Pros
- Ride/handling balance
- Refinement
- Build quality
- Passenger room/comfort
- Standard AWD
Cons
- No long-bed option
- Acceleration when towing
- No powertrain options
Acceleration
5/10
Better than adequate go, thanks in part to a smooth, responsive transmission. Ridgeline is on par with rival compact pickups with V6s--but behind Dodge Dakota with its available V8. The engine also may be taxed when asked to meet Ridgeline's 5000-lb towing capacity or 1546-lb maximum payload.
Fuel Economy
4/10
In Consumer Guide testing, RTLs averaged 16.2-18.3 mpg. Ridgeline uses regular-grade gas.
Ride Quality
6/10
Exemplary for a pickup. Comfortably controlled, spoiled only by minor thumping on washboard surfaces. Ridgeline's independent rear suspension cushions bumps better than nearly all solid-axle-equipped competitors.
Steering/Handling/Braking
5/10
Drives more like a car or minivan than a typical pickup. Still, Ridgeline's height and heft mean a fair amount of body lean and noseplow in fast turns. Steering feel is too light at low speeds, but a relatively tight turning circle aids parking lot maneuverability. Braking is strong and sure.
Quietness
6/10
Again, impressive for a pickup. The refined V6 rises only to a classy growl at full throttle. Road noise is no worse than in most cars. Wind noise always heard at highway speeds, even with the sliding rear window open.
Controls
6/10
Honda-typical gauges, which are easy to read. Controls are simple, but some radio adjustments require a stretch. Ridgeline has a steering column-mounted transmission shift lever that has imprecise movement, which allows it to overshoot Drive from Reverse or Park.
Details
5/10
Ridgeline's cabin is more than serviceable, but overuse of hard plastic trim disappoints. Assembly quality mostly top notch.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (Front)
7/10
Headroom is six-footer adequate with RTL's available sunroof, ample otherwise. Fine legroom, though taller drivers may wish for more rearward seat travel. The rear-roof design hinders over-the-shoulder vision, but no problems elsewhere. Thick roof pillars are an obstruction to visibility all around, with view directly aft especially compromised.
Room/Comfort (Rear)
5/10
Good rear-seat room for two adults, three if necessary. Seat padding is a bit thin for best comfort, the cushion is rather flat, and the backrest is too upright. No-strain entry and exit, though the door openings could be larger.
Cargo Room
5/10
Ridgeline's cargo bed carries 4x8 sheets flat with the tailgate dropped. Even then, floor length is just 6.5 ft, and rivals offer long-box options. The tailgate's swing-open feature is nifty. Ditto the in-bed "trunk" with 8.5 cu ft of covered, lockable space--enough for three regular golf bags, Honda says. Useful in-cab cargo space beneath rear seat becomes generous with the cushions flipped up. Small-item storage is ample, thanks to a large console, glovebox, and assorted handy bins.
Value Within Class
7/10
Ridgeline blends pickup-truck utility with car-like civility in a solid, sensible package. The light-duty design won't suit hardcore truckers but should meet the needs of families and recreational users, as Honda intends. Innovative pickup features and Honda's solid reputation for reliability make it a good competitor in its class. The RT and RTS models are our Recommended picks in this line, as the top-line RTL is rather pricey.
Highlights
The 2010 Honda Ridgeline is largely unchanged following its model-year 2009 freshening. This pickup truck is a compact-class, five-passenger, 4-door crew cab with a 5-foot-long cargo bed and standard all-wheel drive. Ridgeline has several design features unusual to pickups, including independent rear suspension and crossover-style unibody construction. Its cargo box is dent-resistant plastic with a steel-reinforced floor that houses a covered well at the rear. The tailgate drops down or swings out. Trim levels include base RT, mid-level RTS, and top-line RTL. Ridgeline's sole powertrain is a 250-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine teamed with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Ridgeline lacks a low-range gear for off-roading, but a dashboard button locks in a 50/50 front and rear power split. Maximum towing capacity is 5000 lb. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. The rear window has a power-sliding center section. Exclusive to the RTL are leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a sunroof. A navigation system is available on the RTL, and versions so equipped are priced as separate models. Navigation-equipped versions include a wireless cell-phone link and rearview camera.
Competition
Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Pickups offer a true-truck design in a relatively modest package. They are best suited for personal or light-duty use rather than commercial use, heavy hauling, or towing.
Our Best Buy is the Toyota Tacoma. Our Recommended picks are the Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, and Suzuki Equator.