New Honda Ridgeline...sort of

[DoubleWasp]

Originally Posted By: surfstar
The Ridgeline is truck as much as a unibody is now an SUV. Durango and Explorers come to mind.
Diehards will argue either way, claiming a box frame needs to be used for an SUV or a Truck. The auto engineers don't always agree with the public.

The Ridgeline is 90% truck for 90% of the market. Very few need more than that. That's what Honda set out to originally accomplish. Enough truck, not too much.

I'd still like something that gets 30mpg with the same amount of utility/size of the original. Maybe someday that will happen and I'll replace my Vue.


You're 100% right. It is a very good truck, and would make a good match for many people. Problem is, they can't get 90% of the market to touch it with a stick. What was the market share of the first gen? 1.6%?

I admire Honda for attempting to convince people they need to be more practical in their truck selection, but this is America.

This is beginning to remind me of the 1950's and 1970's, when all sorts of flops were sent into the market on the basis of "this is what you should be buying instead of what you like".

I think it's a good idea for people who look at their Accords and wish they had an open bed for those trips to IKEA, HD, tree farm, etc., but the public doesn't seem to take to that when they get a look at that sticker advertising fuel economy and price.

With the Eco-models of full size trucks hitting the market and meeting or exceeding fuel economy of this truck, it's a hard sell from a brand known for making exactly zero iconic trucks.

Good truck or not, the Ridgeline, much like the 5-door Accord, 1st Gen RDX, and the Acura ZDX is proving itself to be the answer to a question that almost nobody asked.

 

[glock19]

I love the idea of the Ridgeline. I'm one of those people that would love to have a truck, but rarely actually need one. If they're still making this thing in 2020 I'll probably be buying one.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Nate1979
I still don't understand what advantage the new Ridgeline will have over the existing offers of the mid-size segment??


It offers certain things others in the segment don't. And certain things full-size trucks don't. Some of these things will be applicable to certain situations. Some won't. As always, different vehicles will fit different situations better than others.

To speak to Steve's wife's situation, I'm certainly not trying to sell him a Ridgeline, but her situation is one that fits very well with the Ridgeline's target market. It has an incredible amount of lockable space. The rear seats in the cab fold up completely flat to the back wall, so you can keep all sorts of bulky items back there (oxygen machines, wheelchairs, etc). With the seats down, there's a lot of storage ~under~ the seats for equipment that would lay flat. They say the new Ridgeline is designed to fit a full bag of golf clubs under the rear bench. That's a pretty bulky item, and something that's not always easy to securely store in a pickup truck.

The Ramboxes in the cargo area are a great addition to the Ram, and offers bed-area lockable storage exclusive to the full-size segment. The Ridgeline's locking trunk is certainly exclusive to the mid-size segment, and offers a tremendous amount of versatility and storage. Many people build their own shelving system with dividers for back there so power tools have their own cell, larger tools have another cell, etc. The dual-mode tailgate is also a huge plus, especially for those who get up into the bed often for things. With a traditional swing-down gate (which the RL's gate will do), all of your bumper step area is covered by the gate. Truck manufacturers have come up with different ways to address this. F-150 offers a step that pops out of the tailgate. Titan has a step that swings out from under the bumper. Silverado offers step holes in the bumper corners. Ridgeline offers a different way to get up into the bed -- just swing the tailgate out, like a swing gate. You can pretty easily reach most of the bed area like this without even getting up into it...but if you must, you have the full bumper area to step up on to get into the bed.

The ride/handling is something that the Ridgeline has always excelled at, and I'm sure it will continue to do so. A mid-sizer like a Tacoma, with a separate bolt-on bed and live rear axle with leaf springs never will ride or handle as nice as a chassis with independent rear suspension. I will hold my opinion on the new Ridgeline's separate bed until I drive one. To me, that was one of the HUGE benefits of the previous generation: no bed shake.

I'm warming up to it after watching this video. It looks a little better proportioned to me from multiple angles through a video camera. The video also explains some of the features offered by Ridgeline that aren't offered elsewhere. The 400 watt rear power port (with space for your DeWalt battery charger) being another one of them.



