2021 Honda Ridgeline | First Look

Autoblog.com: 2017 Honda Ridgeline enters the landscape block war

by Jeremy Korzeniewski of www.autoblog.com

In the test of pickup truck beds, if steel is apples and aluminum is oranges, Honda wants you to know that composites are pineapples. Chevy recently performed a test in which its own Silverado was pitted against its most obvious competitor, the Ford F-150. A loader dropped over 800 pounds of landscaping blocks into the two truck beds, and Ford's aluminum bed ended up with more damage than Chevy's steel bed. Check that test out right here.

Honda apparently wasn't content to let Chevy throw stones alone. In a new test, the Japanese automaker replicated the block-drop test using its brand-new Ridgeline truck, which features a composite bed. As you'll see in the video above, there was very little damage to the high-strength plastic bed of the Ridgeline after a similar load of landscaping blocks were dropped from a loader.

Without being on hand at any of these tests, we can't say with any degree of certainty that they match up in severity. But they all look pretty similar, and this is actually a test that Honda performed in front of journalists (ourselves included) earlier this year. We visually inspected the composite bed of a Ridgeline after a demonstration just like the one on video above, and can confirm that there was basically no damage to Honda's truck. Chevy went an extra step by flinging a heavy toolbox into the Silverado and F-150; Honda didn't match that particular test.

Does any of this matter? That's up to truck buyers and owners to decide, naturally, but we doubt anyone would actually dump a load like this into their own truck. And it's also worth noting that a heavy-duty spray-on bedliner would probably minimize damage to the metal surface below, whether steel or aluminum. If nothing else, it's memorable marketing.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/06/12/2017-honda-ridgeline-pickup-truck-bed-test-video/

Consumer Reports: 2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup Looks More Trucky, Yet Remains Innovative

Second-generation hides car-like qualities under tough truck appearance

By Mike Quincy

After a two model-year break, Honda’s unique Ridgeline pickup returns as a 2017 model. Most obviously, it now looks more like a traditional truck; for example, the truck bed, instead of tapering downward toward the tailgate like it did before, is now a lot lower near the cab, making it easier to load from the side. The bed is also an important four inches longer and a half-inch wider, making it considerably more useful. But the bed is shallow, so you'll need to brush up on your knot-tying techniques for taller items.
Honda pleased many weekend warriors with the 2005 introduction of its previous Ridgeline, which was considered a smaller, lighter pickup than its work-bred competitors. Rather than following the decades-old formula of body-on-frame design and a live rear axle, the Ridgeline used unit-body construction and an independent rear suspension—borrowing underpinnings from the mild-mannered Honda Pilot SUV.
Despite that seemingly sound logic, the unconventionally-styled first-generation Ridgeline wasn’t a sales success. Maybe it just wasn't "trucky" enough. Maybe the design was too weird.
Undaunted, Honda has pressed forward with their second-generation pickup truck. The base, two-wheel-drive 2017 Honda Ridgeline starts at $29,475. While most trucks offer a variety of body styles, you can only get a Ridgeline as a four-door crew-cab. 

Driving Impressions

Despite the new look, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline retains some of the key ingredients that made this svelte truck so appealing—such as the innovative tailgate that can swing open like a door, or flip down in normal fashion. All Ridgelines also get a handy, lockable trunk-like cargo space beneath the bed floor. 

The Ridgeline's tailgate can swing down or to one side, giving access to the water-tight, in-bed trunk.

The independent suspension that makes the trunk space possible also contributes to a much more comfortable ride and better handling than all conventional trucks. It drives very much like a contemporary SUV rather than an antiquated load hauler—as the Ridgeline's basic platform is still shared with the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX. The interior is very quiet, even on an extended highway cruise.
The standard engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 280 hp (a 30-hp bump from the last version). It runs through a six-speed automatic transmission. And for the first time, the Ridgeline will be available with front-wheel drive, along with the usual all-wheel drive. EPA fuel economy figures show 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway for AWD models. This improvement was important, as the previous Ridgeline was really thirsty for its size and horsepower. 

Honda claims the Ridgeline outpaces traditional midsized trucks in towing capacity and cargo hauling, but like the first generation, towing is limited to 5,000 pounds. Competitors like the Chevrolet Colorado (nearly 7,000 pounds) and the Toyota Tacoma (6,400 pounds) have greater towing capacities. The 2017 Honda Ridgeline has some off-roading capability, but it wouldn't be wise to take this truck on a day of serious boulder hopping. This is where the independent suspension will fall short compared to traditional pickup trucks.
Advanced safety equipment like blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning with automatic braking are optional, but only on the two top trim levels.

The Ridgeline has some off-roading capability, but it wouldn't be wise to take this truck on a day of serious boulder hopping.

Inside the Cabin

Inside, you'll find relatively comfortable seats and lots of handy bins and trays to hold stuff, including storage under the rear seat. All in all, it's a lot nicer in here than inside a Tacoma or Colorado. The layout of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline feels like a Pilot with a bed rather than a third-row seat. And all models come with keyless push-button start and a rear-view camera.
Higher-end models get an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system with navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. However, about that 8-inch screen: It’s a poorly-designed touch-screen that’s frustrating to use. There are no conventional knobs or buttons for the radio. It's just a sleek-looking pane of glass that reflects glare, the screen layout isn't intuitive, and the controls are hard to tab with your fingers as you roll down the road. We didn’t like this arrangement in the Honda Pilot, and we don’t like it here.
Lower trim lines have a 5-inch screen that’s easier to use, with more traditional knobs and buttons. 

The layout of the Ridgeline's interior feels like a Pilot with a bed rather than a third-row seat.

CR's Take

The new Honda Ridgeline has real appeal, thanks to its supple ride, relatively responsive handling, punchy engine, and a cabin and bed that are full of clever tricks. Whether it appeals to truck traditionalists more than the first one did is a big question. Just maybe it has moved ever cautiously toward the mainstream enough to broaden its appearance and utility to attract a larger audience. Likely it will attract current Honda owners who realize they need a larger space to tow their jet-skis, or to bring home their weekend's haul of antiquing. Check back with us once we finish putting it through the entire battery of Consumer Reports' tests.  

