2017 Honda Ridgeline

[hikenbike]

I have to laugh at some of you guys. The Honda Ridgeline is one of the best engineered vehicles out there. It is simply clever with more than enough capability for 99.9% of people if they were honest with themselves and that's where Honda dropped the ball. They don't realize the insecurity that is inbred into typical truck buyers. A manly, masculine look is more important to most of them than actual performance. They should have built the exact same truck with lots of manly bits designed into it. Do any of you doubt that a unibody can't be designed to outperform a twin rail frame? Really? Don't buy into the hype. The Ridgeline is an amazing vehicle and if I didn't need covered storage and a bit more offroad capability for work I would own one.

No doubt it's a well engineered truck but like a high quality Rolex watch.....if it's not attractive to its target market then you won't sell it.

People relate large purchases to how it reflects on them and relates to their personality.....however shallow that may be.

 

[1engineer]

Um, guys... I hate to have to tell you this... you guys being younger, still trying to impress the ladies, showing your bros that you are the Alpha dog and stuff...

YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU DRIVE. You are NOT what you drive! You are you. You cannot change who you are. White Oakley Sunglasses, Affliction T Shirts and Lifted Trucks do not make a man.

Pretty sure when God glances your way he does not care what type of truck you have.
Pretty sure when you are helping someone that truly needs help they do not care if you have a 4Runner or if it's lifted.
Pretty sure when you give your mom a hug cool tires and wheels don't enter her mind.
Pretty sure when you bandage a child's knee and they quit crying it's not because of a unibody.

Get it? If what you drive defines who you are then you really need to re-evaluate your life and priorities. Seriously.

I'm not busting on anyone. With that said I am much more impressed by a guy in a minivan or CUV who is taking his kids to a movie and still has paint on his fingernails from the night before when his 5yo girl experimented with nail polish than a guy with a lifted 4Runner. Priorities guys.

 

[1engineer]

People relate large purchases to how it reflects on them and relates to their personality.....however shallow that may be.

Exactly. Don't be that guy. Truly cool guys don't drive around in shiny lifted trucks nor do they care what YOU drive. Cool is not the vehicle... cool is the driver.

A friend of mine has a Citation, a King Air and a Bell Jet Ranger. He owns them and he flies them. He drives a nine year old Jeep Grand Cherokee and has a seven year old Chevy truck. None of them are modded or even shiny. He wears a Casio G Shock watch. He has several homes scattered around the US. He rides a Cannondale Lefty that is on it's last legs. I told him a few weeks ago he had to get a new bike because I am tired of adjusting his rear derailleur every time we ride. Nobody knows he has serious money. He is one of the coolest guys I know.

 

[RoadDogT4R]

This time around, i think that Honda learned its mistake from 1st gen...the truck needs to have a traditional look to get more buyers. The 1st get was too extreme...almost Aztec like that alienated many.

Although unibody by nature, remember, that many unibodies nowadays have frame rail-like reinforcements to further strengthen the unibody. Land Rover does this. Honda does this too.

You don't think Honda's AWD system is any good? My Acura MDX SH-AWD would argue with you! This AWD system in the new Ridgeline is not SH-AWD, but at least has torque vectoring which makes it better than most Toyota system to date. I believe that this AWD activates with any acceleration, cornering, and of course slippage. That is plenty good for me (and my needs). But, yeah, i wish that they had put in SH-AWD in there because SH-AWD is full-time AWD. But oh well, this Ridgeline system probably saves a few more pennies in gas. And b/w a part-time 4wd system vs. AWD with TQ Vectoring, i will pick AWD all day long for my on-road/foul weather needs.

For the rest of your post, i think that you are clueless...with all due respect! Answer me these questions:

1. Do you currently own a minivan?

2. Do you have kids?

Let me answer the questions on my end. I still own a 2008 Sienna...so, obviously, i am not cool since i own one! I will probably buy another Sienna when this one dies. (I also own a MDX for daily driving...Sienna is my "weekend" car.) I have 3 kids...all under 10.

How do you carry firewood, dry wall, etc. in a minivan if your kids are in it? Even if kids are at home, it is a PIA to take out the car seats AND the 2nd row captain chairs (I have Limited). And then after carrying the lumber, etc. you have to clean the WHOLE MINIVAN to keep the kids from having allergy attack from the dust!

Or how about carrying home a large plant or small tree? How do you fit that into a minivan? Again, see above argument regarding room and dust/dirt. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED IT in real life? I doubt it. I have. Trust me when i say this...you have no clue dude!