The Ridgeline never will be for everybody. No one vehicle ever is. It fits some situations very well, and will not be the best choice for others. I opine that it objectively fits more folks' lifestyles than some will admit, but I also recognize that buying a vehicle is often a subjective process, and one has to like everything about it (styling, other equipment, etc) in addition to only the objective functionality. I'd never tell anyone they're wrong for buying something other than a Ridgeline -- our opinions and decisions are our own, and we have to do what's best for us.

 

[DoubleWasp]

Quote:
Ridgeline offers a different way to get up into the bed -- just swing the tailgate out, like a swing gate. You can pretty easily reach most of the bed area like this without even getting up into it...but if you must, you have the full bumper area to step up on to get into the bed.


My 92 Caprice and 96 Road master have the same feature. It's a good one to have.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Originally Posted By: surfstar
The Ridgeline is truck as much as a unibody is now an SUV. Durango and Explorers come to mind.
Diehards will argue either way, claiming a box frame needs to be used for an SUV or a Truck. The auto engineers don't always agree with the public.

The Ridgeline is 90% truck for 90% of the market. Very few need more than that. That's what Honda set out to originally accomplish. Enough truck, not too much.

I'd still like something that gets 30mpg with the same amount of utility/size of the original. Maybe someday that will happen and I'll replace my Vue.


You're 100% right. It is a very good truck, and would make a good match for many people. Problem is, they can't get 90% of the market to touch it with a stick. What was the market share of the first gen? 1.6%?

I admire Honda for attempting to convince people they need to be more practical in their truck selection, but this is America.

This is beginning to remind me of the 1950's and 1970's, when all sorts of flops were sent into the market on the basis of "this is what you should be buying instead of what you like".

I think it's a good idea for people who look at their Accords and wish they had an open bed for those trips to IKEA, HD, tree farm, etc., but the public doesn't seem to take to that when they get a look at that sticker advertising fuel economy and price.

With the Eco-models of full size trucks hitting the market and meeting or exceeding fuel economy of this truck, it's a hard sell from a brand known for making exactly zero iconic trucks.

Good truck or not, the Ridgeline, much like the 5-door Accord, 1st Gen RDX, and the Acura ZDX is proving itself to be the answer to a question that almost nobody asked.


I agree with most of what you said.

However, it's a tad bit premature to make a full determination of this new Ridgeline since we don't know the full specs yet nor have any reviews and real world driving experiences been published.

I also don't think any relation to the consumer experimentation periods you speak of and the "this is what you should be buying...." theme. Honda has already show that a market exists...a small one perhaps. They are trying to expand that segment and are hoping to change Americans idea that bigger is always better when it comes to pickups. Right now, with lower fuel prices...and younger 'new' potential buyers with small families...just might prove to be a great time for this mid-size to enter the market. It's FAR more than just wishing an Accord had a bed.

As for sales numbers of the previous model? It started out doing ok...then dropped...then when up again...then dropped. Kind of weird how it cycled. Yes, a very low market share....but it DID beat the Nissan Titan. Honda isn't a poorly ran company like Chevy was/is. They see something in continuing the Ridgeline...and maybe by sticking to it with this much more typical looking pickup...they invasion higher sales than the first model.

We'll see. Either way...it's always a good thing to see more choices in vehicles.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Quote:
Ridgeline offers a different way to get up into the bed -- just swing the tailgate out, like a swing gate. You can pretty easily reach most of the bed area like this without even getting up into it...but if you must, you have the full bumper area to step up on to get into the bed.


My 92 Caprice and 96 Road master have the same feature. It's a good one to have.

Yeah -- I hardly ever lower the tailgate down, and almost always swing it open. It's so easy to access something in the bed without having to each across another 18"-24" of bed length with the gate down. But I'm most often going for something in the trunk. The new Ridgeline is supposed to fit a bag of golf clubs under the rear seat, which is great and which is something the older generation doesn't quite have enough space for, but the trunk can fit them (two bags, in fact), and I keep my clubs and pull cart in the trunk during golf season and just leave 'em there. It stays locked, it's out of the rain, and it's out of the sun. It's ideal for that sort of thing.