Source;
http://www.consumerreports.org/ridgeline/2017-honda-ridgeline-pickup-truck/

Review: 2017 Honda Ridgeline tackles a mountain trail and survives

In order to examine the new Ridgeline in person, I headed to Malibu, California and the Santa Monica Mountains to answer the following question: Can the 2017 Honda Ridgeline go off-road?

by Christian Wardlaw of www.nydailynews.com
Based on the same platform as the Acura MDX and Honda Pilot crossover SUVs, the redesigned 2017 Honda Ridgeline isn’t as ruggedly constructed a midsize crew cab pickup truck as its competition. In fact, you might be tempted to dismiss it as nothing more than a modern-day Chevy El Camino, a car masquerading as a truck.
In order to examine the new Ridgeline in person, I headed to Malibu, California and the Santa Monica Mountains to answer the following question: Can the 2017 Honda Ridgeline go off-road? Before we get to that, though, it is important to put the Ridgeline into perspective.

The Honda Ridgeline is a more competitive truck than you might guess

Aimed at the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma, the redesigned Honda Ridgeline is built for the do-it-yourselfer and the weekend warrior, the people who need a truck on weekends but don’t want to drive a traditional truck during the week.

The redesigned Honda Ridgeline is built for the do-it-yourselfer and the weekend warrior, the people who need a truck on weekends but don’t want to drive a traditional truck during the week.

That means the new 2017 Ridgeline foregoes traditional body-on-frame construction, necessary for maximum towing capacity, and includes a 4-wheel independent suspension, which improves ride and handling on the pavement where most pickups spend most of their time.

Ridgeline power, towing and payload ratings

A 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 is tucked under the Ridgeline’s hood, but it doesn’t make as much torque as the competition (262 lb.-ft.), or as low in the rev range (at 4,700 rpm). This, in addition to its unibody construction, is a factor restricting the Honda’s towing capacity to 5,000 pounds, a ton less than a Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon crew cab with a V6 engine.
The Honda can haul though, up to 1,584 lbs. of payload in its 64-inch cargo bed, a little more weight than a Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon with a V6 can tackle. Loading the Ridgeline is easy, too, thanks to a dual-action tailgate that swings wide from right to left, or drops down like every other truck. The cab’s rear seat cushion also flips up and out of the way, providing a sizable amount of interior cargo capacity.

Ridgelines also come with a “trunk,” a locking 7.3 cubic-foot storage well beneath the cargo bed that includes a drain plug because it is perfect for use as a tailgate party cooler.

Ridgelines also come with a “trunk,” a locking 7.3 cubic-foot storage well beneath the cargo bed that includes a drain plug because it is perfect for use as a tailgate party cooler. A 115-volt power outlet is available for the bed, and a new “truck bed audio system” with six weatherproof transducers that turn the cargo box into a boom box (remember those?).

Available torque-vectoring AWD system

Purists might automatically discount the Ridgeline once they discover that it comes with front-wheel drive. Don’t worry. Get the available Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) all-wheel-drive system, which can deliver up to 70 percent of total engine output to either the left or right rear wheel as conditions warrant. It comes with an Intelligent Traction Management System with Normal, Mud, Sand, and Snow driving modes, too.
Ground clearance measures 7.8 inches. That’s less than any of the traditional body-on-frame trucks from the competition. Yet the Ridgeline’s approach, breakover, and departure angles essentially match or improve upon the Colorado and Canyon twins.

Can the 2017 Honda Ridgeline go off road?

I hopped into a Ridgeline RTL-E, engaged the “Sand” driving mode, and headed into the wilderness.

Calamigos Ranch is the site of an annual media event called Droptops and Dirt. Located in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains, the property includes rugged terrain and trails that to showcase vehicle capabilities. Honda brought a Ridgeline to the 2016 event, put it on the more difficult of the two available trails, and turned journalists loose.
Naturally, I was curious. So I hopped into a Ridgeline RTL-E, engaged the “Sand” driving mode, and headed into the wilderness under the guidance of Honda public relations representative Davis Adams.
Freshly graded, the first part of the trail was essentially a dirt road, but as we climbed in elevation and took the fork leading to the more difficult portion of the route, the dips and bumps presented the Ridgeline with regular challenges. Though the truck rocked and rolled and occasionally put a wheel into the air, it remained resolute in its commitment to surpass obstacles, the i-VTM4 AWD system doing a fine job of meting out power to the wheels with the most grip.

Honda, your truck needs a hill descent control system.

Cresting a blind hill, I was impressed with the Ridgeline’s tenacity in the dry California dirt. But I knew that a steep descent studded with rocks, scarred with ruts, and paved with a loose surface lay in wait around the next turn.
I asked Adams: “Does this thing have hill descent control?”
“No,” he admitted. “It does not.”
With parts of me puckering by the second, I headed down the grade in low gear with a foot modulating the brake pedal. Cautiously, carefully, I chose my path down the hill, the truck sometimes sliding and slipping on its 245/60R18 all-season tires. We made it down the grade, scraping the underside once or twice but without shredding the front air dam or causing any leaks.
Honda, your truck needs a hill descent control system.

Honda offers the perfect truck for most of the people most of the time

To say that the new 2017 Honda Ridgeline might just be the perfect truck for most of the people most of the time is an understatement. It is.

To say that the new 2017 Honda Ridgeline might just be the perfect truck for most of the people most of the time is an understatement. It is.
But, in my opinion, the exterior styling is too soft. The Ridgeline looks like a Pilot modified by a guy with a Sawzall after drinking a case of Old Milwaukee. Which is almost like saying the Ridgeline looks like an Odyssey modified by a guy… You get the idea.
Not only has Honda ditched the old Ridgeline’s chiseled bodywork and flared fenders, the new truck’s Pilot-sourced interior eliminates one of my favorite things about the original model: the hose-me-out interior loaded with storage nooks, cubbies, trays, and bins. This new one is just too nice inside.

The old Ridgeline was rugged, practical, and filled with storage bins inside. The new one is just too nice.

According to J.D. Power studies, styling and design sell new vehicles. How a car, SUV, or truck looks on the outside and works on the inside is just as important as reliability when it comes to the consumer’s decision-making process.
So, while the 2017 Ridgeline represents a compelling package, Honda might just find that those do-it-yourselfers and weekend warriors are continuing to choose the more rugged-looking rigs offered by the competition. That’s too bad, because with the exceptions of towing capacity and extreme 4-wheeling capability, the new Ridgeline rocks.

Source;
http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/latest-reviews/2017-honda-ridgeline-off-road-article-1.2650047

Pickuptrucks.com: 2017 Honda Ridgeline: Five Video Reviews

Posted by Mark Williams | May 23, 2016

The new 2017 Honda Ridgeline should make a pretty big splash in the midsize pickup truck segment due in large part to its car-like driving dynamics, significant number of performance upgrades, and several class-exclusive features. 

After a two-year hiatus, the new Ridgeline boasts a long list of unique selling points, distinguishing it from other midsize pickups. Make no mistake, this is a different type of option for midsize truck customers — one that will work for some, but not so well for others. 

