Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Trucks/Pickups
2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL: In The Autoblog Garage Day 1
It wasn't a big surprise that the new Honda Ridgeline that pulled up for a week in the Autoblog Garage was silver. It
seems every Honda is silver. So why not their first ever truck. Color aside, the Ridgeline looks no different in person
than it does in press materials or TV. The edges and shapes are so extreme they seem almost cartoonish in real life. It
feels like you're driving a concept vehicle and not something that is being mass-produced. To me that is actually a
very appealing sensation.
My first impressions after a few drives around town are very mixed. There are some things I love about the Ridgeline
and quite a few that are extremely negative. One plus is the ride, handling and power. Theyre all great. The Ridgeline
feels like a truck in the right ways. It is big but drives like a dream. Steering is crisp, power comes quickly and
bumps barely jostle you. Add a quiet and really spacious cabin and people will think this is the perfect truck.
But then you notice some things. The grey gauges are really hard to read. In sunlight (bottom picture) it is tough to see anything. Plus, all the warning indicators are visible when inactive. That makes for a busy layout and one where its difficult to see what gear youre in or if the blinker is on. While the Ridgeline feels big and heavy when driving, the doors are light as air and offer little thud when closed shut. I like the big dials for everything but the plastic is hard to grasp and Honda couldve given them a very utilitarian rubber coating like GM does.
Its nice to have more than a day to give opinions because there are so many interesting details to the Ridgeline. You could spend a day or two gushing and then another nitpicking depending on where you look. Well do both the next few days. Hit us with questions to answer below.
Note: There was no sticker provided but the Honda website says a Ridgeline RTL with moonroof and Nav starts at $34,640.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Adam 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
Glad to hear you recieved a Ridgeline to test. I am quite interested to hear what you think about it.
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Chris 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
According to Honda's website you can load a Ridgeline RTL up to $43,425 with accesories.
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Whydrive 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
I saw one on the road the other day here in California. I don't know...I prefer the "traditional" look of a Dodge Ram or even a Tacoma.
I'm waiting for someone to replace the Honda with a Decepticon badge and paint the car purple and green. Never mind....
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evlfred 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
It looks like a girl whos trying to go butch. Guess they won't be selling anymore Baja's over at Subaru anymore.
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EricNH 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
Great concept, but lousy execution. It has everything I would like in a truck.
Took one for a test ride hoping that it would WOW me so I could get past the looks, but
the ride was almost empty without personality.
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Sully 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
Just hope you don't get a flat with a load in the back, as you can't get the spare out.
This think makes tha Aztek look like a prom queen.
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B 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
I always wondered what the Avalanche would look like without all the plastic cladding, now I know. As for the Baja, it's been killed by Subaru already. What I want to know, is with all these "half-trucks," why don't they ressurect the El Camino?
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James 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
They did, it's over $40,000 and a convertible.
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required 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
They DO have an Avalance without the plastic cladding. you can order the "Without Body Hardware (WBH) Package". they even list it as the first pic on the chevy website when you click on Avalanche.
I have to say it looks better without the plastic crap.
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me 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
take it off road, or at least over some cement parking blocks and tell us how it handles them.
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Kev 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
I was wondering how the interior is compared to other Honda offerings. My friend has a Pilot that we took on a trip up to Mammoth and I was very impressed with the interior-does the same build quality translate into the truck offering or are we stuck with a grotesque GM-like interior.
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Alex 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
The front chrome that houses the honda logo looks like a heating element from a turkey cooker or something.
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Joel 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
I just think it is weird looking. When the tailgate doesn't even match up with the sides you have problems. I can't get over that.
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TL 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
Do you like the hidden compartment in the truck bed that contains the spare?
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Matt 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
I looked at that dash and came to the conclusion that this truck is not for towing anything. My Grand Prix has a better tach than that. Then I looked up how MUCH this truck can tow and discovered that it...well...sucks.
up to 5000lb
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/specifications_at_a_glance.asp?ModelName=Ridgeline&bhcp=1&BrowserDetected=True
ok the avalache can do up to 12,000
http://www.gmcanada.com/english/vehicles/2005/chevytrucks/avalanche/
I guess Honda wants you to put your boat in the trunk.
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Ben 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
Does the bed strike you as useful? I've just started seeing these driving around locally, and I can't help but think the same thing I've noticed about Bajas and Sport Tracs - what are you gonna put in that? It doesn't look like it's even big enough for an adult-size bicycle.
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Phil 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
i really dont see the infatuation with this 'truck'. i dont see a single person whos seriously considering something other than a honda suv buying this. this might canabalize some pilot and crv sales, maybe even an accord here or there, but this is just hideous vehicle that has no noticable purpose other than to give honda loyalists and the automotive press something to gush over
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Jim byse 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
Drove a ridgeline today- there is only 8.2 inches of clearance and the underneath has cables tied to and hanging below the frame to catch debris on logging roads. A meta loop offset from th the drive line looks like it will be broken off as soon as the truck goes off the black top. the tires ar P 245 which are no good for off road. Bigger tires won't fit
Analysis- a truck for paved roads, subburbs or gravel drive ways, not a work truck. To bad. the ride was better than my Tundra (have 33,00 on it and 81,000 on a Tacoma)
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Ray 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
I am just curious. Last month, they were able to sell about 4,000 units of Ridgeline. Is it just an initial euphoria or will it be a steady sales in the future?
Do you guys know that Toyota Tundra will become much larger both engine and body size starting 2007? I am nervous how market will react to that, cause part of the reason why Tundra sell well now, might be that it is not too gigantic.
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Greg 11:00PM (12/18/2005)
First, let me state that I don't use my truck for work. I do very light hauling of toys on weekends and drive about 30 miles a day during the week, mostly freeway at 80 mph when possible.
I traded in my 2000 Tundra Limited w/50,000 miles on it on April 2 and I am very happy for the most part!
Before the Tundra, I drove (and still own) a Ford F150 with a straight 6. The Ridgeline provides the best of both; power, comfort, and a trucklike ride (which the Tundra was sorely lacking). The back seat is full size and the fold up seats allow ample space for my 16 yr old pup to sprawl (or an adult-sized bicycle). You have to see the in-bed trunk to believe it - don't drool - it was a big selling point for me.
The sound system is better than in the Tundra, which was an unexpected plus.
I have read that the Ridgeline weighs 500 lbs. more than the Tundra, so this is not going to be a great truck to tow with relatively, considering V6 vs. V8 - maybe a tent-trailer if you expect any grades.
As for the bedsize, if you get the bed-extender, you get close to 79" enclosed with the tailgate down and 60" with the tailgate in the up position.
My only real complaint so far is a really annoying noise when driving with the rear windows down at freeway speeds (even much less than 80 mph).
Lastly, can you explain the "girl trying to go butch" comment? Is that because it's short?
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