, "larger" engine is anemic and dangerous when trying to quickly merge into highway traffic. Even the interior cab has been worsened, by reducing the rear seat opening - what good is the fold-up feature if bulky objects cant be placed inside? A very bad truck, designed, probably, by smart engineers who never considered what it would be like to actually drive it.

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  Perfect Automobile - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By Joe - April 22 - 12:33 am

  This truck is awesome. It is, by far, the most practical car/truck I have ever had and probably would be for 90% of truck owners out there, especially those of us that spend 75% on the pavement. It has plenty of power, plenty of comfort, and Honda reputation and reliability.

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  Tows well; why passenger tires? - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By meanders - April 21 - 10:50 am

  We use ours for towing a lightweight Casita travel trailer. It drives like a charm with the trailer. While it is not luxurious, the interior is spacious and roomy with lots of thoughtful amenities. The negatives are that is full time 4 wheel drive which gives lower fuel economy; stiff ride; and cheap passenger tires! That is right they put passenger tires on a TRUCK!

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  I Love it! - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By Vassili C - April 14 - 9:56 pm

  INever thought I would buy a pick up truck! but I am so happy i did. I love the extreme styling, the car like drivability and the functionality. Honda should refine some rough edges like: no drivers side vanity mirror, no mp3 player capability unless you buy a $700.00 option, no roof rack, running boards, towing package (things that come standard in other trucks on its class). I guess they want you to spend another 3k before you are all done with it. In general I am very happy I got it! At least for a while I will be almost the only one on the road with it :)

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  2006 Ridgeline RTL - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By New Owner - April 2 - 1:26 pm

  I liked many of the things about my new Ridgeline RTL - the build, the looks, the handling,.... I have hope that the Ridgeline engine will last for many years. In hindsight, I wish that I had chosen a Toyota Tundra or Tacoma instead. After only 1000 miles, my battery went dead many times and had to be replaced. Gas mileage is poor for a V-6 and acceleration on hills is noticeably lacking. I get passed by pick-up trucks with V-8s all the time. The stereo system needs a lot of improvement as well. It could use a built-in equalizer. Overall, the Ridgeline is a nice, comfortable truck in many respects but it is not worth the high price in my opinion; at least not yet!