Here are five videos we shot during the introduction of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline in San Antonio; they focus on some of the more interesting and controversial characteristics of the new midsize pickup. 

Check out this link to view the 5 videos;

1)  Off Roading

2)  Towing Capacity

3)  Boat Launch Traction

4)  Truck or Not a Truck?

5)  Cool Bed Features

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2016/05/2017-honda-ridgeline-five-video-reviews.html

Automotive News: Honda's Ridgeline lesson: Looks matter

Bye-bye, buttress: The new Honda Ridgeline ditches the old polarizing design for the more standard cab/bed style.

by David Undercoffler of www.autonews.com

ANTONIO -- The shadowy teaser image Honda released in late 2013 said very little about the second-generation Ridgeline that's due to go on sale in June. But it did reveal the most important element the automaker was intent on fixing: its styling.

Honda needed only a silhouette to show that the polarizing "flying buttress" profile of the original Ridgeline was gone, replaced on the forthcoming 2017 model with the conventional cab/bed style found on nearly every pickup built in the last 100 years.

Honda learned the hard way with the original Ridgeline -- on sale from 2005 through 2014 -- that you can be innovative with the features and bones of a truck, but not the design. It took that lesson to heart while developing the latest model, going to extraordinary lengths to get the visual details right.

The effort started early in the second-generation Ridgeline's design process. Honda held clinics in California and Texas with pickup buyers and showed them a variety of trucks without their brand labels.

The research found that buyers made assumptions about toughness and payload based on the gaps in the wheel arches between the tire and the truck body, and the height of the bed. If a pickup had a trailer hitch, people assumed it could tow more.

Honda even included the first-generation Ridgeline with a spray-painted piece of cardboard covering up the flying buttress in the design clinics. Even that was well-received by potential buyers.

"Those things were honestly kind of "aha' moments or big surprises to us as a project team," Jim Loftus, a Ridgeline engineer, said at the media launch here in early May. "And of course, we went back and incorporated all of those messages into the next-generation Ridgeline."

Engineers tilted the Ridgeline up about half a degree from back to front to make the bed look like it was sitting higher. They also increased the gap between the wheel arch and tire by lifting up the chassis by about an inch.

"Based on the understanding that people are going to make some assumptions just visually, we said, you know what, we need to raise this up just to convey that image," Kerry McClure, chief engineer on the Ridgeline project, told Automotive News.

A trailer hitch is now standard on all new Ridgeline models, not only to convey a sense of toughness (all-wheel-drive models can tow 5,000 pounds), but also because the structural elements needed for a hitch were already in place.

The first-generation Ridgeline, for all of its segment-busting innovation and carlike ride and handling, never landed on many shoppers' lists because of how it looked.

The flying buttress style was partly due to a desire -- especially among executives in Japan -- to make it visually obvious that the Ridgeline was different and not a traditional body-on-frame truck.

There was also evidence at the time that a new school of truck design was emerging -- think Ford Explorer SportTrac or Chevy Avalanche. When the recession walloped the auto industry, buyers shied away from the unconventional, and Ridgeline sales plummeted.

"I think the challenge we faced with the old Ridgeline, part of it was the styling that wasn't so well-accepted," Jeff Conrad, general manager of Honda, said at the Ridgeline launch.

"And when the market did turn, it was very difficult to sustain that or get it back."

With the changes in place on the new version and a laundry list of segment bests (fuel economy, passenger volume, crash ratings, cargo room in bed), Honda is bullish on the Ridgeline's prospects.

The company hopes annual sales will work their way up to the previous version's peak of 50,193.

But Honda is realistic about the kind of buyers it's going to attract. "We're not going after the buyer that is looking to take this vehicle and climb rocks up the side of the mountain," Conrad said.

2017 Honda Ridgeline 

 

Honda is returning to the midsize pickup market with the 2nd-generation Ridgeline, which uses the same unibody platform as the Pilot crossover and the upcoming Odyssey minivan. By avoiding the traditional body-on-frame construction, Honda can deliver a smooth, comfortable ride and nearly all the capability midsize-pickup buyers look for. The biggest change is the styling, which ditches the much-hated “flying buttress” look for a more conventional design. Honda hopes to reach annual volumes of around 50,000, citing estimates that 20 percent of Honda owners also have a truck in their garage. But if demand does hit that level, Honda could face capacity constraints because the Ridgeline will be built at the same Alabama plant that is currently maxed out building the Pilot.

• Powertrain: 3.5-liter, V-6 engine, 6-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on all but the highest trims; all-wheel drive is a $1,800 option.
• Technology: Optional 8-inch touch screen with navigation and real-time traffic updates, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Apple's Siri Eyes Free voice commands
• Safety: 6 airbags, standard backup camera, optional blind-spot monitoring, pre-collision warning and braking, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic monitor
• Target: 50,000 units a year
• Competitors: Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon
• Strengths: Carlike ride, handling and interior comfort; excellent cabin space, class-leading fuel economy, unique in-bed storage space and dual-action tailgate
• Weaknesses: Doesn't project the tough image some truck buyers seek; low ground clearance; unibody construction not as hardy as body-on-frame
• Bottom line: Over 2 days of on- and off-road testing outside San Antonio, the Ridgeline proved why Honda is eager to show off this truck. The interior space, comfort and handling make you forget there's a bed in back. The powertrain is smooth and robust, even when towing. It has enough off-road chops to meet the needs of all but the truest off-road warriors. Now that the styling isn't a turnoff, Honda has a truly innovative vehicle that's a contender for buyers who are honest about what they need from their truck.

	2017 Ridgeline 2WD	2016 Toyota Tacoma V-6 double cab 2WD
Wheelbase	125.2 in.	127.4 in.
Length	210 in.	212.3 in.
Width	78.6 in.	74.4 in.
Height	70.2 in.	70.6 in.
Curb weight	4,242 lbs.	4,230 lbs.
Engine	3.5-liter V-6	3.5-liter V-6
Horsepower	280 @ 6,000 rpm	278 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque, lbs.-ft.	262 @ 4,700 rpm	265 @ 4,600 rpm
Tow rating	3,500 lbs.	6,700 lbs.
Ground clearance	7.3 in.	9.4 in.
EPA mpg	19 city/26 hwy.	19 city/24 hwy.
Base price*	$30,375	$28,885
*includes shipping

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20160515/OEM04/305169938/hondas-ridgeline-lesson-looks-matter

Jalopnik: Here's How The 2017 Honda Ridgeline's Trick Off-Roading Modes Work

Wow, best article I've seen that explains how Honda's AWD works....

by Andrew P. Collins of www.jalopnik.com

Nobody expected the 2017 Honda Ridgeline to be a hardcore off-roader. It simply lacks the low gearing and solid axles typically suited to crushing rocks. But Honda’s new pickup still holds its own over rough terrain, and here’s how. Call it “better off-roading through science.”