Cheap Tacoma 4-banger? Ok, so, instead of this Ridgeline, you want me to buy a gutless wonder on the highway who sucks more gas than the Ridgeline on a bad day?!!! And i wonder why 4-banger trucks don't sell well! Oh yeah, because they get the same damn mileage as their 6-cylinder brother! Why didn't i think of that?!

For me, this Ridgeline is going to replace my MDX, not my Sienna.

1. No.
2. No.

I am not going to say that I understand your exact wants and needs for this vehicle. I do agree with you that it is a very practical quality built vehicle (much like the first generation) but what I don't agree with is giving up an SUV for a pickup truck if you don't need a pick-up truck everyday. There are tons of people that drive around trucks on a daily basis for almost nothing. I used to have an F150 in a time where I owned a landscaping company and I used it everyday. When I sold my company the bed basically became a pointless waste of space. Sure I would use it a few times a year for moving motorcycles, or picking up a chistmas tree but I had bigger issues. Anytime time I had more than two people storage became an issue. So there are options like a vinyl cover on the bed or even a camper top but unless you spend some money for a good one you end up with a headache. Further issue is toting around my dog. Nothing worse than everytime you take the dog for a ride to wherever you have to spend the next 30 mins or so attempting to get all the hair out of the back seat. It's nice to let him jump in the back and not worry about hair getting where your passengers will have to sit.

I could go on with more examples but I would weigh your options more carefully that going out and buying a truck for the every once in a while trip to your local Home Depot. Maybe the smarter option would be to purchase a small utility trailer since it would probably be more useful than the bed of that Ridgeline.

And finally you may be in the 40% of people that actually think this truck is appealing as a truck and that's fine. But I guarantee you out of the 40% maybe 10% will actually purchase this vehicle. I don't think Honda did enough with this vehicle to separate it from the previous model. It was and still is a specialty vehicle that is (in my opinion) going to miss most of the American market.

But who knows maybe Honda will prove me wrong.

 

[Thai]

1. No.
2. No.

I am not going to say that I understand your exact wants and needs for this vehicle. I do agree with you that it is a very practical quality built vehicle (much like the first generation) but what I don't agree with is giving up an SUV for a pickup truck if you don't need a pick-up truck everyday. There are tons of people that drive around trucks on a daily basis for almost nothing. I used to have an F150 in a time where I owned a landscaping company and I used it everyday. When I sold my company the bed basically became a pointless waste of space. Sure I would use it a few times a year for moving motorcycles, or picking up a chistmas tree but I had bigger issues. Anytime time I had more than two people storage became an issue. So there are options like a vinyl cover on the bed or even a camper top but unless you spend some money for a good one you end up with a headache. Further issue is toting around my dog. Nothing worse than everytime you take the dog for a ride to wherever you have to spend the next 30 mins or so attempting to get all the hair out of the back seat. It's nice to let him jump in the back and not worry about hair getting where your passengers will have to sit.

I could go on with more examples but I would weigh your options more carefully that going out and buying a truck for the every once in a while trip to your local Home Depot. Maybe the smarter option would be to purchase a small utility trailer since it would probably be more useful than the bed of that Ridgeline.

And finally you may be in the 40% of people that actually think this truck is appealing as a truck and that's fine. But I guarantee you out of the 40% maybe 10% will actually purchase this vehicle. I don't think Honda did enough with this vehicle to separate it from the previous model. It was and still is a specialty vehicle that is (in my opinion) going to miss most of the American market.

But who knows maybe Honda will prove me wrong.

Very good points. Thanks! I am still debating it...i have time to ponder. My MDX is at 30k miles; i drive about 25k per year. So, a few more years for me to weigh my options.

Why does this interest me? I have no pets. I have 3 kids. I ALREADY have a minivan. The back bench has to be wide enough for 3 kids to sit in relative comfort (similar to my MDX now). SAFETY is priority. Until now (maybe; Ridgeline MPG not out yet), no one has made a truck in USA that gets good mileage. Since i do not tow, i have no need for a big truck. Diesel is nice, but with gas so cheap now and i don't tow, there is little need.

Because this will be a daily driver (25k miles/year), i need mileage matching or comes near my MDX (18/27 mpg); i need serenity on the highway; and again, safety.

Since i have a minivan, i need utility. I have (pedal) bikes that fold too; so, it would be nice to throw it back there and not care about dirtying my carpet. I like the idea that i can just hose clean it.

No trailer. Because my garage is 3 car tandem (two doors)...3 cars...and both of us (me and wife) work. So, putting a trailer outside the garage will block one of us from going to work. And putting on the street will ask for HOA coming to knock on your door!

