2006 Honda Ridgeline RT from North America - Comments

The Ridgeline is only a truck in that it has a small pick up bed. It is more of a car based light utility vehicle. I've seen 1 or 2 so far and they aren't designed for truck use.

They use struts all the way around, not solid axles, leaf springs or torsion bars like trucks.

Its built on a unit body structure like a car, not with a full frame like a truck.

The AWD system relies mostly on FWD as most cars do. I'm sure it would be an OK vehicle for the average yuppie.

6th Feb 2007, 12:02.

I take it you have never heard of a 1/4 ton truck.

Yuppy car/truck, call it what you will, this is probably the most innovative truck on the road. There will always be people who don't like it becuase of its styling or becuase you have to unload if you get a flat due to the spare stored under the bed. But hey, when was the last time you had a flat? I have been driving for over 20 years and have yet to have a flat that I couldn't repair on the side of the road. The donut should be a last resort.

As for towing capacity, who cares... the car is not intended to be a workhorse. It can haul 2 snowmobiles, or a utility trailer or some motorcycles... very few people will ever tow more than 5000 lbs and if they do then they should be looking at something with a V8!

I have used my truck to carry 9 foot sheets of drywall, plywood, couches, fridges, dishwashers, ovens, an entire ikea kitchen, and garbage and I can attest that even with a small bed, it is still great for halling stuff around.

The biggest downfall to this truck is that its gas mileage is poor for what it is. I have achieved the hwy mileage on occasion but only with PURE highway driving, no stop and go whatsoever. If you hit any traffic on the highway, expect your mileage to be in the 12-15 range. Definitely disappointing.

As for the JTL just too late AWD or 4 by 4 system whatever you want to call it, it works suprisingly well. I have heard many complain of these systems calling them mickey mouse but I found the system to be fantastic in the snow this winter. It was always able to get me out of the snow and with the traction control system and ABS the truck practically drives itself in the winter.

All in all, I think that if one needs to haul stuff around and they are looking for a practical vehicle, this is it.

Well my wife & I purchased a 2007 RTL and we love it so far. We do not haul tons of stuff, nor have a trailer. We just liked the utility of it all. Some attractions were it's all wheel drive, the bed trunk, dual-way gate, ride height, 4 cargo lights, and thoughtful placement of all controls. We never owned a Honda before so this is a new experience. I do wish it had telescoping steering instead of just very limited tilt, but that is really no problem as the seats adjust a lot. For everyday driving it has plenty of giddy-up, so the lack of a V8 is not the end of the world. Also, since it does not have a solid axle in back, the ride is a bit smoother and less truck-like, which I don't see as a complaint. Happy so far with over 27K miles on it.

Too all readers on the Ridgeline: gas mileage will get better after about 5,000 miles. It's still a truck and you have to drive conservatively for best results. Should get around 17-19 overall with reasonable driving habits. Use the cruise on the highway (and just leave the master switch on, it's not located in a convenient place for activating on the fly.)

I've had my 08 Ridgeline for about a year and really like the car/truck. If you want a strong, heavy duty truck, then this truck is not for you. It is a nice riding automobile that will do most of the tasks that a regular pickup would do and would probably serve the needs of most people. It has lots of room, will pull my boat, and rides comfortably. Mileage around town is about 19 mpg. I would probably buy another one if I ever needed to replace this one.

Honda didn't build this truck to be a heavy-hauler and compete with Chevy, Ford and Dodge. They built it so people who wanted to have a reliable vehicle, but still needed to carry a bit more around than what could be done in a Civic. The Ridgeline is meant for light duty jobs. If you want a truck that can tow a 5th wheel camper or haul a load of rocks, then buy a Tundra, or at least a Ram. But avoid Chevy like the plague.