The Ridgeline is a novelty among American-market trucks because of the way it’s built. Pickup trucks and truly tough SUVs like the Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes G-Class, Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser are traditionally made by slapping a body and cargo box onto a solid steel frame.

Their main drive axles are robust straight-sticks. They also generally run part-time 4WD system manually engaged with a “low range” reduction gear providing tremendous power at very low speed.

The big benefits to that kind of configuration are durability and economy. You get great resistance against hitting rocks and strength for the twisty crucible of a heavy load or an off-road trail. It’s also cheaper to build trucks that way.

The Ridgeline has the opposite of all that.

A Most Unusual Pickup

Honda’s new truck is made with unibody construction. It’s not literally “one piece,” but the shell and body and undercarriage are all part of a holistic structural system. That theoretically makes the ride smoother through minimized vibration and better balance, reduces weight and generally provides a more stable driving experience.

The Ridgeline also runs an all-around independent suspension, which means each wheel can bounce up and down on its own with little driveshafts poking into them on angles as opposed to one thick bar running between the rear wheels.

Instead of a traditional 4WD kit with a mechanical locking differential, Honda uses advanced traction control and AWD to keep their new truck moving through muck. This is where things get interesting.

Honda calls its system “Intelligent Variable Torque Management” (i-VTM4) and explains it pretty concisely in the brochure:

“Honda i-VTM4 progressively distributes optimum torque between the front and rear axles and dynamically distributes engine torque between the left and right rear wheels, with the capacity to overdrive the outside rear wheel by 2.7 percent to create a yaw moment that improves cornering precision.”

Basically that means it maximizes efficiency by putting power to the wheel that can get the most motion out of it. As Honda continues:

“By rotating the outside rear wheel faster than the front wheels while cornering, Ridgeline’s AWD system uses torque vectoring to create a yaw moment to help turn the vehicle through the corner—reducing understeer and improving controllability. With cornering forces more evenly distributed between front and rear tires, overall cornering power is increased in all road conditions.”

Now how does the Ridgeline know how to do that? Its Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) sensors and ECUs are constantly monitoring wheel speed, steering angle, how fast the steering angle is changing, lateral G-forces, vehicle yaw rate (slide speed), and hydraulic clutch pressure for the right and left rear axle shafts.

That hydraulic clutch, by the way, can differentiate power between the left and right rear wheel or lock them together for soft-sand type situations.

That host of motion-monitoring tech is on all the time, and theoretically optimizes the Ridgeline’s tractability on pretty much any reasonable road surface in “normal” mode.

The idea is to be completely automatic. As I wrote in my review of the whole truck, think of it like your iPhone– don’t worry about what’s behind the technological curtain, just enjoy the ease of use from the front end.

Driving Modes

However, Ridgelines with AWD will also get three dedicated off-road modes to somewhat override the system manually, activated from a button below the shifter. There’s one for “snow” (available on 2WD trucks) one for “mud” and one for “sand.”

Here’s how the driving parameters change in each mode:

Snow: The idea here is to minimize pedal travel and make launching easier. The throttle input via Drive By Wire (DBW) is made less aggressive, particularly where you first tip-in the pedal. That basically means you’re giving it less gas than you think.

Mud: “Mud” mode has an emphasis on maintaining momentum. Gain increases as you tip the throttle. Torque vectoring is shut off and more power is sent to the rear wheels. The transmission delays upshifts and traction control allows for more wheelspin.

Sand: Basically the same as “mud,” but with all the needles moved even more aggressively. It has maximum rear-bias (a Honda rep told me 70 percent) and an electronically “locked” rear differential.
How does it work in real-life? Pretty well, if you use it appropriately.

Stopping in soft stuff and then turning on “sand” mode made it a lot easier to self-extract than continuously plodding along with my foot on the floor. But if you think putting it in rear-biased “sand,” and turning off traction control as much as you can will turn the Ridgeline into a power-slider you’re mistaken.

Try to “drift” the truck like you would any other pickup; turn the computers off, saw the wheel and give it too much gas, and the Ridgeline just gets annoyed with you. It drags its face around like an overladen wheelbarrow.

But use the mode meant for the surface you’re driving on and the experience becomes remarkably idiot proof. This is what I meant when I described the truck as “another step closer to autonomous off-roading.”

Is Honda’s system a solution for hardcore rock crawlers? No way. But you knew that. If your main objective is to get from Point A to the end of your adventure without worrying about how to drive through mushy stuff, the Ridgeline’s tech will really boost your confidence.

Just don’t expect your newfound “skills” to work as well in a more primitive pickup.

So you can pretty much draw the same conclusion about the new Ridgeline’s AWD system as you can about the whole car: technologically impressive, overbearingly user-friendly, and aggressively practical. Which will hopefully help more people get out and into the world already!

If you’ve not sufficiently nerded out on this tech, I invite you to read the massively in-depth Powertrain press release Honda published this week. Until then, I’m just waiting on a longer-term Ridgeline rental so I can see just how far the system will take us.

Source;
http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/heres-how-the-2017-honda-ridgelines-trick-off-roading-m-1775651261

Car & Driver: 2017 Honda Ridgeline first drive review

 

2017 Honda Ridgeline

Honda's next crack at the civilized pickup looks more pedestrian—and promising.

by Jared Gall of www.caranddriver.com

 

First Drive Review

It’s not as if the first-generation Honda Ridgeline was ahead of its time. It made its debut in 2005, just as gas prices were transitioning from “Whoa, this is getting a little expensive,” to “WTCrap is going on here?!” Not only was it not ahead of its time, it was one of the timeliest automotive introductions in history. There could not have been a better occasion to bring out a more civilized, more efficient pickup. We named it a comparison-test winner, then ordered one for 40,000 miles of fawning.
That Honda’s reimagined pickup seated five far more comfortably than any of its crew-cab contemporaries and rode incomparably better should have kick-started a revolution. And it nearly did. In barely over a month at the beginning of 2008, Toyota and then GMC debuted similarly conceived unibody pickup concepts. GMC’s erstwhile chief told us then that he expected the entire compact-truck market to go unibody.
But after the tumult of that year, the automakers backpedaled to the safety of familiarity. Toyota continued churning out the Tacoma, General Motors kept on building the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon, and the Ridgeline faded into obscurity, tumbling from 50,193 sales in 2006 to a low of 9759 in 2011 before getting canned after the 2014 model year.

