2019 Honda Ridgeline Drive with confidence with the available Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies. Learn more at Honda.com
2017 Honda Ridgeline: Edmunds Death Valley Shock Test Part 2
Our Edmunds truck experts subjected the 2017 Honda Ridgeline, 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4x4 and 2016 Nissan Titan XD to Death Valley's grueling washboard road, which ended up blowing out the trucks' shocks. Here's what the dealerships said when the editors brought the injured trucks in for repair, and what it ended up costing.
The Honda Ridgeline is a new answer to an old problem: How do you make a big truck small? The usual solution is build a full-size truck in miniature, with body-on-frame construction and a solid axle in the rear. The new-for-2017 Honda Ridgeline has found another path. It's built like a crossover SUV, with unibody construction and four-wheel independent suspension. The result is a pickup truck that trumps other midsize trucks in terms of ride, handling and overall smoothness.
And yet this innovative design doesn't impact its usability as much as you might expect: The Ridgeline's pickup bed is longer and wider than the competition's, and it carries more cargo. It has a two-way tailgate and an innovative in-bed trunk: a sizable (and lockable) storage bin beneath the bed floor.
Yes, there are compromises. The Ridgeline tows less than other midsize trucks, which generally pull in the 6,000- to 7,500-pound range. The Ridgeline with optional all-wheel drive is limited to 5,000 pounds. The two-wheel-drive Ridgeline is rated for just 3,500 pounds of towing. (It's also front-wheel-drive, not rear-wheel.) And while the all-wheel-drive system is great for bad-weather traction, the lack of a low range, and the Ridgeline's reduced ground clearance mean it can't venture as far off the beaten path as some dedicated off-road pickups.
On the other hand, a highlight of the Ridgeline's design is its spacious four-door crew cab, which is roomier and easier to see out of than other midsize pickups. Whether you're up front or in the back, seat comfort and space are excellent. The dashboard design is user-friendly and quality is top-notch. Our one big complaint — and it is a big one — is the touchscreen infotainment system found in higher trim levels. The interface is irritating, the touch-zones are tiny, and the volume slider is just plain wonky. We prefer the entry-level stereo system, which lacks navigation but has an ordinary volume knob. You'll have to do without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, however.
All Ridgelines are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. EPA fuel economy estimates are 22 mpg combined (19 city/26 highway) for the front-wheel-drive version and 21 mpg combined (18 city/25 highway) with all-wheel drive. Acceleration is quick and smooth: 7.0 seconds to 60 mph in Edmunds testing. Handling and ride quality both far exceed that of other midsize pickup trucks. Some pickup trucks may have carlike attributes, but this one drives like a car, period. However, if you need to tow a heavy trailer or want to do any serious off-roading, the Ridgeline is not your best choice.
Honda builds the Ridgeline in a staggering seven models: RT, RTS, Sport, RTL, RTL-T, RTL-E and Black Edition. Hondas generally have no options: The trim level determines equipment. The base RT, however, is not a stripped-down work truck, but one with a decent level of standard equipment. Subsequent trim levels add desirable comfort and safety equipment. Whatever your preference, Edmunds can help find the perfect 2017 Honda Ridgeline for you.
2017 Honda Ridgeline Overview
The 2017 Honda Ridgeline is offered in the following submodels: Crew Cab. Available styles include RTL-E 4dr Crew Cab AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A), RTL-T 4dr Crew Cab AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A), and Black Edition 4dr Crew Cab AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A). Ridgeline models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The 2017 Ridgeline comes with all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed automatic. The 2017 Ridgeline comes with a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. basic warranty, a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. roadside warranty, and a 5 yr./ 60000 mi. powertrain warranty.
Is the 2017 Honda Ridgeline a good car? Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2017 Ridgeline featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process All of our reviews are written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
What do people think of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline? Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2017 Ridgeline a 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2017 Ridgeline.
