2017 Honda Ridgeline

The lack of multiple cab and bed configurations severely limits this truck to very specific uses- CarGurus

A total of five trim levels are offered on the Honda Ridgeline. These are RT, RTS, Sport, RTL. RTL-T, RTL-E, and Black Edition. Pricing for these trims start range between $29,475 and $42,970 and also adds a separate $900 destination fee. All the models are available in both FWD and AWD configurations except for the RTL-E and Black Edition trims that come standard with an AWD system. 

The RT trim is a barebone in terms of features but they keep adding to the list as you climb the trim ladder. The Ridgeline offers a lot of functional benefits but there are also limitations with its car-like body unibody platform. It comes only as a crew cab with a 5-foot 4-inch bed, period. For any other configuration, you'll need a traditional body-on-frame pickup. 

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We suggest you buy the RTL-T trim as it adds some value technological features to the list. These features include an 8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a satellite-linked navigation system. If you want to take this vehicle off roads, we recommend the Adventure package that adds crossbars, gloss black roof rails, fender flares, running boards, skid plate, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a sports grille. 

Honda's improved the gas mileage in the Ridgeline significantly- The Car Connection

The fuel economy of the Honda Ridgeline is great as the engine offers the latest cylinder deactivation technology to improved highway fuel economy. The numbers include 19 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on a highway, and 22 MPG combined, as estimated by the EPA. The AWD models drop down the fuel economy by just 1 MPG.

Those are the highest fuel ratings in this particular segment. The Ridgeline gets the smallest fuel tank that measures 19.5 gallons and yet, it delivers a decent range thanks to its impressive efficiency. The Ridgeline can deliver 439 miles of combined range in FWD form while the AWD models can drive up to only 419 miles, which is still good. 

The Ridgeline stays at the top of the table as it returns the best-combined mileage among its rivals. The fuel ratings of the  Toyota Tacoma and the Chevy Colorado are almost the same and hence, share the same stage. On the other hand, the Nissan Frontier is the least fuel-efficient truck here despite producing less power. 

As before, the interior of the Ridgeline positively embarrasses the competition. It feels enormous and comfortable front and rear- CarAndDriver

2017 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Seating and Comfort

The Honda Ridgeline has the best-trimmed interior in the midsize truck class with great materials. Cloth upholstery is standard but the RTL trim and onwards get perforated leather seats. The seat bottoms are well-cushioned and they have got a nice firm but comfortable feel. The armrests fold down because the center console design is quite different than in most trucks. The seating position is also different, it's a little bit more like you're sitting down in a car. The extensive seat and wheel adjustability will let any driver get comfortable. That combined with excellent passenger space in the front row increases the comfort levels. 

On the contrary, the seating position at the back is pretty higher than it is in some of the midsize trucks. These seats are a bit stiff and flat, which may not suit some buyers. The rear row is plenty roomy for adults too even if it's not quite as enormous as the front. Unlike most trucks where the rear seats fold down, in the Ridgeline's case, the seat bottoms fold up which gives you not only nice big floor space but also a lot of verticle space to store long items. If you are a large person, getting in and out of the back seat is a bit of a challenge as the rear doors are a bit on the narrow side and they don't open all that wide. 

The front-seat space in the Chevy Colorado is the best in the segment. However, it is slightly behind in terms of shoulder and legroom. Both the Toyota Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier offer very little legroom at the back and therefore, are very cramped for adults. it is also worth noting that the wide proportions of the Ridgeline offer the best shoulder room in this competition. Therefore, the passengers can sit comfortably. 

2017 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Infotainment System

A 5-inch color display is standard on the lower trims that feature just Bluetooth and AM/FM radio. Like other Honda models, the higher trims of the Ridgeline now includes an 8-inch touchscreen display with the HondaLink infotainment system. This system lets you arrange the icons by holding your finger on the icon and dragging it. The navigation also accepts pinch and zoom gestures and swiping as well.

The graphics aren't the clearest and it's slow to switch between modes. The audio quality produced by the seven speakers is absolutely great. The climate controls below the screen are well laid out and easy to get. The only issue though is that there are no hard buttons for the radio. Everything is touch-sensitive here. That means it's really difficult to change the volume of the station without using the button on the steering wheel. 

2017 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Interior Features 

The cabin of the Honda Ridgeline is the host of many comfort and technological features. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Tilt & telescopic multi-function leather, heated steering wheel
• Power front heated seats
• Cloth & leather upholstery
• Remote engine start
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Ambient lighting
• Illuminated cupholders
• Keyless entry
• Dual illumination vanity mirrors
• 8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 7-speaker sound system
• Navigation system

2017 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Cargo Capacity

As mentioned before, the Honda Ridgeline comes with just one cargo bed i.e. 5-foot 4-inch bed. This bed offers a cargo space of 33.9 cu-ft, which is on par with some of its rivals. This bed also offers a maximum payload capacity of 1,584 pounds. The cargo bed is the coolest part of the Ridgeline. The tailgate opens two different ways- the traditional way or via a side hinge. Once open, there is actually a hidden trunk underneath the bed floor which is watertight and locks with the rest of the vehicle. 

