Is a ridgeline a pickup?

[Garandman]

No dog in the fight but the 2017 Ridgeline was introduced at the Detroit Auto Show recently. Would seem to be an excellent bike hauler/commuter.

http://www.freep.com/story/money/car...ckup/78311104/

The Honda Ridgeline Is All The Truck A Normal Person Will Ever Need

The 2017 model, built in Alabama, will go on sale in early summer with a new, more traditional truck design.

"People expect a certain look from a pickup truck," he said. It is on a new global platform shared with the Honda Pilot and Odyssey minivan.

Conrad said he expects the second-generation truck, which was designed, developed and manufactured in America, to be a bigger seller. "Dealers want it. The truck market is exploding."


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Conrad said the small pickup segment is one people vacated for awhile but it is gaining popularity again as people realize they don't need a full-size pickup.

The Ridgeline retains its unibody construction in a world where pickups are body-on-frame.

"We think we’ve got a better idea, a truck that uses its unibody construction and Honda packaging magic to deliver more of the things that many of today’s truck customers want and need with none of the things they don’t," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda.

The Ridgeline is a lifestyle truck that can still be on a construction site "but it's the architect driving it," Conrad said.

[CEO]

It's not pretty, that's for sure. The current one looks a lot better.

[gixxer72]

That's about as much of a truck as a Subaru baja. I like where they locate the spare - safe bet no one will ever carry anything in the bed I guess. Not sure who this will appeal to, niche market. Owners will probably fire this up when they need to move a couple dozen pounds of hummus and kale...

[Falko]

Looks like a competitor to the Canyon and they split the bed to make it more truck like. It's a nice sized truck as long as you don't need anything too big. I think a lot of the trucks available are way overkill for most people. But I drive an Avalanche so...

[Pittenger5]

Did they take the front end off a minivan?

[Trajiks9]

Put a cap on the back and you get a Honda Pilot.
Let's call it a "truck" but, say we didn't.

[Kurlon]

The Ridgeline is a lifestyle truck that can still be on a construction site "but it's the architect driving it," Conrad said.

'nuff said.

[TTD]

I loved my 2006 ridgeline... like the looks better than this at first glance.

It was truly all the truck I needed... until I bought a big camper and needed more towing power.

I did 5 years of home construction hauling, dirt and road bike hauling, and taking 2 couples out for a nice night... truly a great "truck"

[tls25rs]

Ridgeline = Hondalanche

[Spooler]

I actually really like the older ones and think it would do anything I'd ask it to (furniture/other bulky items or a bike in the bed, getting around in the snow). And I grew to like the looks, eventually. This thing looks hideous, but it would probably still be all the truck I'd want. There isn't a truck on the market in the US that I'd be really interested in owning, they're way to big and more than I need.

[BMMCBR]

Did they finally put a decent engine in it? The V6 in the current/old one got worse MPG than a modern V8 pickup.

[nhbubba]

I dunno. What does consumer reports say??

[jasnmar]

I kinda liked the previous version of the Ridgeline (no, this isn't a Honda thing, I've never even driven (that I'm aware of) a Honda 4 wheeled vehicle).

This thing is fugly. Yeah, I think it's a pick up, but it looks like they hired the Prius design team.

[Chippertheripper]

I dunno. What does consumer reports say??

Hahahahhahahahahahhahahahaha.
You millennial.

[Gixxer]

It was the Truck Of The Year in 2006. Technically there is no current model. Nose looks to be like most of their new lineup.

[SVRACER01]

Ridgeline = Hondalanche

not even close. i hated the 'lanche but it was still on the 1500 platform. frame, RWD w/4wd, V8 high tow rating, etc. it WAS a truck.
on one hand i agree with the statement that its a truck for normal people. it would actually fit my "truck" needs quite well. runs to the lumber yard, pulling a couple bikes, daily driver etc. BUT...big but, its fucking FWD? i can look past the unibody and the even the independent suspension but not the drivetrain. its also fugly..from the front. from the back or even rear 3/4 view it looks like a (previous gen) Titan. oddly, the new titan looks like an F150.
not sure how popular it will be. hopefully this wont lead to some trend of lame "crossover" trucks like what happened to all the SUVs.

[nhbubba]

AWD Pilot is rated to tow 5000 lbs. Last-gen Ridgeline was the same. I would assume this will do the same.
Truth told, 5000 lbs is enough for me too.
What is shameful was the fuel economy the old Ridgeline got; 15/21 EPA isn't good.

[Gixxer]

AWD Pilot is rated to tow 5000 lbs. Last-gen Ridgeline was the same. I would assume this will do the same.
Truth told, 5000 lbs is enough for me too.
What is shameful was the fuel economy the old Ridgeline got; 15/21 EPA isn't good.

It was on par with what the competition was when the Ridgeline debuted in 2006. Avalanche 13/17, Dakota 15/20, etc
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfuel/FFV2006.shtml

[butcher bergs]

That's not a truck. It's an Accord Crosstour with the ass removed.

[Garandman]

Looks like a competitor to the Canyon and they split the bed to make it more truck like. It's a nice sized truck as long as you don't need anything too big. I think a lot of the trucks available are way overkill for most people. But I drive an Avalanche so...

They claim that it will do most of the things people actually use pickups to do. Most of the pickups I see are hauling air so they're right on that count, anyway.

[oVTo]

I looked at a Ridgeline before buying my Taco. The inside was small, the bed was small, the mpg sucked. If I moved the driver's seat far enough back to drive it, there was zero leg room in the back seat. Putting bikes in back was doable, but the back tire would have been mid-tailgate, and the tailgate was only rated for 300lbs. I went with a long-bed, crew cab Toyota. Not as much truck as my old Silverado, but going from 13-15mpg to 20-21mpg was a big +.

[TheIglu]

I'll test drive one before I buy a new double cab Tacoma next fall.

Front end looks similar to our '15 CRV.

The auto only and no low range pretty much kills it for me though. Everything else seems fine.

[nhbubba]

It was on par with what the competition was when the Ridgeline debuted in 2006.

We've come a long, long way baby.

[nhbubba]

Not as much truck as my old Silverado, but going from 13-15mpg to 20-21mpg was a big +.

5.3L V8 Silverado with the cylinder deactivation business gets that now.
IIRC the Dodge 1500's are too with their 8-speed autos.

[Stoneman]

5.3L V8 Silverado with the cylinder deactivation business gets that now.
IIRC the Dodge 1500's are too with their 8-speed autos.

My 2007 Silverado with that engine regularly gets about 20MPG as well. Although my commute is mainly route 28 from Barnstead to Manch Angelos. But - and it's a BIG but, I don't lose a helluvalot in MPG when I'm towing/hauling 4 ATV's or our 18' bowrider...