2012 Honda Ridgeline

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab is available in four trim levels for the 2012 model year version where the ‘Sport’ trim is a newly added trim level in the lineup. The base RT trim level offers a decent list of standard features and the Sport trim adds some premium features to it. The RTS trim adds a lot more features compared to the base trim level and costs around $3,000 less than the range-topping RTL trim level. All trim levels are offered in just one body style and come in an AWD configuration.

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The RTS trim level is one of the best-equipped trims in Ridgeline’s lineup as it offers a lot more features at an affordable price tag making it the best value for money option. It has some great features such as Dual-zone climate control, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, Cruise/audio Steering control, Remote entry system, and Dual illuminated vanity mirrors.

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab uses a 3.5 L naturally aspirated V6 motor to power itself. The engine produces a good 250 horsepower and 247 lb-ft. of torque. The power delivery is linear and smooth throughout the rev range. All trim levels of the Ridgeline are only available with an AWD drivetrain setup and the engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission which feels a lot better than the 4-speed automatic gearboxes available in the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon. The segment isn’t known for performance-oriented pickup trucks and the Ridgeline doesn’t offer much excitement in its drive either. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 8 seconds and cover a quarter-mile from a standstill in 16.3 seconds.

Both the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon, being the products of General Motors are brand badged trucks and hence have the same engine, performance figures, and many other components and features. The Toyota Tacoma Access Cab is one of the toughest rivals for the Ridgeline in a lot of ways and does seem to impress a lot of customers with its engine performance and low pricing. Though slower in the 60mph, it manages to emerge victorious in the quarter-mile run clocking 15.9 seconds.

The Honda Ridgeline seems to have a mediocre fuel economy which doesn’t seem too impressive or worse. It delivers a combined fuel economy figure of 17 MPG and offers 15 and 21 MPG in the city and highway road conditions respectively. 

The 22-gallon fuel tank capacity is the largest in the segment and it is what helps the Ridgeline achieve a max range of 462 miles on the highway which is more than any other truck in the segment even though its rivals have better fuel economy figures.

The Ridgeline’s tank capacity truly helps it cover more distances in a single tank of fuel than its rivals which is a great thing on its part. But looking at the economy figures, they surely seem they could have been more if the engine would have been smaller or used forced induction for some help but that would have certainly affected the pricing of the Ridgeline. All three trucks have better performance in this aspect with the Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab leading the segment averaging 19 MPG, while the GMC and Toyota are just a notch below. The 2012 Tacoma Access Cab manages the highest combined range of 380 miles.

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab’s interior design is a generic one with a layout that doesn’t necessarily appeal to the eye. The dashboard is a tall wide one with a hard plastic surface and placement of controls to the features fitted in a way that only means business. The overall design of the dashboard or the interior, in general, doesn’t feel attractive or worth the money being spent when compared to what the rest of the trucks in the segment offer.The front seats are 10-way power-adjustable in higher trims with power lumbar supports and active head restraints. The front seats are nice and comfortable with good lumbar support and an adequate amount of space in the front row. The front row also gets a broad armrest in the center console along with some small storage spaces here and there.

The rear seats are 60-40 split-bench seats that are decently wide and accommodating for a pickup truck. The lower trim levels get lesser features when it comes to power adjustability and other creature comforts. The dual-zone automatic climate control, adjustable armrests with storage, and rear-seat heat ducts are some of the creature comforts inside the Ridgeline. The cargo bed is decently wide and roomy for a pickup truck but the exact volume has not yet been specified. The cargo bed is nice and wide as expected in a pickup truck.

The Ridgeline is the roomiest pickup truck in the segment when it comes to interior space and that makes it a very practical family vehicle as well. The Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon Crew Cab share the same platform and components and hence have identical interior space and features along with the cargo bed of 37 cubic feet. Some standout interior features are:

• 10-way power-adjustable seats with 4-way lumbar support and active head restraints
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Front cloth bucket seats
• Adjustable steering wheel
• Sunglasses holder
• Rear seat heater ducts

How intuitive is the 2012 Honda Ridgeline Crew cab’s infotainment unit?

The Ridgeline stays true to its pickup truck persona and hence doesn’t come with premium infotainment systems or features. There isn’t anything exciting about its infotainment system as it mainly comprises a satellite radio, a 6 speaker 160w audio system, a subwoofer, and an auxiliary jack. Features like a 7 speaker audio system, steering wheel controls for the audio system, and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity are only available in the top RTL trim level. Some standout infotainment features are:

• 160w 6 speaker audio system 
• Aux input
• Satellite radio
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• Steering wheel controls for the infotainment system

The exterior design layout of the 2012 Honda Ridgeline Crew cab clearly shows some Honda design cues when it comes to the front grille, bumper, and headlamps. The side profile isn’t the most attractive when compared to its rivals and the overall design seems bland and nothing too exciting or appealing to look at except the shape of the truck which stands out from the crowd.

The Ridgeline is only available in a single body style which is also a drawback compared to its rivals. The range-topping RTL trim level receives some premium features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, power moonroof, and privacy glass while the rest of the trim level doesn’t get any of these features. The rest of the trim levels get 17-inch alloy wheels and some generic features.

The Ridgeline is on the heavier side and you can feel the weight when you do some hard maneuvers in it, but despite the weight, it handles decently thanks to the short wheelbase and a well-engineered chassis and suspension setup that helps it handle better than most pickup trucks. It is also great to note that the Ridgeline Crew cab offers the best in class cabin space despite the shorter wheelbase. The Toyota Tacoma leads in terms of wheelbase, while the Chevrolet and GMC have a higher ground clearance than their competitors.

Some standout exterior features are:

• Power moonroof
• Blacked out exterior in the upper trim levels
• 18-inch machined alloy wheels
• Privacy glass
• Heated power-folding mirrors

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline hasn’t been tested and rated by agencies like the NHTSA. However, the IIHS honors the Ridgeline with the 2012 Top Safety Pick award and it earns an overall Good rating in all the tests thrown at it. As a result, Honda has taken care of the safety and reliability attributes in a great way by inculcating the best-in-class engineering practices involved in the development of the platform and overall truck.

The chassis is structurally sound but the Ridgeline only comes with basic safety features like Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), side-impact beams, and dual-stage airbags as standard. It also gets a tire pressure monitoring system in the higher trim levels.

Some standout safety features are:

• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Side impact beams
• Dual-stage airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) w/traction control

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline Crew cab proves to be one of the most spacious and easy to handle pickup trucks in its segment. It also features unshakable reliability and a promising safety quotient. If you are in the market searching for a decent pickup truck with comfort, performance, and reliability as your top priority, then the Ridgeline is surely the one to go for.