Comments: 1-15, 16-18
The interior of this car/truck is a design disaster. Just enough space between the seats and the center console exists for a catch all and retrieve nothing space. About 3/8th inch and no room to fetch fallen objects. The console itself is too short. In order to use it as a platform either to write on or use to set something on you almost have to reach behind you to access the top portion of center console. Actually no flat tray on top to hold any objects. More poor design.
No compass in the coach and no auto-off lights. Hey guys this is 2006. The plastic material used to cover console and dash is not only unsightly, but its durability and ability to be cleaned leave a lot to be desired.
My biggest complaint is the MPG. I have never gotten more than 13 miles per gallon even when calculated with exclusive highway miles. 13 MPG on this 6 cylinder car/truck. That's a far cry from 17/22 or 16/21 estimated for the 07' model.
This a is still one ugly vehicle that needs to be redesigned.
In defense of Honda the Ridgeline does ride smoothly and does possess some nice features. In bed trunk and duel tailgate. These would be the only positive features about this vehicle that I have observed.
Good grief! You went from a Chevy, a true truck, to a Honda? Well, that's what you get, I suppose.
I don't even consider the Ridgeline a truck. You know why? because in stock trim, it's powered by a four-cylinder and is front wheel drive. FRONT WHEEL DRIVE! It's not a truck, it's a minivan with a bed!
It's a shame that it won Motor Trend's Truck of the Year in 2005. The only reason for this is because of its "innovation", which happened to be one idea that made it even less of a truck... and in bed trunk. Shameful. Makes me think a lot less of motor trend when there are more deserving trucks - as in all trucks - out there, like the Ford F-150, which won in 2004, and the Nissan Titan.
Isn't this thing built on an Accord platform? Uh...
I don't know where you've been? The Ridgeline is a 6 cyl not a 4.
I hope you mean the in line 4 variant that happens to be a Honda Accord. This truck does use the Accord, Ody, Pilot, MDX, platform after all.
13MPG? What a joke! My Ram Hemi gets 16 to 17 on a regular basis, with 345 horsepower to have fun with.
In stock trim, my friend, the 2005 Ridgeline's standard engine is a FOUR CYLINDER. 2005 was the first year it came out, and now, in 2006 and 2007, it comes with a 3.5L SOHC 255hp V6 mated to a five speed automatic transmission that goes to an all-wheel-drive system, all standard equipment, but the MPG is still dreadful, 16 city/21 highway.
That is horrible for a V6, they might as well put a V8 in there with that mileage.
Oh, wait...
HONDA DOESN'T MAKE A CONSUMER LEVEL V8!
What country are you from? I am apart of a Detroit family, so we study cars like there is no tomorrow, and I have never heard of a 4 cylinder Ridgeline. The Ridgeline came out in March of 2005 as an 06 model, and yes there is no V8, at least until it comes off the drawing board in the new 2011 Ridgeline; pending that there is gasoline left on earth. Please clarify what country you are from so that we may understand where you are coming from!
The Ridgeline may have considerably less HP (but that'll be rectified with the V8 Honda is testing), but don't forget this "truck" (I use this term loosely... I don't consider this thing to be a proper truck) weighs less than its counterparts.
Other than that, this "truck" is ugly, impractical for TRUE truck needs, and underpowered. The V8 can't get here fast enough... and either can a complete exterior redesign.
Give me a Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra any day of the week...better looking, better driving, tougher. Period.
I admit, I made a huge error in stating the Ridgeline came with a four cylinder. I thought I read that in a late-2004 issue of Car and Driver, but it must have been another vehicle. I apologize for my confusion.
Still, the Ridgeline is not a truck. Call it something else, and everything will be okay. It actually slightly reminds me of the GMC Envoy, but it should be called an "XUV" either.
Oh, and I am from America, of course.
Gotcha... sometimes you never know if you find a four cylinder Corvette or 10 cylinder Yugo in some weird place.
Sorry to hear that you bought a vehicle that you think is ugly and needs to be redesigned... it must have been a very good sales person. In any case, I plan to check out the Ridgeline soon. I think it looks great and I haven't yet personally met a dissatisfied Honda owner.
For those of you who are only here to make negative comments about the Ridge, why don't you first make sure your facts are strait. First off this Ridgeline is 98% unique. For those of you that aren't very smart this means that it is not based on a Accord, Pilot, or Oddessy platform. Only 2% of parts are shared like the motor from the Pilot (which is only offered in a 6cyl) or maybe a radio, or navigation system. Also Honda isn't known for making vehicles just like everybody else does. No, instead they look at how people actually use their vehicles and design the new products (such as the Ridge) to fit the actual needs of the buyer. I don't know of many truck owners who have actually ever towed 9 tons or have ever taken their truck to the Rubicon Trail to go 4 wheelin'. People do use trucks to pick up refrigerators, washer & dryers, Landscaping products, & lumber. They also use the 4x4 mode for snow & ice, and the occasional muddy road. Huh, sounds to me like the Ridge is the perfect truck for 70% of truck owners. If you own a business or need to haul 9 tons on a regular basis then go buy any of the other trucks. Oh, and one last thing. If you haven't gotten your facts strait on the Ridge than do you really even know anything about the other trucks?
First of all, I am from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (We had the 1988 winter Olympics if that helps)
Just thought I would say that the Ridgeline isn't really all that unique, pretty much just ripped off GM's design with the Avalanche and Escalade EXT with the attatched bed idea.
This truck needs a V8 and a larger rear differential (3.39 doesn't cut it). I currently own a 1997 Ford Explorer Sport 4x4 with the 4.0L OHV engine (rated at 160hp and 225 Lb. ft of torque) with a 3.73 rear differential and its rated at the same towing capacity as the Ridgeline (5000 Lbs.) I find that embaressing that what Honda calls a full size pickup truck has the same towing capacity as a 10 year old midsize SUV.
Having said that, I do not under an circumstances hate Honda, in fact my previous car was a Honda Prelude and I also have a 1999 Acura Integra.
In fact, this could be a really good vehicle if Honda takes the time to fit a proper V8, possibly a 3.73 LSD, low range gearing (really nice to pull a boat out of water, as well as tow a fellow driver out of the ditch and if you want to go offroading), and stick the spare under the bed where it belongs. The inbed trunk is a nice idea, but what if you have a full load in the bed and you get a flat, you have to pull everything out of the bed to get the the trunk area take anything out of the trunk space and then pull out the spare. What a hassle.
Atleast Honda is trying to come out with new idea's and cater to people's needs.
I would have to ask the original poster if he is so unhappy with the looks of the truck (described as ugly) and the interior layout (described as a disaster), why in the blue hell did you buy this vehicle. Also the writer ranks performance as a 1 out of 10. Hmm, 0-60 in either 8.5 or 9.3 seconds, depending on who you want to listen to... Not bad for a truck the size of the ridgeline with a V6.
Why oh why would you ever buy a vehicle you didn't want to start with? No mechanical issues, etc... Do you even own the damn thing or are you just looking at your neighbors?
BTW: Honda dealers can install a fog light package and an accessory brush guard that combined look really goood on the front of the Ridgeline. Seach autotrader or ebay for ridgelines till you see one with these options! No I am not an owner, but in the market as it were, to replace my Mazda truck and Infiniti SUV. As Goldilocks would say, it's just right.
The original poster of this review is probably a salesman for a competing brand. They are probably nervous that they will lose sales to a truck that was actually designed for the majority of the truck market.