2019 Honda Ridgeline

Overview

Transcending pickup-truck tropes, the Honda Ridgeline tosses tradition to the wind with unconventional comfort and ingenious features. Looking for a quintessential crossover? It has a comfortable cabin and refined road manners. Yet its towing capability and its innovative cargo box, which has an in-bed trunk as well as incorporating into it an available audio system, exploit and enhance truck tradition. A speedy 280-hp V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission comprise the sole powertrain; front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. Although it's only built as a crew cab with a 5.3-foot bed, the Ridgeline caters to and satisfies a wider society than its rivals—a key reason it's earned 10Best honors three years in a row.

What's New for 2019?

For 2019, the Ridgeline receives the smallest of updates. Honda now provides the RT, Sport, and RTL models with a second USB port. Likewise, RTL and RTL-T versions add a power sunroof and power-sliding rear window that were previously only found on the range-topping trims.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Engine, Transmission, Performance, and Towing

Likes: Quick and fuel-efficient powertrain, excellent ride and handling.
Dislikes: Feels less muscular off-road, can't tow as much as top rivals.

The lone powertrain is a 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 262 lb-ft of torque and has a six-speed automatic transmission. We found this combination to be more than suitable. The engine feels smooth, and throttle response is especially receptive when you call for hard acceleration. The Ridgeline is quick, but when it comes to towing, it's lacking. Front-wheel-drive models can tow a maximum of 3500 pounds. All-wheel-drive Ridgelines are rated at 5000 pounds, which is about one ton less than its V-6 rivals.

An untraditional pickup in many ways, the Ridgeline surprises from behind the wheel. On the road, it's well-mannered and feels extremely competent. Its coil-sprung independent rear suspension contributes to a carlike ride quality not available with the leaf-sprung, solid-axle setups used by the competition. Body lean in corners is minimal, and small bumps are barely noticeable. The electrically assisted steering feels appropriate. The Ridgeline's braking performance stands out as its lone dynamic blemish. Its braking distance from 70 mph to zero is on the long side, and we thought the brake pedal felt soft and had too much travel during normal use.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The V-6 in the Ridgeline is the most fuel-efficient six-cylinder engine in its class, regardless of whether it's outfitted with front- or all-wheel drive. During our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test, the Ridgeline exceeded its highway rating by a significant 3 mpg. That figure matches our results for a GMC Canyon with the diesel engine and all-wheel drive, which is impressive considering the Honda's gas engine.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Higher-quality interior versus rivals, best-in-class back-seat space, inventive cargo solutions.
Dislikes: Only one cab and bed configuration, no volume knob for the audio system.

The Ridgeline's interior is tops in its class in terms of practicality and comfort. As with most other mid-size pickups, the Honda features hard plastics below the dash level. Otherwise, the materials are above average. Rear-seat passengers will enjoy the most space of all mid-size rivals. Starting on the RTL, interiors are trimmed in leather (hence the "L") and have a 10-way-power-adjustable driver's seat and a four-way-power-adjustable passenger's seat. Fold-down armrests on both front seats are a welcome addition, especially since the center console sits low between them.

Its weak link is the available 8.0-inch HondaLink touchscreen. It's hard to control, the features are frustrating to use, and it's not very responsive to user inputs. Redeeming qualities are few, but Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a trick, optional in-bed audio system will liven up any tailgate party. It uses actuators that vibrate the cargo box, turning it into a huge speaker. Otherwise, the standard infotainment system is a 5.0-inch non-touch display with Bluetooth connectivity.

The Honda pickup has only one bed length, 5.3 feet, which lines up with competitors' short beds and has the second-lowest volume at 34 cubic feet. The antidote to this disparity is its locking, weather-tight in-bed trunk with a 7.3-cubic-foot capacity. There's one more advantage: with 50.0 inches between its wheel wells, the Ridgeline is the only mid-size pickup that can fit a sheet of four-by-eight-foot building material flat on the bed floor. Clever features continue inside. The rear seat splits 60/40 and, when flipped up, provides room to fit a full-size bicycle. Unfortunately, loading large items may be difficult, as the rear doors don't open very wide.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Ridgeline earned a five-star crash test from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is the only pickup truck that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named a Top Safety Pick for 2018. While there's a host of driver-assistance equipment, the trouble is that only the top-tier RTL-E and Black Edition offer these advanced assists. However, a multi-angle backup camera is standard on all Ridgeline models and has three selectable viewing modes. Key safety features include:

• Available forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

While the Ridgeline has relatively competitive warranties, the Chevrolet Colorado and the Canyon are favorable because they offer complimentary scheduled maintenance and much longer periods of roadside assistance.

• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance