2017 Honda Ridgeline Review

Forget most everything you know about the old Honda Ridgeline, which was last sold for 2014. This second-generation iteration is all new and significantly improved in many critical areas. But longtime fans needn't worry. The 2017 Ridgeline retains all of the fundamental design advantages and innovative cargo-carrying ideas of the original.

To that end, the new Ridgeline still employs unibody construction and a four-wheel independent suspension to deliver levels of ride and handling refinement not otherwise seen in pickups. It still uses all-wheel drive instead of part-time four-wheel drive. But now there's a new front-wheel-drive version as well. You'll still find the innovative two-way tailgate and lockable in-bed trunk, but that trunk has been enlarged and the truck bed itself has been lengthened. Other major changes include a more powerful V6 engine, a more upscale interior and new safety features.

In the context of pickup trucks, the redesigned 2017 Honda Ridgeline offers unheard-of levels of ride smoothness, handling sophistication and overall comfort. In fact, it gives away very little to top-rated family SUVs. Much of this is due to largely invisible design choices such as unibody construction and a four-wheel independent suspension. More obvious is the handsome interior, which borrows most of its parts, features and technology from the highly rated Honda Pilot SUV.

With its two-way tailgate and lockable in-bed trunk, the Honda Ridgeline boasts the segment's most innovative cargo bed; it also happens to be longer, wider and rated to carry the most payload among midsize crew-cab trucks. But the Ridgeline's crossover roots do impose a couple of restrictions that might rankle those who push a truck's limits. Towing capacity tops out at a modest 5,000 pounds. And while the all-wheel-drive system is expert at managing traction, it lacks the low-range gearing and clearance to follow a Toyota Tacoma into the rocks.

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds owned a Honda Ridgeline for one year and over 21,000 miles. To learn more about our experiences, visit the long-term page for our 2017 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E. We cover everything from seat comfort to real-world fuel economy. We test the practicality of its unique two-way tailgate and lockable in-bed trunk and even take it off-road. This midsize truck really differentiates itself from the rest of the class and we tell you all about it.