Good Idea, Weird Idea

But the Ridgeline was a good idea—a good idea packed with weird ideas: the dual-action tailgate, the in-bed trunk, the flying-buttress cab, and the dramatically sloping edge topping each bedside. Many of those good and weird ideas remain in the new generation, but Honda reversed course significantly on the one that it most blames for the Ridgeline’s subpar sales: exterior design. What used to be adventurously overstyled now looks far more conventional, a Pilot with the roof lopped off aft of the second row.

The structure is shared with the Pilot crossover—and related to the underpinnings of the upcoming next-generation Odyssey—but nearly every major component is beefed up to handle pickup duty. Engineers tell us the front structure is 17 percent stronger than that of the Pilot, while the rear is 31 percent sturdier. The Ridgeline’s maximum payload of 1584 pounds virtually ties that of the segment-leading and recently redesigned Colorado, while its 5000-pound tow rating brings up the rear of the class. (And that’s only for all-wheel-drive models; front-drivers are rated to tow 3500 pounds.)

Engines of Change

Our experience with the nine-speed automatic transmission in the Honda Pilot hasn’t been entirely satisfactory. So we were pleased that Honda has employed a six-speed in the Ridgeline. With the nine-speed, shifts vary in quickness and smoothness as speed builds, whereas the six is consistently swift and seamless. With 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, the 3.5-liter V-6 tops the outgoing truck’s engine by 30 horsepower and 15 lb-ft. It’s smooth and unobtrusive, a perfectly acceptable if uninspiring engine for a mid-size pickup. Honda predicts best-in-class acceleration, but we’ll see. The Ridgeline is proof that unibody doesn’t mean light as much as sturdy means heavy. The company claims—and our experience so far bears out—that the Ridgeline is stiffer than its competition, but the result is a curb weight of 4500 pounds, heavier than the GM twins, the Nissan Frontier, and the Toyota Tacoma. The last Chevy Colorado we tested was a touch lighter and carried 25 more horsepower.
Honda claims best-in-class fuel economy of 19/26 mpg city/highway and 22 combined for front-drivers and 18/25 city/highway and 21 combined for models with all-wheel drive. But that requires interpreting the class as omitting GM’s gasoline and diesel four-cylinders, both of which better the Honda V-6.

Got Baggage? Ridgeline Has Cubbies

As before, the interior of the Ridgeline positively embarrasses the competition. It feels enormous and comfortable front and rear. The flip-up rear seat remains, providing yet another yawning, weather-protected storage cavity when raised and hiding up to 2.9 cubic feet—enough for at least one golf bag—beneath seated passengers. The primary storage location, the bed, now is four inches longer than before, at 64 inches, which makes it longer than those of the crew-cab Tacoma and the short-bed Colorado but 10 inches shorter than a long-box Chevy. And the Ridgeline is the only truck in the class that can take a four-by-eight-foot sheet of building material (or a four-by-eight-foot medieval triptych) laying flat between the wheel wells. Of course, you’ll have to drop the tailgate to accommodate an eight-foot load, so invest in some good plastic wrap.

It’s also the only truck in its class with a bed that doubles as a giant speaker. In top trim levels, six so-called “exciters” are mounted behind the bedsides. If you think of these as speaker magnets that use the panels to which they’re affixed as cones, you’re pretty close. The upside is that they’re waterproof and impact proof. The downside is that the sound quality is a little low-fi, and bass is nonexistent. Which, if you have any friends who tend toward techno, is not a downside at all. But for doing what one does with a truck bed—standing around leaning on it—it’s a good means of reproducing country music. Honda expects that you’ll use the 400-watt power inverter that upper trims have in the truck bed to power a big-screen TV at tailgate parties, during which the bed speakers should wow all of your inebriated neighbors.

Different Blokes

Neither does any competitor have the Ridgeline’s clever tailgate that either drops like a regular truck’s or swings open to the driver’s side like an old-fashioned station wagon’s. Nor do they have the Ridgeline’s in-bed trunk beneath the load floor. And most important, none of them come anywhere close to the Ridgeline’s ride quality. All it takes is one bump in the Honda to realize that GMC guy from 2008 should have been right. According to Honda’s research, less than 10 percent of mid-size truck buyers ever tow more than 5000 pounds. Therefore, less than 10 percent need anything beefier than a Ridgeline.
The Honda Ridgeline enjoys a ride that no live-axle, body-on-frame vehicle could dream of. It’s all lightness and composure, carlike body control and smoothness. Here, too, the distinction between light-truck-duty Ridgeline and even-lighter-duty Pilot is appreciable. Whereas the Pilot can wallow and feel a little sloppy, the Ridgeline’s firmer tuning gives it a more controlled ride. The soft brake pedal and light steering are perhaps a little too smooth, but at least their operation is progressive. And in this segment, vague controls are a norm that only the Colorado and Canyon deviate from.
Listening to Honda’s engineering team rattle off their list of best-in-classes, we couldn’t help but detect a hint of exasperation in their voices. They might as well have said, “For the love of God, people, buy our truck!” Tech features are another area in which the Ridgeline’s more civilized roots place it ahead of the class’s top sellers. Adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning and automatic braking, lane-departure warning and assist, and blind-spot monitors are all available. There’s also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but no matter how much tech you pack in, we’re a long way from accepting Honda’s touchscreen infotainment system, which is organized about as logically as the tiles on your Samsung Galaxy’s home screen when you turned it on for the first time in the store.

The March of Profits

The 2017 Ridgeline will go on sale this June. The RT, RTS, Sport, RTL, and RTL-T trim levels are offered with either front- or all-wheel drive (an $1800 upcharge), while the RTL-E and Black Edition are strictly all-wheel drive. For $30,375, the entry-level RT includes a rearview camera, keyless start, a tilting and telescoping steering column, and a seven-speaker stereo with Bluetooth, auxiliary device, and USB connectivity. At $32,415, the RTS adds keyless entry, remote start, and tri-zone climate controls. The $33,915 Sport nets black exterior trim, red footwell lighting, and gray-painted wheels.
Luxury starts creeping in with the $34,680 RTL, which gets leather seats (heated in front), with 10-way power adjustability for the driver and four-way for the passenger. An acoustic windshield cuts interior noise to let occupants hear those little motors work.
Tech begins to arrive at $36,830 in the RTL-T. That one includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen navigation/infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, a second USB input for the front and two USB charging ports for rear-seat passengers, and Honda’s LaneWatch blind-spot camera system. But the full complement of safety tech doesn’t come into play until the $42,270 RTL-E. Here, the Honda Sensing system includes adaptive cruise control, lane-departure prevention, blind-spot monitors, and automated emergency braking. Additionally, you get blue ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, a sunroof, a power-sliding rear window, and truck-bed audio, plus eight traditional speakers and the 400-watt in-bed power inverter. Like the RTL-E, the $43,770 Black Edition is fully loaded. But it’s as sinister as a Ridgeline can look (until accessory lift kits become available), with black paint, exterior trim, and wheels as well as a black headliner and red ambient lighting.
No matter how it’s outfitted, the Ridgeline is a no-brainer of a truck: unmatched in smoothness and comfort, and full of innovation well beyond its unibody construction. It deserved far more sales than it netted in its inaugural generation. Here’s hoping this one realizes its full potential.