Vehicle Black Edition 4dr Crew Cab AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
Review I previously owned the 2007 version of this truck. When I purchased that truck in 2012 I paid 19K and I sold it for 10K (4 years later) after putting 65K miles on it. That is an amazingly low annual cost. I had absolutely no issues with the previous version. *(Update: I have had zero maintenance issues so far. A few dealership trips to tighten a few fit and finish things, that's it) Needless to say, I put a lot of miles on my car and I wanted better gas mileage and something I knew would last me a long time so I looked at the new version. I also loved the versatility of the Ridgeline and the very good road manners. The improvements are perfect. I absolutely love the option to turn off a few cylinders and go into "eco" mode. I even got 30 MPG wile taking a road trip! My average over the first 2200 miles has been a very respectable 23 MPG. *(Update: now with 26500 miles I have averaged 21 MPG mostly city driving. I will still get 25+ on trips, but most of my miles are city) I love the technology and all the bells and whistles, which is why I opted for the Black Edition. So far, I have appreciated the lane departure and front collision warning, but I am still getting used to the beeping when I get close to things. *(Update: I keep all of these assistive technologies on all of the time. They are super helpful and have become a seamless part of my driving) My kids have loved the Apple Carplay and completely taken over the music which sounds incredible in this truck. They also love the truck-bed audio system and controlling it from their phone through Bluetooth. My biggest compliment to this new version is the ride comfort and quality. *(Update: This continues to be my biggest compliment. This is simply a very nice ride!) Clearly Honda made very significant improvements to the sound dampening because it is very quiet in the cabin even at freeway speeds. Everything feels quicker and more nimble. The engine has lots of power especially when eco mode is off. *(Update: I purchased a 3500lb popup camper and it tows beautifully. Lots of power and good control, I always felt secure) I did completely fill the bed and the interior and while the suspension felt a little softer, it was still very secure. The headlights are amazing, I can see things clearly at night. *(Update: Seriously, these headlights are amazing. I am consistently appreciative of how effective they are especially on dark, rainy nights.) I was also so amazed when the brights turned off automatically when I was driving on a country road at night and there was an oncoming car. Yes, the controls for the touchscreen take a little while to get used to, but I actually appreciated that some of the features and settings were limited to when I was not driving so as to not distract the driver. Now that I am used to them I appreciate them, but I do think a physical lever or button for sound would be nice beyond the steering wheel controls. I really like the red accents and lighting but in all honesty, I was disappointed that in this top of the line black edition the red lighting was only in the front seat-wells and door handles and there were none for the back seats. The interior has good quality and soft materials. I did notice that the access to the back seats through the doors is a little less on this new model. Not a big deal but getting bigger things into the back seat is a little more challenging. (Update: I have not been impeded at all by the access in the rear seats, and no one who has ever been a passenger back there has mentioned it.) I really like the new exterior styling, very sleek. While not an overly rugged looking truck, it appeals to me because it looks sophisticated and at home in the city which is where I do the majority of my driving. I do not consider myself an off-roader but I did take this new truck out on the beach and tested out the "sand mode" and it performed with flying colors. My previous version was simply stunning in the snow so I expect the same with this generation. *(Update: I've been through a few snowstorms here including an ice + 10 inch snow event and it performed perfectly even w/o chains) No deals to be had at the dealership, at least not yet while demand is high and inventory is low. Overall, I believe that Honda took the best parts of the Ridgeline (ride quality, performance, versatility, features) and improved each one significantly. They also fixed my biggest complaint with the previous version (16 mpg average in mixed driving). I also fit the demographic Honda was targeting very well: mostly city driver, rarely tows/hauls/offroads but wants the versatility only a truck can provide while also wanting the comfort of an SUV. Bingo! *(Update: my big takeaway after 26500 miles and 19 months: This is a solid, comfortable, versatile and quiet truck that makes me feel secure in all of the driving situations I have been in so far. It has been a pleasurable 26500 miles. I expect many more! Kudos, Honda)
2017 Honda Ridgeline inventory listings Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2017 Honda Ridgeline for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 167 new and 117 used and CPO 2017 Ridgelines listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 29492 and mileage as low as 8695. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline. Then select Edmunds special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 500 on a new, used, or CPO 2017 Ridgeline available from one of 2630 dealerships in your area.
How can Edmunds help? Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color
Is the 2017 Honda Ridgeline safe? The 2017 Honda Ridgeline earned a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and "GOOD" ratings from the IIHS in the following caregories: Side Impact Test, Roof Strength Test, Rear Crash Protection/Head Restraint, IIHS Small Overlap Front Test Results, Moderate Overlap Front Test Results, and a JD POWER overall quality rating of 4.0 out of 5. Among Edmunds' many tools and resources for finding your perfect car are detailed safety ratings and analysis from NHTSA, IIHS, and JD Power, including overall ratings, frontal barrier crash ratings, side impact tests and crash ratings, rollover test results, roof strength tests, rear crash protection and head restraint ratings, side barrier ratings, combined side barrier and pole ratings, and more.
What options are available on the 2017 Honda Ridgeline?
Available Honda Ridgeline 2017 Submodel Types: Crew Cab
Available Honda Ridgeline 2017 Trims: RTL-E, RTL, Sport, RTL-T, RTS, Black Edition, RT, RTX, RTL w/Leather, SE w/Leather and Navigation
Exterior Colors: Crystal Black Pearl, White Diamond Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Steel Blue Metallic, White, Billet Silver Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Deep Scarlet Pearl, Formal Black, Dark Cherry Pearl, Forest Mist Metallic, Bali Blue Pearl, Nighthawk Black Pearl, Nimbus Gray Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, Taffeta White
Interior Colors: Neutral Black leather, Wisteria Gray leather, Gray cloth, Neutral Black cloth, Shadow Beige leather, Red-Perforated Black leather, Black cloth, Beige cloth, Black leather, Gray leather, Shadow Beige cloth
Popular Features: Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Crew Cab, Rear Bench Seats, Stability Control, Tire Pressure Warning, Towing Hitch, 5000lb Towing Capacity, AWD/4WD, Alarm, Auto Climate Control, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Aux Audio Inputs, Power Driver Seat, Trip Computer, Heated seats, Leather Seats, Back-up camera, Bluetooth, USB Inputs, Keyless Entry/Start, Remote Start, Sunroof/Moonroof, Navigation, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, Blind Spot Monitoring, Post-collision safety system, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Parking sensors, Pre-collision safety system, Upgraded Headlights, 3500lb Towing Capacity
Engine/Mechanics: 6 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC
Fuel Types: regular unleaded
Drivetrains: all wheel drive, four wheel drive, front wheel drive
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
