2011 Honda Ridgeline

The 2011 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab is a rather barebones truck at the base trim with minimal features like steel wheels, A/C, etc. But it becomes quite loaded in its higher trims. The RTS trim which is just $2k more than the base trim offers alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable seats, etc. The top trim RTL comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery & satellite radio. That’s it, no bed configurations or drivetrains to select from or even cabin configurations. Maybe Honda wanted to put an end to the confusion for the newer buyers interested in a pickup and so that kept things as simple as possible.

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The base trim of the Ridgeline is too basic and to top that there are no optional packages available for this truck, not even for the top trim. The price difference between the top and base trim is significant yet we only get better convenience features only, everything else stays the same. The only viable option is the RTL trim. However, we think Honda should have at least offered a better engine option. Moreover, the only optional extra that you can get on the Ridgeline is a Navigation System. 

The 2011 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab comes only in 4WD with only one powertrain combination. Generally, trucks do come with various engines depending on what towing needs you have but here things are a little different. The 3.5L, V-6 engine produces 250 horses and 247 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to all four wheels via a 5-speed automatic transmission that is great, which is expected from a Honda branded vehicle. 

Driving the Ridgeline is a pleasant experience and it provides a smooth ride on road, unlike its rivals. However, where things start to fall apart is on the off-road sections. The suspension setup is tuned to be more road-biased and nor does the engine have the torque available at the low end. Although It still can tow up to 5500 lbs, which is commendable for a newcomer.

Pickup trucks are expected to have better torque than horsepower and the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier are the two with lots of it. The Frontier is the overall most powerful and the fastest one here. The towing capacity is what is important and both Tacoma & Frontier ace this category with 6500 lbs. of maximum capacity. The Ridgeline is a capable performer, but certainly not the best here. 

Honda has lost the fuel efficiency game this time. We all know how efficient their engines are and in almost every segment their vehicles provide better mileage than their rivals. Contrary to that, the Ridgeline is the least fuel-efficient truck in the segment. The city mileage is the lowest on the Honda, thankfully on the highway things get a little better but it still lies at the lower end when it comes to MPG figures. However, the 22-gallon fuel tank capacity compensates for the abysmal fuel economy as it still offers a decent range.

The GMC Canyon offers the best fuel economy in the segment but lacks the fuel tank capacity. The Toyota Tacoma has the best balance between fuel economy and fuel tank capacity as it offers decent fuel economy and range. The GMC still provides the most range while the Honda comes with lower fuel efficiency. The Frontier provides a similar efficiency as the Ridgeline and also the lowest range. 

The Cabin of the 2011 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab is mostly comprised of plastic as you'd expect from a mid-size pickup. The kind of plastic Honda has used in the Ridgeline's cabin seems to be tough and designed to take a beating. We like the placement of the A/C vents, they properly face both the driver and passenger unlike in the middle as most of the rivals. There's big storage space on the passenger side of the dashboard and it holds a charging socket as well. 

Honda has put walls in between the instrument cluster gauges, however, we don’t see any benefit as it creates visual obstructions. The front seats are thick and are supportive. The power-adjustability is only available for the driver, sadly. The second-row seats are a bit upright and flat but the padding makes up for it. Overall, the cabin of this truck is spacious and practical, which matters the most in this segment.

The cargo bed is small on the Honda but that’s the reason we have better space on the inside. The second row on the Ridgeline can be folded for the items you don’t wanna put in the bed. The Cargo bed itself has a small storage compartment of about 8.5 cubic feet under it. The utility aspect of the Ridgeline is unmatched by the competition. The following are some of the most important interior features- 

• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control with Air-Filtration System 
• Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel 
• Multifunctional Center Storage Console with Sliding Armrest
• Leather-Trimmed Interior 
• Heated Front Seats
• Driver’s Seat with 10-Way Power Adjustment
• Power Lumbar Support
• 60/40 Lift-Up Rear Seat with Under-Seat Storage

How intuitive is the 2011 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab’s infotainment unit?

The infotainment on the 2011 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab consists of a 6-speaker, 100-watt stereo system with a CD changer on the base trim. As you go up higher in the trims you get a 7-speaker system with 160-watt of power. The connectivity options are limited to Bluetooth and AUX inputs. Meanwhile, the Navigation is optional on this truck and it is a touchscreen, thankfully. But you can’t use that screen for anything else, it is strictly for maps and navigation. Following are the standout infotainment features-

• 160-Watt AM/FM/6-Disc In-Dash CD Audio System 
• 7 Speakers with subwoofer
• MP3/Windows Media Audio(WMA) Playback Capability 
• XM Radio
• MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack

Taking risks is an integral part of any business and Honda has done exactly that with the Ridgeline. Look at it from any angle, it is unlike anything we've ever seen in the pickup segment. The design language is very unorthodox and polarizing. While we are generally used to seeing boxy and rugged designs all over in this segment, Honda is trying to do things differently since they need to stand apart from the crowd.

Underneath, the Ridgeline is still an SUV, and that shows when you look at it with any of its rivals side-by-side, the unibody construction is apparent as compared to the traditional body-on-frame pickups. Regardless, it is something unique and a breeze of fresh air in a segment crowded by utilitarian designs. Overall it is a unique-looking machine in this segment. 

The Toyota Tacoma is significantly longer than the other trucks here and that gives it more cargo space in the bed. The Tacoma is also the widest truck in the segment, not by a huge margin though. Both the Tacoma and the Frontier are known for their tough off-road capabilities, but the Tacoma takes the win here as well with the highest ground clearance in the segment at 9.8 inches, great for clearing obstacles off-road. Some of the key exterior features are-

• Power Moonroof
• Dual-Action Tailgate 
• In-Bed Trunk
• Remote Entry System 
• Security System 
• Privacy Glass
• Integrated Bed Lights with Auto-Off Timer 
• Heavy-Duty Tow Hooks (front and rear) 
• Fog Lights

The NHTSA has added some new guidelines to their crash tests procedures and the 2011 Honda Ridgeline hasn’t been tested yet based on the new testing criteria. However, the IIHS has tested the truck in 3 categories that are moderate overlap, side and head restraints and the scores are great. With the 'Good' rating in all the IIHS tests, the 2011 Ridgeline should do just fine but you don't have to rely on just body strength during a crash, the truck comes with proper airbag protection for the passengers including side airbags and special airbags which only deploy if a rollover is detected. Some of the key safety features on offer are-

• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) 
• Brake Assist
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) 
• Traction Control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH):
• Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

Usually, Honda vehicles are pretty straightforward, You get practicality with adequate performance and excellent fuel efficiency. But things seem a bit different with the Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab as it sits in quite a unique spot in the segment of pickup trucks. So, who's the Ridgeline for? Well, it's not for the traditional pickup buyer who requires all the aforementioned capabilities, but instead, it's for the lifestyle buyer who requires a pickup for the utility but does not want the tradeoffs that usually come with a traditional pickup, harsh ride quality, sub-par handling, and a bare essential design language.