Source (with a bunch more photo's);

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2017-honda-ridgeline-first-drive-review

New Honda Ridgeline Sports Commendable Fuel Economy

by Micah Wright of www.cheatsheet.com

From the launch of turbocharged Civics last year, and the development of the NSX supercar, there is so much to love about what Honda is doing right now.

Though it’s not as exciting, the 2017 Ridgeline pickup belongs on that list as well. Especially since it reportedly sports significant gains in fuel economy over its predecessor, further planting it in the pantheon of worthy midsize trucks. Thus far Honda has kept quiet about the specs, but thanks to the Federal government (an organization that just so happens to be obligated to release data figures), we were able to spill the beans ahead of schedule.

The version of the truck that was made prior only came with all-wheel drive and sported a mediocre 15/21 miles per gallon during the 2014 model year. So with Honda’s latest round of Earth Dreams V6 engines doing a bang-up job of hitting gas mileage gains, the powerplant out of the new Pilot (which is spectacular, by the way) is quickly proving to be a real winner in every aspect.

But the Ridgeline is a bit of a different animal than the posh, kid-toting SUV, and we were curious to see how this midsize pickup measured up when compared to the competition. Which leads us to a few statistics that made this oddball SUV-truck all the more appealing.

Autoblog reports that the government’s figures for the front-drive versions of the new Ridgeline indicate that it will manage 19 miles per gallon in the city and around 26 on the highway. All-wheel drive variants aren’t much worse, at 18/25.

Interestingly enough, the Honda Pilot crossover, which you think would fare worse due to its added weight, gets slightly better mileage at 20/27 on a front-drive model, due partially to its smoother aerodynamics and an optional nine-speed automatic.

But when putting the Ridgeline toe-to-toe with the latest round of equally sized pickups, the Honda does admirably. Other trucks with similarly sized V6 engines, automatic transmissions, and four-wheel drive did not do as well; the Toyota Tacoma gets 18/23. GM’s offerings, the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, weighed in at 17/24.

Interestingly, when comparing this truck to its smaller displacement competition, the Ridgeline is close to getting about the same ratings as a few four-banger, rear-wheel drive options out there — and in certain circumstances, saw even better highway mileage.

As for getting the Ridgeline with something like a turbocharged four-cylinder, we are just going to have to wait on that one. For now, Honda says it will offer the 2017 Ridgeline with a 3.5-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic alone, and while the automaker still has yet to release powertrain statistics, it’s safe to assume that it will make the same 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque as the Pilot.

Source;
http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/new-honda-ridgeline-sports-commendable-fuel-economy.html/?a=viewall

All-New 2017 Honda Ridgeline Arrives in the Windy City with Full Line of Honda Genuine Accessories for Everyday Adventurers

Feb 10, 2016

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline will amp up its personalization game with the addition of a long list of Honda Genuine Accessories at this year's Chicago Auto Show. The list includes a variety of accessories to enhance the style and outdoor adventure versatility of the all-new unibody truck. Accessories include:

• Black Roof Rails
• Black Cross Bars
• Die Cast Running Board
• Black Fender Flares
• Skid Plate
• Hard Tonneau Cover
• 18" Black Glint Wheels + All-Terrain Tires
• Towing Kit (Ball Mount)
• 2" Trailer Ball

Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the new Ridgeline will launch in the first half of 2016 with a combination of features and capabilities unlike anything else on the market today, including:

• Superior on-road performance – with the segment's best handling, ride quality, cabin quietness and all-weather traction capabilities – courtesy of its unibody construction, sophisticated chassis, and available i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring AWD system
• Class-leading space – with the largest and most versatile cabin and the only 4-foot-wide flat bed space in the midsize pickup segment, along with payload capacity rivaling top competitors
• Innovative and class-exclusive features, including an In-Bed Trunk™, dual-action tailgate and the industry's first in-bed audio system – making Ridgeline the ultimate tailgating vehicle
• Targeted top-in-class acceleration, EPA fuel economy ratings and third-party collision safety ratings, and featuring Honda's next-generation ACE™ body structure and available Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver-assist technologies
• Leading edge connectivity with 8-inch Display Audio featuring Apple Car Play® and Android Auto™ compatibility

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline will be available for media previews during the auto show press days on February 11-12, and for consumers to see from February 13-21.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/all-new-2017-honda-ridgeline-arrives-in-the-windy-city-with-full-line-of-honda-genuine-accessories-for-everyday-adventurers

All-New Honda Ridgeline 2016 Superbowl Commercial – A New Truck to Love

Honda updates, improves composite bed in new Ridgeline

bu Kerri Jansen of www.autonews.com

DETROIT -- In updating its Ridgeline midsize pickup, Honda Motor Co. aimed to create the ultimate tailgating tool.

Honda introduced the Ridgeline in 2005 with a plastic composite bed incorporating molded-in tie-down spots and secure storage under the bed. The 2017 version, unveiled at the 2016 Detroit auto show last week, retains those popular features of the original, and adds some new innovations.

A new type of in-bed audio system forgoes conventional speakers, which could be easily damaged in a cargo area. Instead six exciters -- devices that vibrate the surface they are attached to -- located inside the bed walls use the composite material itself as a speaker.

A Honda spokesman said in an interview with Plastics News after the reveal that the audio system can pump out music even in a bed filled with mulch or dirt.

“Now, you can’t see it, there are no speakers to get bashed and scraped when you’re hauling mulch or lumber. But you can hear it,” said Executive Vice President John Mendel for American Honda during the Ridgeline reveal. “Especially with its 540-watt audio system, it’s good old-fashioned Honda engineering magic.”

Plastics News is an affiliate of Automotive News.