This trunk provides an additional 7.3 cu-ft and one of the cool things you could do with it is use it as a cooler when tailgating. However, this bed is kind of shallow and because it has a hidden trunk, it makes you lifting heigh a little bit taller. Honda also had tailgating in mind when they added a 150 or 400-watt outlet at the back as well as a truck-bed audio system. It has surprisingly good sound quality and you can control it with your phone. This feature is only available on the RTL-E and Black Edition trims. Finally, there are plenty of tie-downs and LED lighting. 

As expected, the Chevy Colorado offers the most cargo volume in its bed and it is the only truck here whose payload capacity matches with the ridgeline. The cargo volume offered by the Nissan Frontier is almost the same as the Ridgeline but its payload is less. The Toyota Tacoma's cargo space is unknown but it also provides less payload capacity than the Ridgeline. 

For 2017, new structure design means the buttresses are gone and the truck has a more traditional look -Kelley Blue Book

2017 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Dimension and Weight

The Honda Ridgeline bears a strong resemblance to the Pilot SUV that it is based on. The Black Edition does look a lot more intimidating with all the blacked-out exterior except the dark bronze trim on the top of the grille. On all the trims, that would be chrome instead. Regardless, that trim integrates into the headlights which are halogen on all the trims while the RTL-E and Black Edition models come with LED headlamps. Also, LED DRLs are standard from the RTL-T trim and up. Down below, you will find separated turn signal and fog lamps on all but the base RT trim.

Around the side though is where you'll see how different the Ridgeline is from the typical midsize truck. This is a unibody vehicle which means there is no separation between cab and bed. This approach allowed several unique features to be added to the bed. Coming to the wheels, they are 18-inch alloy wheels. These wheels keep the Ridgeline 7.9 inches from the ground. It has a wide body in this segment and therefore, its shoulder room is segment-best. At the back, it looks pretty much like any other pickup truck with tall LED taillights flanking the tailgate. 

Being a capable off-roader, the Toyota Tacoma has the highest ground clearance in this segment. The Chevy Colorado has a long wheelbase and it translates for a roomy cabin. With an overall length of 205.5 inches, the Nissan Frontier is the shortest cab in this segment. Hence, it offers less passenger space in the rear row. 

2017 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Exterior Features

Some cool exterior features of the Honda Ridgeline are as follows:

• Halogen & LED headlights
• LED DRLs & taillights
• Front fog lights
• Door courtesy lights
• Heated exterior mirrors
• Black grille with chrome accents
• LED pickup bed light
• Black window trim
• 18-inch alloy wheels

A full selection of active driving safety features is available on top-grade models- Edmunds

The Honda Ridgeline was well-received by NHTSA. A perfect 5-star overall safety rating was awarded to the Ridgeline for its performance in all crash tests. It received 5 stars for the frontal and side-impact crash tests and 4 stars for the rollover crash test. The detailed NHTSA rings of the Ridgeline are mentioned below:

NHTSA Rating

Just like NHTSA, even IIHS also gave the Ridgeline their 'Top Safety Pick+' award, which is considered as the highest accolade from the agency. That's because it received 'Good' ratings in almost all crash tests. The front passenger's crash test was rated 'Acceptable' while the front crash prevention was given a 'Superior' rating. 

IIHS Rating

All these prove the fact that the Honda Ridgeline is a safe vehicle. When it comes to driver-assist features, the Ridgeline offers a long list of them. The lower versions come with a few safety features while the higher trims are equipped with Honda Sensing which is a suite of safety technologies.

With these driver assistance features equipped, the Ridgeline can protect its occupants from the risk of collision. Some of them include:

• Rearview Camera
• Honda LaneWatch
• Front & Rear Parking Sensors
• Collision Mitigation Braking
• Lane Departure Warning
• Road Departure Mitigation
• Lane Keep Assist
• Forward Collision Warning
• Adaptive Cruise Control

2017 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs 2017 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

The V6 engine in the Chevy Colorado is optional but it makes more power than the Ridgeline. This engine has the best towing capacity in this segment but its fuel efficiency is on the lower side. The Colorado's cabin is roomier while its cargo capacity is the best in the segment. However, it loses some points in terms of safety as its ratings are not that impressive and also packs just a few features. 

2017 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs 2017 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

Similarly priced as the Ridgeline, the Toyota Tacoma is known for its off-road capabilities. Its towing capacity is more than the Ridgeline while its payload capacity is the best in the class. However, it is not as efficient as the Ridgeline. On the inside, it fails to offer enough passenger space in the third row but has a refined interior. The Tacoma isn't that great in view of safety features and ratings too. 

2017 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs 2017 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

The Nissan Frontier is the cheapest option in this segment but also comes with a less powerful engine. It has the worst fuel economy while its towing and cargo capacities are commendable. The Frontier comes with limited standard features and its cabin also offers less rear-seat space. The Frontier is devoid of the latest safety tech, which is the biggest downside of this truck. 

Well-established solutions often work just fine but Honda has a rich tradition of questioning the fundamentals. You apply that innovative spirit to something like a pickup truck, the result is truck utility minus uncivilized inefficiencies. The Honda Ridgeline offers a lot for the money as there are things that you cannot get in any of the competitors such as driving character, refinement, and feature content. It is not going to work for all truck buyers but it's more than enough truck for most.