 

[Hokiefyd]

As we learn more about the new Ridgeline, I thought this article was interesting, from back in 2005 when the original was designed. It's a 5 minute read about the composite cargo bed/box. Lots of technical information in there, including resin/fiberglass ratios. I also learned something -- the tie-down hooks in the bed (6 provided on the '06 model, an additional 2 are added in '09) are strong enough to hang the entire truck from them. Interesting...

http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/inside-the-box-thinking-pays-off-for-honda

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I'm glad the RAM is working for you, but it seems on paper the Ridgeline should be right there, minus the ramboxes for cargo space, if you have the crew cab.
It would be interesting to drive them back to back anyways, I always notice the solid rear axle in any truck, not that its terribly annoying, but on broken pavement or washboard its not ideal.
Typically Honda chooses a firmer more direct feel for their cars, but I doubt the Ridgeline would be much more tiring to drive, and in theory the independent rear suspension could be tuned for better tracking and resistance to wind gusts than a solid rear axle.
Anyways, someone like your wife in a tighter urban area might choose a Ridgeline as its ~2' shorter, but gives up a 1' in the bed to a quad cab ram, or only 3" to a crew cab ram short box.


Seriously, and I mean this. The RAM feels like no other truck. The suspension is luxury car good. I can tell you have never driven one. Quite a surprise to me, too, when I was shopping last year. Top line Fords and Chevys could not hold a candle to the RAM in ride quality and NVH. Especially on broken pavement and rougher roads as you mentioned. It feels like it cannot be bottomed out and it remains composed even at very high speeds. Plus it is eerily quiet no matter what you are doing.

When our friends ask for our comments we always say it's a hybrid luxury car with a whole lot of cargo options. I sincerely hope that Honda can deliver even a portion of the road manners that this big ole RAM has here.

As stated, it's a GREAT time to be liking vehicles as there are so many outstanding choices...

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I'm glad the RAM is working for you, but it seems on paper the Ridgeline should be right there, minus the ramboxes for cargo space, if you have the crew cab.
It would be interesting to drive them back to back anyways, I always notice the solid rear axle in any truck, not that its terribly annoying, but on broken pavement or washboard its not ideal.
Typically Honda chooses a firmer more direct feel for their cars, but I doubt the Ridgeline would be much more tiring to drive, and in theory the independent rear suspension could be tuned for better tracking and resistance to wind gusts than a solid rear axle.
Anyways, someone like your wife in a tighter urban area might choose a Ridgeline as its ~2' shorter, but gives up a 1' in the bed to a quad cab ram, or only 3" to a crew cab ram short box.


Seriously, and I mean this. The RAM feels like no other truck. The suspension is luxury car good. I can tell you have never driven one. Quite a surprise to me, too, when I was shopping last year. Top line Fords and Chevys could not hold a candle to the RAM in ride quality and NVH. Especially on broken pavement and rougher roads as you mentioned. It feels like it cannot be bottomed out and it remains composed even at very high speeds. Plus it is eerily quiet no matter what you are doing.

When our friends ask for our comments we always say it's a hybrid luxury car with a whole lot of cargo options. I sincerely hope that Honda can deliver even a portion of the road manners that this big ole RAM has here.

As stated, it's a GREAT time to be liking vehicles as there are so many outstanding choices...


I make it no secret that I am a fan of most Honda vehicles...but especially my current Ridgeline.

But....if I needed a more capable truck, I would most definitely place the Dodge Ram pickup at the top of my list. It's a very nice looking truck (excluding the model that has the big "RAM" logo on the front and back...those look stupid).
I have no idea of the reliability of these trucks...especially the transmissions. Maybe they are very reliable and solid trucks?
Anyway, I like them. I feel they are the most attractive of all the available pickups on the market.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I'm glad the RAM is working for you, but it seems on paper the Ridgeline should be right there, minus the ramboxes for cargo space, if you have the crew cab.
It would be interesting to drive them back to back anyways, I always notice the solid rear axle in any truck, not that its terribly annoying, but on broken pavement or washboard its not ideal.
Typically Honda chooses a firmer more direct feel for their cars, but I doubt the Ridgeline would be much more tiring to drive, and in theory the independent rear suspension could be tuned for better tracking and resistance to wind gusts than a solid rear axle.
Anyways, someone like your wife in a tighter urban area might choose a Ridgeline as its ~2' shorter, but gives up a 1' in the bed to a quad cab ram, or only 3" to a crew cab ram short box.


