2017 Honda Ridgeline re-engages in the midsize truck market

I spent a week with the completely redesigned 2017 Honda Ridgeline and I can say that it now belongs in this segment, without all the ridicule.

After a two-year hiatus, the Ridgeline returns with completely new looks. Gone are those high walls on the bed of the truck. It’s now more conventional-looking. The front end carries a handsome new grille. The same can be said for the long middle, which is beneficial for the interior space. But the longer middle makes the 5.4-foot truck bed seem even shorter than it is. The Ridgeline still has a stumpy back end but that doesn’t mean it’s not useful as a pickup truck. There are 33.9 cubic feet of space in the bed, including a width that spans 4 feet, 2 inches. There’s a hidden compartment in the bed that offers another 7.3 cubic feet of space. This would function to hold tools or for tailgating fun, as a cooler (which is how Honda advertises it).

The rear tailgate folds down like a conventional truck’s and also can swing out. Honda has paid so much attention to the truck bed, that there’s even a sound system built into it as well as a separate power outlet.

The Ridgeline has the most unique and most versatile bed within the midsize truck segment.

But how does this truck drive? Trucks need to have raw power, torque and towing ability – or so the average truck consumer thinks. And the Ridgeline is capable in this regard. There’s a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. It all amounts to 280 horsepower and 262 lbs.-ft. of torque. This is adequate, but with only one engine, instead of a turbocharged 4-cylinder or a diesel, they’re ignoring a big part of the truck-buying market. The Ridgeline comes standard with front-wheel drive, but my tester had the optional all-wheel drive.

Overall, the Ridgeline, which shares a platform with the Honda Pilot, drives a little more like an SUV than a pickup truck. Just like the Pilot, the Ridgeline can tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Ridgeline has a payload of 1,584 pounds, which is better than any other midsize truck. These capable numbers show that the Ridgeline is deserving of competing against some of the other big names in the pickup truck world.

Inside, the Ridgeline is solid. Its interior feels a little more like a Honda Accord’s than a pickup truck’s. But that’s not a bad thing. Solid materials are used, including a soft dashboard and leather-appointed seats. The back seat is spacious with ample legroom and headroom. It’s also versatile with a flip-up cargo area under the seat. Honda claims that a bicycle or golf clubs can fit under the seat, and shows immense creativity in cargo room.

Honda’s infotainment is intuitive, although the touchscreen can be slow to respond at times. There’s a USB connector, and smart phone integration is a breeze and works well with many apps.

There are four trim offerings for the Ridgeline, including the base RT with a starting price less than $30,000. The other trims are RTL, RTL-T and top-of-the-line RTL-E, which is what I drove. This trim comes with every amenity including the rear bed audio as well as a moonroof and blind spot monitoring. However, it also spikes the price up significantly. My tester had a final MSRP of $42,270.

When compared to other similarly sized trucks with a V6 engine, the Ridgeline gets good fuel economy. The AWD Ridgeline has an EPA rating of 18 mpg/city and 25 mpg/highway. The FWD version improves those numbers by one mpg. In a week’s worth of suburban driving where I didn’t do any hauling or towing, I averaged 21.8 mpg.

The Honda Ridgeline is back in a more crowded arena, ready to challenge some of the big-selling names in the truck world. Can they go toe-to-toe with the likes of Chevy and Toyota? That is to be determined. What I can say unequivocally is that this new Honda Ridgeline is infinitely better than the previous one.

Jimmy Dinsmore is a freelance automotive journalist.

2017 HONDA RIDGELINE RTL-E