But, you're right...i will closely examine what i need over the next few years before buying one.

 

[Thai]

No doubt it's a well engineered truck but like a high quality Rolex watch.....if it's not attractive to its target market then you won't sell it.

People relate large purchases to how it reflects on them and relates to their personality.....however shallow that may be.

So, let me ask you this...do YOU feel superior when you drive your V8 4runner and see a V6 4runner? how about when you see a guy driving a Honda CRV? Do you look down on these folks on seemingly lesser vehicles?

I sold my G-wagen (which i bought new and owned 100%) and kept the minivan...and used the money from G-wagen to buy a Prius. You think that i care much about what others on the road think about me? IMHO, i look down on folks who you just describe because i feel bad for them. Like i said before and what 1engineer wrote above, there are more important things in my life than care about what others think...esp, when it comes to how people judge me on what i drive.

 

[hikenbike]

So, let me ask you this...do YOU feel superior when you drive your V8 4runner and see a V6 4runner? how about when you see a guy driving a Honda CRV? Do you look down on these folks on seemingly lesser vehicles?



I sold my G-wagen (which i bought new and owned 100%) and kept the minivan...and used the money from G-wagen to buy a Prius. You think that i care much about what others on the road think about me? IMHO, i look down on folks who you just describe because i feel bad for them. Like i said before and what 1engineer wrote above, there are more important things in my life than care about what others think...esp, when it comes to how people judge me on what i drive.

Not about you or me.

 

[Billy_R]

I think the Ridgeline is very practical vehicle. For the person who wants a capable versatile vehicle its really has a lot to offer. You're a step ahead of the 4-cylinder small truck, yet you gain many of the features and capabilities of a full size.

My father has a 2008 which he bought new. For a guy in his early 60s who bikes and who likes to do projects around the house it is the prefect fit for him. From time to time I've use that truck over my 4Runner to pickup drywall or plywood or transport my snowblower. I even used it to pull my enclosed snowmobile trailer a few times before I purchased my 4Runner, when i owned a LX400h. I never had a problem trailering with it, even in the snow with it.

My point is it serves a purpose for a lot of people. Its very easy to get in an out of, one of the reason its appeals to a lot of people. The fact is far more people use their vehicles for convenience and on the road vs off road. Hence the reason why its residual value is similar to the 4Runner.

 

[RoadDogT4R]

Very good points. Thanks! I am still debating it...i have time to ponder. My MDX is at 30k miles; i drive about 25k per year. So, a few more years for me to weigh my options.

Why does this interest me? I have no pets. I have 3 kids. I ALREADY have a minivan. The back bench has to be wide enough for 3 kids to sit in relative comfort (similar to my MDX now). SAFETY is priority. Until now (maybe; Ridgeline MPG not out yet), no one has made a truck in USA that gets good mileage. Since i do not tow, i have no need for a big truck. Diesel is nice, but with gas so cheap now and i don't tow, there is little need.

Because this will be a daily driver (25k miles/year), i need mileage matching or comes near my MDX (18/27 mpg); i need serenity on the highway; and again, safety.

Since i have a minivan, i need utility. I have (pedal) bikes that fold too; so, it would be nice to throw it back there and not care about dirtying my carpet. I like the idea that i can just hose clean it.

No trailer. Because my garage is 3 car tandem (two doors)...3 cars...and both of us (me and wife) work. So, putting a trailer outside the garage will block one of us from going to work. And putting on the street will ask for HOA coming to knock on your door!

But, you're right...i will closely examine what i need over the next few years before buying one.

Your concern with MPG is probably the number 1 factor in what is either going to make or break this vehicle. I used to be a big advocate of diesel technology being the future of the automobile market but many front runners in the industry in particular, Ford, have found ways to make a more efficient gasoline engine (eco boost) that can compete with the power of a Diesel engine and actually get better MPG while paying less for fuel at the pump.

I would love to see this vehicle achieve numbers like your MDX, it would actually bring a lot of interest in the market. But when you have GM coming out with a very masculine small line of pickups that can get 20/27 and the F150 hitting numbers around 22 mpg everyday driving, the Ridgeline is going to have to step it up to get noticed.

Your main concern being safety is of course always important. I see crashes everyday (it's my job) and I am always amazed to see what people are walking away from with newer vehicles. Roadway fatalities are literally becoming a thing of the past because cars are built so well to absorb the impact of a crash from almost every angle. I don't think you can go wrong with any newer midsize and above vehicle when it comes to safety, our government simply won't allow it in the market. Which always amazes me when I see a Smart car, I still don't know exactly why smart cars are legal in the U.S. Truly death traps on wheels.