Seriously, and I mean this. The RAM feels like no other truck. The suspension is luxury car good. I can tell you have never driven one. Quite a surprise to me, too, when I was shopping last year. Top line Fords and Chevys could not hold a candle to the RAM in ride quality and NVH. Especially on broken pavement and rougher roads as you mentioned. It feels like it cannot be bottomed out and it remains composed even at very high speeds. Plus it is eerily quiet no matter what you are doing.

When our friends ask for our comments we always say it's a hybrid luxury car with a whole lot of cargo options. I sincerely hope that Honda can deliver even a portion of the road manners that this big ole RAM has here.

As stated, it's a GREAT time to be liking vehicles as there are so many outstanding choices...


The RAM rides closest to a G wagon or a big Lexus SUV.

My regular cab one rides to stiff, I don't think they got the spring rates right on the regular cab trucks. Probably because no one buys them.

I air down my tires, Ram says 40 I run 35ish.

 

[dishdude]

So they had one at the NAIAS and the latest generation is certainly styled more conservatively and less polarizing than the previous generation. Unfortunately the only one on display was placed on a turntable and not accessible to the public so I didn't get to see the interior. My opinion - if pricing is comparable, I would go for a Colorado/Canyon/Tacoma, however if I lived in the snowbelt and could get away with FWD and not have to go with 4wd, that might sway me to the Ridgeline. Of course the use of my truck is limited to hauling bicycles and light duty stuff I could probably put in my Jeep.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
So they had one at the NAIAS and the latest generation is certainly styled more conservatively and less polarizing than the previous generation. Unfortunately the only one on display was placed on a turntable and not accessible to the public so I didn't get to see the interior. My opinion - if pricing is comparable, I would go for a Colorado/Canyon/Tacoma, however if I lived in the snowbelt and could get away with FWD and not have to go with 4wd, that might sway me to the Ridgeline. Of course the use of my truck is limited to hauling bicycles and light duty stuff I could probably put in my Jeep.


I saw a rendering from some accessory company that will provide a mild lift kit for the new Ridge. I'm not a southern hick or anything....but it actually looked pretty nice. It improved that nose-down look that it has.
I'll not be getting one anyway...I have no need and just purchased my MX5. That's a lot more fun!!

 

[BigBuck]

Quote:


TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 1, 2016 – Honda today offered a sneak peek of the brand’s commercial for Super Bowl 50 starring the highly innovative 2017 Honda Ridgeline pickup, a wily herding dog and a flock of sheep singing a classic Queen song, “Somebody to Love.” Fans tuning in to Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, Feb. 7, will see the 60-second spot, “A New Truck to Love,” during the third quarter, but the entertaining commercial is now available for viewing in its entirety on Honda’s YouTube channel. (http://honda.us/BigGameCommercial).



Directed by Oscar-nominated director Bryan Buckley — dubbed “King of the Super Bowl” for his role in bringing to life more than 40 commercials for the big game — the new Honda commercial imagines how a rancher might use one of Ridgeline’s available features, the industry’s very first factory truck-bed audio system, enabling music to play outside the truck. This poses the question, “What if his sheep learned how to sing?” with the commercial showing the sheep being dropped off by the new Ridgeline and then performing the classic Queen hit after the rancher departs.



The spot signals not only Honda’s return to the Super Bowl, but the return of the all-new Ridgeline to market. A pickup unlike any other, Ridgeline’s innovative features include the available truck-bed audio system and the standard in-bed storage trunk and dual-action tailgate — all industry-exclusive features.



“Great Super Bowl spots are entertaining for the fans while communicating an essential value of the product, and we believe our Honda Ridgeline commercial accomplishes both objectives in dramatic fashion,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Automobile Division. “With so many truck buyers passionate about football, the big game is the perfect setting to introduce the all-new Ridgeline, and the distinctive features that make it the ultimate tailgating vehicle.”



