Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2014 Honda Ridgeline Touring

[Autos_Editor]

The 2014 Honda Ridgeline reminds James of his younger days.
Read More...

[bombastic]

This car is ugly. I see occasionally one or two in the road. Maybe once a month. It is definittelly overpriced for what you get.

[blotter]

plenty of them around here.
I'm not a big fan of the look but I think the next update will change that.

When it comes to the drive itself, it's a pretty darn nice truck.
(my dad has one and I use it often)

it certainly shows it's age though, yet some of the storage designs and features are brilliant.
if only it could have a slightly longer box (at the very least)

I have very high expectations on what they do next with this.

[PJ]

I didn't know they still made it.  Wonder how many they sell?

[Fobroader]

Too bad they cant make a heavy duty one. Something with a V8 and proper towing capabilities, Id be all over it. As it stands, no.

[bridgecity]

Too bad they cant make a heavy duty one. Something with a V8 and proper towing capabilities, Id be all over it. As it stands, no.

I'm with ya.  I think its good for what it is, however inadequate for my towing needs.  I like the idea of a hybrid unibody/frame type structure and independent suspension for nicer ride/handling when not towing/hauling.  If they made one with a 6.5ft box and 7-8000lb towing capacity it would work for me.  Other than that, I'll have to stick with the half tons.

[dkaz]

I know some owners. They enjoy having the utility of an open bed but the comfort of a Honda Pilot, which is why they chose this over Tacoma, Frontier, etc.

I do take a jab at them anyway for having an engine pointing the wrong way. I wonder if the gentleman's agreement that Toyota not build lawnmowers (and maybe motorcycles) and Honda not build real pickup trucks still stands. Those Japanese have an interesting way of doing business.

[pcsp]

Too bad they cant make a heavy duty one. Something with a V8 and proper towing capabilities, Id be all over it. As it stands, no.

It's called an Avalanche. You'll also get better highway mileage.

[Blueprint]

I still think this is the best truck on the market when commuting is the main duty. Let's face it, it's better than RAM and all the others for hauling the #1 cargo, air.

I even saw a few contractors with these, in the usual fancy-truck-empty-but-for-tax-deduction-logos / closed trailer combination.

I'd like the Ridgeline's awd setup on the Odyssey!

[nlm]

Too bad they cant make a heavy duty one. Something with a V8 and proper towing capabilities, Id be all over it. As it stands, no.

I'm with ya.  I think its good for what it is, however inadequate for my towing needs.  I like the idea of a hybrid unibody/frame type structure and independent suspension for nicer ride/handling when not towing/hauling.  If they made one with a 6.5ft box and 7-8000lb towing capacity it would work for me. 

Interesting comments. How important is the 6.5' box; would you consider the RL if it provided the towing but kept the existing box? Now I'm no engineer but if making a unibody/frame with independent suspension that could handle 8,000 lbs was possible but increased the price, at what price point would you be looking at the 1/2 tons instead?

Or put another way how much more would you be willing to spend over a similarly equiped 1/2 ton, all incentives in, to have the better ride?

[PJ]

I still think this is the best truck on the market when commuting is the main duty. Let's face it, it's better than RAM and all the others for hauling the #1 cargo, air.

I even saw a few contractors with these, in the usual fancy-truck-empty-but-for-tax-deduction-logos / closed trailer combination.

I'd like the Ridgeline's awd setup on the Odyssey!

I'd say a 4 cyl Tacoma is the best truck for commuting.   Better mileage and better truck. 

[mixmanmash]

I'd like the Ridgeline's awd setup on the Odyssey!

Me too.  Or the SH-AWD out of the TL and MDX.

[pcsp]

Compared to full-sized trucks, the RL costs more to buy and just as much to run. Flawed execution of a great concept. The RL wasn't even afforded the cylinder cut-off system. Full-sized trucks have made impressive advancements in recent years, the RL has stagnated. At least the price hasn't gone up.

[Fobroader]

Compared to full-sized trucks, the RL costs more to buy and just as much to run. Flawed execution of a great concept. The RL wasn't even afforded the cylinder cut-off system. Full-sized trucks have made impressive advancements in recent years, the RL has stagnated. At least the price hasn't gone up.

Thats where Im at, why pay more for a less capable vehicle...that gets less mileage. If it could tow, haul and have a 6.5' box I would pay more for the Honda quality....also, they should orient the engine in the proper direction.

[Northernridge]

We've had one since 2009, bought it new, 110km. Have used it like a truck, it does everything it's supposed to, has aged amazingly well. Expensive, poor gas mileage (13.1 l100/km lifetime), looks weird, should have been updated by now. Won't help insecure men feel better about themselves..

[pcsp]

We've had one since 2009, bought it new, 110km. Have used it like a truck, it does everything it's supposed to, has aged amazingly well. Expensive, poor gas mileage (13.1 l100/km lifetime), looks weird, should have been updated by now. Won't help insecure men feel better about themselves..

Now don't get me wrong - I love the RL and the concept behind it; just like I loved the Subaru Baja. Honda must, however, get the powertrain right. Fuel mileage needs to improve by at least 30%, towing by 10-20%, and it must represent value in the truck market. I actually find it refreshing that Honda has this oddball product that they don't feel needs an overt "macho" appearance. Toyota is playing that game with their Tundra and it's not working.

[bridgecity]

Won't help insecure men feel better about themselves..

 

[bridgecity]

Too bad they cant make a heavy duty one. Something with a V8 and proper towing capabilities, Id be all over it. As it stands, no.

I'm with ya.  I think its good for what it is, however inadequate for my towing needs.  I like the idea of a hybrid unibody/frame type structure and independent suspension for nicer ride/handling when not towing/hauling.  If they made one with a 6.5ft box and 7-8000lb towing capacity it would work for me. 

Interesting comments. How important is the 6.5' box; would you consider the RL if it provided the towing but kept the existing box? Now I'm no engineer but if making a unibody/frame with independent suspension that could handle 8,000 lbs was possible but increased the price, at what price point would you be looking at the 1/2 tons instead?

Or put another way how much more would you be willing to spend over a similarly equiped 1/2 ton, all incentives in, to have the better ride?

The 6.5ft box is important to me.  With the length of some of the item I regularly haul, a 5.5 ft box wouldn't work, unless I have the tailgate down.  However, in instances with the trailer in tow, I can't have the tailgate down.  So, no, I wouldn't consider the RL with the existing box if it provided the towing capacity.

Or put another way how much more would you be willing to spend over a similarly equiped 1/2 ton, all incentives in, to have the better ride?

Good question.  Hard to say, I would think 2-3 thousand more. 

[Seafoam]

 I think there is a market for smaller trucks such as the Ridgeline. Some people want a pickup but don't want  to drive a full size truck. These vehicle are much easier to get into tight spaces. Bigger isn't always better. If they fixed the fuel economy they would sell more.

[Loudpedal]

I see the Pilot as a good urban/suburban pickup that gets used like a pickup 5% of its life.   In fact, if I were looking for a pickup, this would fit the bill.   Something to pull a small camper trailer, pull some Jet Skis or a Ski boat, use to take dirt bikes to the country, haul top soil, etc, etc.