I am excited to see the market continuing to improve itself over the years and I wish you happy shopping. Should be exciting to see some videos when The Fast Lane Truck gets their hands on one.

 

[Hepar]

I'm sorry, but I personally think it's ugly. And this is coming from someone who is no longer young, but also someone who has no kids. Keep in mind, I'd rock the sh*t our of the Odyssey. Have a soft spot for minivans. And also someone who's dream car is a wagon, so looking tough or manly isn't high on my priority list. I've never bought a vehicle for either of those reasons. But every single vehicle I've bought and owned, I've liked the way they look. Looks are important to me. Yes. I want a vehicle that looks good, performs well and is reliable. The one that does the best in all three and is within my budget will most likely be the one I own.

If I have to stare at it every day I drive it, yes I want to like what I'm looking at. Doesn't mean you have to like the same thing. So, if you like the looks of it or don't care, good on you.

 

[theBEAR]

You really have to be a unique individual to buy something for PURELY functional reasons. Especially something that costs north of $25K. I for one care a great deal about how my vehicles look. Not because I'm insecure but for two reasons:

#1 I'm spending a great deal of money for this vehicle and will likely keep it for many years
#2 I enjoy LOVING my truck.

For the family men in this world, your criteria for choosing a vehicle are vastly different from mine (I'm Single), but that doesn't make your criteria superior to mine. Different, yes. But not superior.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Well my mom's '00 Odyssey gets used a lot for hauling stuff. The third row is always folded down and there's a cheap weathertech like liner for the back. We've stacked 500+ lbs of flooring and other stuff when remodeling the homes, firewood, set it up for long distance driving with a bed, ect. The lower cargo platform makes loading and unloading a breeze, not to mention eadier for older people. I'm not allergic to nature in general, so that doesn't bother me (seems like allergy rates in the last generation or two have sky rocketed from pollution and over-cleaning habits) so I can't say that just wiping it down and a quick vacuum cleans the van up.

I wouldn't consider the element as the panel van version, it was more the knock off XB/FJ boxmobile. A simple Odyssey without 3rd row and maybe second row windows, a beefier rear suspension, and a sturdy interior that's easy to clean would be more appealing than the Ridgeline, have more functionality, and more security than an open bed vehicle without a cover. There is nothing the Ridgeline offers that couldn't be better done by a minivan (which is wider and offers more interior space for passengers and cargo); perhaps a small delivery vehicle for tall objects being the only real advantage it has or as you pointed out a way to seperate allergic people from cargo.

 

[Thai]

Well my mom's '00 Odyssey gets used a lot for hauling stuff. The third row is always folded down and there's a cheap weathertech like liner for the back. We've stacked 500+ lbs of flooring and other stuff when remodeling the homes, firewood, set it up for long distance driving with a bed, ect. The lower cargo platform makes loading and unloading a breeze, not to mention eadier for older people. I'm not allergic to nature in general, so that doesn't bother me (seems like allergy rates in the last generation or two have sky rocketed from pollution and over-cleaning habits) so I can't say that just wiping it down and a quick vacuum cleans the van up.

I wouldn't consider the element as the panel van version, it was more the knock off XB/FJ boxmobile. A simple Odyssey without 3rd row and maybe second row windows, a beefier rear suspension, and a sturdy interior that's easy to clean would be more appealing than the Ridgeline, have more functionality, and more security than an open bed vehicle without a cover. There is nothing the Ridgeline offers that couldn't be better done by a minivan (which is wider and offers more interior space for passengers and cargo); perhaps a small delivery vehicle for tall objects being the only real advantage it has.

Basically, you're describing a cargo van. Sure, great idea! Oh wait, i have kids!

Isn't a cargo van what most 4runner owners SHOULD buy too since most do not go off-road? :flame:

 

[Thai]

You really have to be a unique individual to buy something for PURELY functional reasons. Especially something that costs north of $25K. I for one care a great deal about how my vehicles look. Not because I'm insecure but for two reasons:

#1 I'm spending a great deal of money for this vehicle and will likely keep it for many years
#2 I enjoy LOVING my truck.

For the family men in this world, your criteria for choosing a vehicle are vastly different from mine (I'm Single), but that doesn't make your criteria superior to mine. Different, yes. But not superior.

You're right...IF we're talking about Aztec. The Honda Ridgeline is conservative looking. Beauty is in the eyes of beholder. For me, Ridgeline looks OK.