“A New Truck to Love” Storyline and Direction

Acclaimed director Bryan Buckley was selected to bring this story to life, both for his experience in creating entertaining Super Bowl ads with a beautiful, cinematic feel and his ability to create the nuanced comedic tone Honda was seeking with this spot.



Created and produced by RPA, agency of record for Honda, “A New Truck to Love” was shot using real sheep and a trained sheep dog. The special effects were produced staying true to the anatomy and natural behavior of sheep. This included study of the movement of sheep’s mouths to determine how their facial muscles might react while singing.



Camp Ridgeline and Additional Campaign Elements

The Super Bowl spot kicks off a new multiplatform campaign that will effectively re-launch the Ridgeline truck, including activations across several platforms, screens and online properties. As part of the digital campaign, Honda will take over the ESPN and MSN home pages on Sun., Feb. 7, and Mon., Feb. 8. Short videos will be posted to Honda’s social channels before and after the Super Bowl highlighting the truck’s new features. A lead generation card will run on Twitter throughout February for users who would like to sign up for additional information on the all-new Ridgeline.



Unique to the Ridgeline campaign, and a first for the Honda brand for a new-vehicle launch, is the opportunity for consumers who request additional information on the new Ridgeline on www.campridgeline.com to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to “Camp Ridgeline” — a ride-and-drive experience on May 21 at Rio Cibolo Ranch in San Antonio, TX. Ten sweepstakes winners will enjoy the three-day, two-night experience with a guest, to include round-trip coach-class airfare, hotel accommodations, meals and participation in the “Ride-and-Drive” Event. To enter and for full rules and details, visit: www.campridgeline.com



Honda at the Super Bowl

The all-new 2017 Ridgeline television spot marks the Honda brand’s first official Super Bowl commercial since 2014 and Super Bowl 48’s “Hugfest,” promoting safety and generating significant social engagement during and after the big game. During Super Bowl 46, Honda’s “Matthew’s Day Off” spot starred a well-known coming-of-age character to connect with the 2012 CR-V’s youthful target audience.



Redesigned and Re-engineered 2017 Honda Ridgeline

Fresh from its heralded global debut on Jan. 11 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., the all-new Ridgeline is slated to launch in the first half of 2016 at Honda dealerships nationwide. The 2017 Ridgeline builds on the unique and still industry-exclusive features that debuted in the award-winning first-generation Ridgeline in 2005. With superior on-road manners and a spacious, flexible interior — the 2017 Ridgeline adds the truck bed audio system to the already industry-first In-Bed Trunk® and Dual-Action Tailgate. Ridgeline will join Honda’s expanded lineup of innovative light-truck models, including the HR-V crossover, the CR-V and Pilot SUVs and the Odyssey minivan. Honda earned a new all-time record for U.S. light-truck sales in 2015, with sales up 11.7 percent to 661,188 units as Honda also set a new overall record with sales of 1.4 million cars and trucks.



The Ridgeline is developed by Honda’s North American design and engineering teams in Ohio and California, and will be produced exclusively at its Lincoln, Alabama, auto and engine plant, alongside the Pilot and Odyssey using domestic and globally sourced parts.



The original Ridgeline was named 2006 Motor Trend Truck of the Year and 2006 North American Truck of the Year and topped J.D. Power and Associates’ Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study in the midsize pickup segment for three consecutive years.



About Honda

Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive automobiles for American car buyers through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Accord, Civic, Fit and CR-Z, along with the HR-V Crossover and Pilot and CR-V sport/utility vehicles and the Odyssey minivan.



Honda has the longest-lasting cars1 of any mainstream automotive brand in America, and has been producing automobiles in America for more than 30 years and currently operates 18 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2014, more than 97 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.



1 Longevity based on IHS Automotive, Polk U.S. vehicles in operation registration statistics 1988–2012 for Honda and non-luxury competing brands.

 

[andrewg]

^^^^^ Thanks for the video link.

It would have been nice if they would have spent more time focusing on the truck and not so much the sheep.