It’s not the first time the auto industry has looked at alternatives to a standard speaker. The 2005 Ford Mustang used the interior trim plastic panel as part of its speaker system, and won a Society of Plastics Engineers award, but the system never took off. In 2011, Johnson Controls Inc. showed a concept similar to the Ridgeline, using exciters attached to the interior trim to convert the headliner to a speaker system, but that has not gone to market.

The Ridgeline represents a far bigger, higher profile platform.

Tailgate party

The Ridgeline’s bed, 5 feet wide and 5-feet-4-inches long, also includes a lockable in-bed composite trunk with a drain plug that can double as an icebox, and a 400-watt AC power port for recharging power tools or powering game-day electronics.

Honda said the material used in the bed was altered from its original version to prevent white scratch marks. The material was dyed to make scratches less visible.

The new innovations are part of Honda’s goal for the Ridgeline to provide the utility of a truck without compromising comfort, executives said.

“In developing this new Ridgeline we looked across the full spectrum of today’s truck and SUV buyers, and for many customers, their truck isn’t about the job site, it’s about their active, outdoor lifestyles,” Mendel said. “That means weekend sporting events and tailgates, runs to the desert or out to the country with your dirt bikes and family and friend excursions to the mountains or the lake with toys in tow.

“For these buyers, the capabilities of a pickup, mainly hauling and towing dirty and bulky cargo, come with a whole bunch of fundamental compromises inherent to their body-on-frame designs. So what do we mean by that? Lack of interior flexibility, everyday drivability, maneuverability and road manners, to name a few.”

The Ridgeline will get a high profile introduction to the U.S. public. Next month it will be featured in Honda’s Super Bowl advertising.

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20160121/OEM01/160129973/honda-updates-improves-composite-bed-in-new-ridgeline

Edmunds: 2017 Honda Ridgeline Walkaround | Detroit Auto Show (VIDEO)

Published on Jan 12, 2016

Edmunds Road Test Editor Carlos Lago takes you on a walk around the all-new 2017 Honda Ridgeline midsize pickup truck at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. He goes over specs, design, the interior and more.

Car and Driver: 2017 Honda Ridgeline: The Crossover of Pickups Returns

by Steve Siler of www.caranddriver.com

 

Official Photos and Info 

 

After a brief, two-year hiatus—although we’re not sure many people noticed—Honda is taking another shot at the pickup segment, introducing its all-new, second-generation Ridgeline at the 2016 Detroit auto show.
As did the previous Ridgeline when it was introduced at the same show way back in 2005, the new truck is closely related to the Pilot crossover and shares its unibody platform and 3.5-liter V-6 engine. This time around, however, the Ridgeline not only will be offered with all-wheel drive but also front-wheel drive, making it the only vehicle with a cargo bed thus equipped. (Hyundai is on the verge of confirming a similar vehicle, although the Santa Cruz would be one size smaller.)

In contrast to the original Ridgeline, which had somewhat awkward-looking, buttressed C-pillars, a droopy rear end, and a tailgate that looked one size too small, the new Ridgeline looks like a proper, four-door pickup. Compared with the Pilot, the Ridgeline’s front end is considerably more butch, with a low front bumper giving it an appropriately strong and wide visage, though stylists gratefully resisted the urge to slap on an artificially huge grille and drench the thing in cladding and chrome. Indeed, taste has prevailed from stem to stern, with subtle body-side surfaces and fender arches, normal-size mirrors, and simple taillamps with a C-shaped illumination pattern. 

Honda was not prepared to provide specifics about feature content for the 2017 Ridgeline, but it did say that the truck will be offered with three-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, push-button start, and the company’s eight-inch Display Audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. Versatility is enhanced by 60/40-split rear seats that either fold down or up. Also available will be Honda’s LaneWatch system, which displays an image from a camera mounted beneath the passenger-side mirror on the center screen, a feature we expect to be more handy here than in Honda’s small cars, particularly when the cargo bed is full.

The previous Ridgeline had many tricks up its sleeve, particularly in back, and the new one promises to be as clever. As before, the bed itself is rendered in composites, but now it is separate from the cab and has grown to five feet, four inches in length and five feet in width. Honda claims that the Ridgeline will be the only mid-size truck with 48 inches of flat floor space between the wheel arches. Maximum payload is said to be nearly 1600 pounds.

Returning for duty is the Ridgeline’s nifty, lockable in-bed trunk and dual-action tailgate, which opens to the side or folds down. New for 2017 is an available cargo-bed audio system with 540 watts and six “exciters” in the walls. For anyone who doesn’t know what an “exciter” is and why it’s important to have a half-dozen of them in one’s bed—ahem—an exciter is a small motor assembly that spins at thousands of rpm, turning any sufficient surface to which it is mounted into a speaker. If a half-dozen exciters aren’t exciting enough for you, the Ridgeline’s vibrating bed also can be equipped with a 400-watt inverter to power even more, um, exciting small appliances and power tools. We checked, and there doesn’t appear to be a slot into which to insert quarters, but perhaps that will come with a mid-cycle refresh.

Among other details yet to be released are how much horsepower and torque will be produced by the Ridgeline’s direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 (the engine makes 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft in the Pilot.) Honda says it is still finalizing the Ridgeline's towing and payload ratings, revealing only that maximum payload is "approaching 1600 pounds" and that it will tow more than the Pilot, which is rated to pull as much as 3500 pounds with front-wheel drive and 5000 pounds in AWD form; the previous Ridgeline could tow 5000 pounds. We do know that a six-speed automatic will be the sole transmission, and Honda is hoping to claim both best-in-class acceleration figures and fuel-economy ratings. The now-optional all-wheel-drive system will include a torque-vectoring function as well as a multi-mode terrain-management system. Like the Pilot, the Ridgeline will offer a raft of safety features, too, including lane-departure warning, road-departure mitigation, collision warning and avoidance systems, and lane-keeping assistance.

Our answers should come sooner than later, as Honda plans to launch the 2017 Ridgeline during the first half of this year, and it will be interesting to see if the current climate is more welcoming to this kind of truck. Watch this space for information about pricing, engine output, tow ratings, and equipment, which we will provide just as soon as Honda makes them available.

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2017-honda-ridgeline-photos-and-info-news

All-New 2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup Truck Makes World Debut at 2016 North American International Auto Show

Jan 11, 2016 - DETROIT

• 2017 Ridgeline brings Honda innovation in technology, design and packaging to the midsize pickup truck market
• All-new Ridgeline delivers superior driving dynamics in combination with the largest interior space and most versatile bed in a midsize 4-door pickup
• Honda-exclusive features including In-Bed Trunk®, dual-action tailgate and the industry's first in-bed audio system make Ridgeline the ultimate tailgating vehicle

Honda today unveiled the all-new 2017 Ridgeline truck at the North American International Auto Show, once again challenging conventional thinking in the pickup truck market with Honda-exclusive features, design and technology that help Ridgeline set new benchmarks for versatility, capability and comfort in a midsize pickup.