Obviously, i do not expect a single guy to buy a minivan...nor would i question someone who buys a roadster. However, my point was that i do NOT really care what others think of me driving a certain vehicle...and if they do, then i feel bad for them.

 

[T4R2014]

I've considered the Ridgeline to always be ugly. At least the original one was ugly but unique. This one is ugly and bland. It's a unibody, FWD based "truck". It's a "truck" for people that like Hondas, and I don't mean the crowd with NSXs and S2000s.

The last time a truck wearing a Honda badge appealed to me, it was designed by Isuzu.

 

[1engineer]

You really have to be a unique individual to buy something for PURELY functional reasons. Especially something that costs north of $25K. I for one care a great deal about how my vehicles look. Not because I'm insecure but for two reasons:

#1 I'm spending a great deal of money for this vehicle and will likely keep it for many years
#2 I enjoy LOVING my truck.

For the family men in this world, your criteria for choosing a vehicle are vastly different from mine (I'm Single), but that doesn't make your criteria superior to mine. Different, yes. But not superior.

I never said looks weren't important. I wouldn't have bought a 4Runner if I though it was ugly. What I said was looks don't define the person. Many people get that confused. They think their lifted bro truck is who they are and makes them tough, just like they think their truck looks. Many look down their nose at mini vans or CUVs because they think they are "soft" and more importantly they think their owners are soft for driving them! A guy I had dinner with over the holidays is a MMA fight trainer from Wilmington, NC. He was driving a new CR-V. Yeah, go ahead and make fun of that...

Well my mom's '00 Odyssey gets used a lot for hauling stuff. The third row is always folded down and there's a cheap weathertech like liner for the back. We've stacked 500+ lbs of flooring and other stuff when remodeling the homes, firewood, set it up for long distance driving with a bed, ect. The lower cargo platform makes loading and unloading a breeze, not to mention eadier for older people. I'm not allergic to nature in general, so that doesn't bother me (seems like allergy rates in the last generation or two have sky rocketed from pollution and over-cleaning habits) so I can't say that just wiping it down and a quick vacuum cleans the van up.

I wouldn't consider the element as the panel van version, it was more the knock off XB/FJ boxmobile. A simple Odyssey without 3rd row and maybe second row windows, a beefier rear suspension, and a sturdy interior that's easy to clean would be more appealing than the Ridgeline, have more functionality, and more security than an open bed vehicle without a cover. There is nothing the Ridgeline offers that couldn't be better done by a minivan (which is wider and offers more interior space for passengers and cargo); perhaps a small delivery vehicle for tall objects being the only real advantage it has or as you pointed out a way to seperate allergic people from cargo.

By your definition then there is no use for any pickup trucks. I just hauled a bunch of crap to the dump. I rented a small open trailer for the job. The stuff included parts of a deer that had been killed by animals on the back part of my property. Sorry, not gonna put stuff like that in ANY enclosed space.
Another: Refrigerator.
Another: Saplings with a 30 gallon root ball.
Another: Sofa
Another: Tall bookshelves.

These are things that I have hauled in the past 12 months that I have had to use a small trailer for because they wouldn't fit in the 4Runner or if I had one, a minivan.

 

[Inv4drZm]

It just seems like if you want a large "kid toter" a minivan or similar would suite you better. A small truck would be better fulfilled by a Tacoma or similiar for most people with its greater "truck" capabilities. This new ridgeline, similar to the old one, looks to be a jack of all trades, master of none with regards to its capabilities and styling. With that in mind, its target consumer group isn't very clear. If that helps or hurts sales, I have no idea.

 

[Thai]

It just seems like if you want a large "kid toter" a minivan or similar would suite you better. A small truck would be better fulfilled by a Tacoma or similiar for most people with its greater "truck" capabilities. This new ridgeline, similar to the old one, looks to be a jack of all trades, master of none with regards to its capabilities and styling. With that in mind, its target consumer group isn't very clear. If that helps or hurts sales, I have no idea.

It is amazing at how many people recommend minivans! I guess that i can always have TWO minivans in the garage! :israel:

What are these "truck" capabilities that you are talking about? Towing? Off-roading? Carrying wood?

 

[02SE]

So my bait caught one of the Founders of this site, and it's newest Mod.

Relax guys, it was just a joke. Hence the ->

 

[Runer4Life]

Jeep pickup confirmed, will be built in Toledo

"Yes."A Wrangler-based truck is expected to arrive in 2017, sometime after the launch of the next Wrangler. And it'll be built in Toledo next to its sibling. Now that's more like it!!! :hiding: