Spy Shots: 2010 Honda Ridgeline gets Pilot schnoz
Surprise! Honda's controversially styled Ridgeline truck is about to get the Pilot's controversial snout. First released for the '06 model year, the unibody truck has not seen any real changes to this point and it's high time for a mid-cycle model refresh. Considering that the Pilot and Ridgeline share plenty in common, it's no shocker that Honda would share styling cues between the two vehicles. Also included in the refresh are some oddly-placed dual front foglights, new tail lights and redesigned bumpers front and rear. Not much seems updated in its profile, but some new 18-inch rims have a nice, chunky look to them. So far, nobody at Honda is talking regarding powertrain updates for the Ridgeline. As we've reported in the past, though, a new diesel V6 engine of undertermined displacement seems very possible for both the Ridgeline and Pilot. With gas prices continuing to rise, Honda's Ridgeline may continue to be a popular option for those who use their trucks only for occasional hauling or towing and don't mind being seen in one ugly mutha trucka.
[Source: Temple of VTEC]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Chris 4:07PM (6/23/2008)
my first reaction was boooo
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Xcountryflyer 4:23PM (6/23/2008)
More like new front ends have been getting uglier and uglier. I hate to imagine what they have in store for the Civic, one of the few cars they have left that hasn't been whacked with the awkward stick.
brandon 5:00PM (6/23/2008)
i agree. what could possibly make honda think this frontend looks good?
kuprienko 4:08PM (6/23/2008)
Ridgeline isn't easy on gas... Mine gets 15 in the city 20 on the highway..
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LMBVette 4:16PM (6/23/2008)
That's exactly what fueleconomy.gov rates it at...15/20.
Not much better than a regular full-size pickup with a V8 of any other manufacturer.
tankd0g 5:25PM (6/23/2008)
If you shift it into neutral on down hills and draft trucks you can extract 25mpg highway out of it but it's still a big heavy thing on big tires. Better than the mid teens some trucks get I guess.
The Other Bob 5:29PM (6/23/2008)
"Mine gets 15 in the city 20 on the highway.."
I have to ask an honest question. What were the most apealing features of this vehicle, that made you decide to buy it?
kuprienko 6:48PM (6/23/2008)
The Other Bob:
Some of the features that I like are: bed with lockable/dry space inside of it, roomy interior (especially the back seat area), handling characteristics at highway speeds, the fact that its a Honda and some smaller stuff... I think it took about half a year of research/test drives to finally get the Ridgeline... So far the only thing I don't like about it is the gas mileage, but I kinda knew upfront I'm going to have to pay extra for having a big vehicle.
Aprime 12:23AM (6/24/2008)
Tankd0g, shifting into neutral is only good when the car isn't moving. Otherwise it's plain stupid and doesn't save you any fuel.
Keat 4:08PM (6/23/2008)
Very Ugly. And a sorry excuse for a pickup.
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MachinaDC5 4:12PM (6/23/2008)
I don't think it ever pretended to be a pickup. Most consumers know what they're walking into when they buy Ridgelines. It's far from any F-150, not a real work truck but more of an urban cowboy ride. Though like I said, this isn't something hidden from buyers.
The Other Bob 5:35PM (6/23/2008)
"I don't think it ever pretended to be a pickup. Most consumers know what they're walking into when they buy Ridgelines."
Honda pretended it was a pickup when they advertised it as a rugged "half-ton truck"
styleguy 4:09PM (6/23/2008)
It's still odd...it doesn't deserve a new engine. AXE IT! I'm through with Honda's styling.
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Trevor Nalepka 4:12PM (6/23/2008)
Just put us out of our misery. Axe it, and the rest of Honda's "new" design language
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Sam 4:13PM (6/23/2008)
I'm a fan of Honda, but this design has been and continues to be disappointing.
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That One Person 4:32PM (6/23/2008)
No kidding.
I think out of all the Japanese companies, Honda continues to be my favorite partly because unlike some companies, they are still "green" (with the exception of this thing and the Pilot).
I always loved Honda but when the current Civic hit the road, I knew their designs were gonna go down hill (don't get me wrong, I like the Civic and now the Accord). The current crop of SUVs are just "meh". Their best lookin vehicle (besides the Accord...which is questionable) is the Odyssey.
In a way, I wish Honda would just bring back every last gen. design and sell those. The last Pilot looked better. The last CR-V looked better. The Civic, etc.
MikeofLA 4:13PM (6/23/2008)
What's with the quad fog lights? It just looks weird. I think the front looks better on this then the pilot though.
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kuprienko 4:20PM (6/23/2008)
I agree, I like this front end much better than the Pilot's.
kuprienko 4:21PM (6/23/2008)
I wonder if those are driving lights/fog lights? But the do look odd... reminds me of an old 4runner design.
I like the camera in the tailgate handle (or it looks like a camera)
mk 4:49PM (6/23/2008)
the outboard ones may be cornering lights. Turn signals trigger white outboard pointing lights to show laterally in the direction of the turn...
the inboard ones are probably still fogs.
*in general:
Actually, I think the grille looks decent on the Ridgeline, it is a truck-ish grille. but the Pilot looks ugly in general.
I have always HATED the rearward sloping bed rails. The sail panels are fine, but the rearward sloping bedrails just seem stupid. flat bedrails with cleats, or whatever cargo management.
A diesel engine would be GREAT in a truck like this.
I just wonder if people understand that not everyone wants an F150, or a Silverado. Those things are HUGE. The ridgeline itself is almost too bulky for what it does.
Some of us don't live out on the farm, but DO live in the midwest. I don't haul 5000lbs of materials in the bed of a truck. But I can't fit furniture in the trunk of my car. I don't haul construction materials, but I do not want to haul my lawn mower to the repair shop and spill gas all over the trunk lining. Again.
And it isn't an urban "cowboy" thing. It is a utility thing, and needing a bit more than a car offers, but not needing it all the time.
when cheap credit and moderate fuel costs ruled the market, SUVs were popular for just that reason. And they usually were over-grown and over-blown.
Heck, if Subaru brought back a BETTER Baja, with their upcoming turbodiesel 4-cyl boxer engine, and good full time AWD... that would be utterly FANTASTIC. The concept of the Baja was not a bad concept. They just botched the execution. Again.