"We are bringing our unique technology and original thinking to the market in a new and challenging concept for a Honda pickup," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We think we've got a better idea, a truck that uses its unibody construction and Honda packaging magic to deliver more of the things that many of today's truck customers want and need with none of the things they don't."

Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the new Ridgeline will launch in the first half of 2016 with a combination of features and capabilities unlike anything else on the market today, including:

• Superior on-road performance – with the segment's best handling, ride quality, cabin quietness and all-weather traction capabilities – courtesy of its unibody construction, sophisticated chassis, and available i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring AWD system
• Class-leading space – with the largest and most versatile cabin and the only 4-foot-wide flat bed space in the midsize pickup segment, along with payload capacity rivaling top competitors
• Innovative and class-exclusive features, including an In-Bed Trunk™, dual-action tailgate and the industry's first in-bed audio system – making Ridgeline the ultimate tailgating vehicle
• Targeted top-in-class acceleration, EPA fuel economy ratings and third-party collision safety ratings, and featuring Honda's next-generation ACE™ body structure and available Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver-assist technologies
• Leading edge connectivity with 8-inch Display Audio featuring Apple Car Play® and Android Auto™ compatibility

Advanced Chassis, Powertrain and All-Wheel-Drive
The new Ridgeline is based on Honda's Global Light Truck platform with its rigid yet lightweight unibody construction, next-generation ACE™ body structure and sophisticated, fully independent suspension, delivering a higher level of ride and handling refinement than conventional body-on-frame designs. The Ridgeline will be powered by a 3.5-liter, direct-injected i-VTEC™ V-6 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, providing top-in-class powertrain refinement and targeting best-in-class acceleration performance and segment-leading EPA fuel economy ratings.

The Ridgeline also will be available for the first time in both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations. All-wheel-drive models will utilize Honda's i-VTM4™ torque vectoring AWD technology, featuring Intelligent Terrain Management with Normal, Sand, Snow and Mud modes, providing robust medium-duty off-road and towing capability with superior on-road, all-weather handling, traction and performance.

Sophisticated, Versatile and Spacious Cabin
Inside, the Ridgeline boasts the largest, most versatile and sophisticated cabin in a midsize 4-door pickup, featuring high-grade materials and finishes, available leather trim and all the latest technologies that Honda has to offer, including tri-zone climate control, push button start, a full-color TFT center meter and available 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatibility.

The Ridgeline's 60/40-split and folding second-row seat provides the ultimate versatility for people- and cargo-hauling utility. With the seats folded down, the Ridgeline will comfortably carry up to five people while still accommodating long items, like a set of golf clubs, under the rear seat. Folding up one or both sides of the 60/40-split seat bottom opens up the back to carry tall and bulky items.

A Bed Like No Other
The Ridgeline bed offers pickup users unmatched versatility in a midsize 4-door pickup. At 5' wide and 5'4" long (5.4 inches wider and 4 inches longer than the previous generation Ridgeline), the 2017 Honda Ridgeline has the only 4-foot wide flat bed space (with 48 inches between the rear wheel arches) in the midsize pickup class, allowing for flat hauling of items like plywood sheeting or drywall. The Ridgeline will also offer payload capacity rivaling top competitors, approaching 1,600 pounds, with final specifications to be released closer to launch.

The composite, UV-stabilized and scratch-resistant bed also boasts a number of available Honda-exclusive features that add to its incredible versatility, including an In-Bed Trunk™, dual-action tailgate, available 400-watt AC power inverter and the industry's first in-bed audio system.

The Ridgeline's standard, lockable In-Bed Trunk provides secure storage space with no compromise to bed utility and now features a fully flat floor while still including a drain plug for easier cleaning and evacuation of water from the trunk. The dual action tailgate is hinged both at the bottom and along its left side, opening down or to the side, which enables easier loading and unloading of heavy and bulky items without having to reach over the open tailgate. The bed also features eight 350-pound tie down cleats and an available 400-watt power inverter, located behind an access panel in the right bed wall, with the capacity to recharge power tools or energize a tailgate blender or flat screen TV.

A first for any pickup, the new in-bed audio system, together with the In-Bed Trunk and available 400-watt power inverter, makes Ridgeline the ultimate tailgating vehicle. The new in-bed audio system utilizes six exciters located inside the bed walls, in place of conventional speakers, pumping out sound from the Ridgeline's audio head unit, with up to 540 watts of power.

Top-Level Safety Performance
Featuring Honda's next-generation ACE™ body structure, advanced airbag systems and available Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, the new Ridgeline will target the highest available collision safety ratings – an NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the IIHS. Honda Sensing™ technologies available on the 2017 Ridgeline include Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS).  All Ridgeline models will feature a multi-angle rearview camera as standard equipment and upper trims will be available with either Honda LaneWatch™ or Blind Spot Information system.

Ridgeline Development and Manufacturing
Like the first generation Honda Ridgeline, the all-new 2017 Ridgeline was designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas and will be produced by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln, Alabama.

About the Honda Light Truck Lineup
Honda set an all-time record for U.S. sales of light truck models in 2015, up nearly 12% from 2014 to 661,188 SUVs, CUVs, pickups and minivans, and besting the previous record of 602,123 Honda-brand light trucks sold in 2006.  Honda's sales success was driven by an unprecedented cadence of new light truck offerings starting in the fall of 2014 with the freshened 2015 Honda CR-V, which was named Motor Trend 2016 Sport Utility of the Year and was America's best selling SUV again in 2015. In 2015, Honda launched the all-new HR-V crossover and the third generation Pilot SUV. In December, the Pilot was names as a finalist for the 2016 North American Truck/Utility of the Year award.

In 2016, Honda will continue the fortification of its light-truck family of vehicles with the new Ridgeline and a fully redesigned Odyssey minivan. Honda was named the "2016 Best SUV Brand" by U.S. News and World Report, and the Pilot, CR-V, HR-V and Odyssey each has earned a "Best Buy" award from Kelly Blue Book for 2016.  The 2016 Pilot and CR-V have received a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for model year 2016, while the 2016 Odyssey minivan has earned a TOP SAFETY PICK rating.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/all-new-2017-honda-ridgeline-pickup-truck-makes-world-debut-at-2016-north-american-international-auto-show