Truck Trend: 2014 Honda Ridgeline Last Test

By Edward A. Sanchez of www.trucktrend.com
 
The current Honda Ridgeline is winding down its model cycle, a bold experiment in the midsize truck class on a vehicle that defied easy categorization, and gave a hint at what the future of the segment might look like. But perhaps it was a little too unconventional for mass-market acceptance. Almost nothing about the Ridgeline is remotely like its peers from Nissan, Toyota, or any of the other contenders that have come and gone in the last few years, including the Dodge Dakota.

The fact that General Motors is debuting brand-new midsize trucks sticking with the proven body-on-frame, longitudinal powertrain, rear-leaf formula casts a shadow on the future of Honda's bold unibody, transverse truck experiment. With sales hovering barely over 1000 units per month for most of the past several years, it looked like the Ridgeline would go down as one of those promising concepts that seemed like it worked in theory, but fell short of its potential in the real world. Yet despite the criticism and the calls for Honda to cut its losses on the Ridgeline, it has committed to a second-generation model, but not before a two-year hiatus to regroup, and to focus on higher-volume, higher-profit models in the meantime such as the Acura MDX, Honda Odyssey Minivan, and a next-generation Pilot SUV.

Doing Its Own Thing
For the truck traditionalists, the Ridgeline will always be an oddball, and short of it adopting a body-on-frame, longitudinal, rear/four-wheel-drive layout, may never find the same level of mass-market acceptance as the Toyota Tacoma, or even the upcoming Colorado or Canyon. But for those not asking their midsize trucks to constantly carry a heavy payload or pull a trailer, the Ridgeline's packaging and features make it a compelling choice for weekend warriors.

The transverse powertrain layout pays major dividends in interior room, with the Ridgeline having a low, flat floor, and minimal intrusion from the transmission in the center tunnel. Although the front row has only two seats, the Ridgeline's column-mounted shifter could allow for three-across seating, if the center stack was slightly redesigned to accommodate legs and feet in the middle position. As it is, there's generous space for a handbag, briefcase, laptop case, or whatever you wish to place there, as well as ample center console storage. The rear seat is likewise significantly more spacious than the crew cab variants of either than the Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier, and subjectively, feels far more spacious than the rear seat of the new Chevrolet Colorado.

But in exchange for its relatively short, 206.9-inch length and roomy back seat, the bed is a short 60 inches (5 feet exactly) and does not have a midgate like the recently departed Chevrolet Avalanche to expand the load floor into the cabin. Payload capacity of around 1500 pounds is about on par with the Tacoma and Frontier, and its towing capacity of 5000 pounds splits the difference between the four-cylinder and V-6 models of the Toyota and Nissan.


Fuelish Dreams
You would think with a slightly smaller-displacement engine, and a hypothetically lighter weight design, that the Ridgeline would take the Tacoma and Frontier to school when it comes to fuel economy. Unfortunately, the Ridgeline shows no real advantage in this regard, with exactly the same 15/21 EPA rating as the Nissan Frontier V-6 4x4, with the Tacoma actually getting 1 mpg better in the city at 16 mpg. In terms of weight, the Ridgeline is approximately 300 pounds heavier than a comparably configured Tacoma, and about the same weight as a comparable Frontier.

At least unloaded, the 250-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 has no problem pulling around the Ridgeline's 4529 pounds, although a little more low-end torque would help. The engine makes an enthusiastic growl when pushed, but comes across as a little coarse, especially in comparison with current full-size truck powertrains. In the Ridgeline's defense, neither the Tacoma or Frontier are exactly models of refinement either. Its 0-60 and quarter-mile times of 8.3 and 16.5 seconds are respectable, but not class-leading.

The Ridgeline's four-wheel-independent coil-spring suspension gives it a decidedly smoother, more relaxed ride quality than the Tacoma or Frontier, which can both be a little bouncy with their rear leaf springs, especially unloaded.

The Ridgeline certainly gets points for its user-friendliness, easy ingress and egress, thanks to its low floor, and its handy and innovative in-bed trunk and dual-mode tailgate. But in quantitative utility and efficiency, it shows no great advantage over its more conventional peers.

Preparing a Comeback
It's probably fortuitous that the Ridgeline will be temporarily discontinued for the 2015 model year, as the 2015 GM trucks will likely have a significant fuel economy advantage over the Tacoma and Frontier, and by extension, the Ridgeline. Honda as a company has built its name and reputation on class-leading fuel economy. Unfortunately, the current Ridgeline doesn't live up to this promise.

Honda just released a silhouette sketch of the next-generation Ridgeline, and initial indications are for a much more conventional look. However, the transverse powertrain layout and all-wheel drive look like they will probably carry over. Look for the next-generation V-6 to be substantially more fuel-efficient, however, in the magnitude of 20 percent or more.

From a packaging and features standpoint, the Ridgeline remains a compelling option to its more conventional midsize counterparts. However, its lackluster fuel economy, and slight sacrifice in quantitative, traditional truck utility compared with its peers likely tipped the scales in favor of the Tacoma or Frontier for many buyers.

Will the Ridgeline ever be a large-volume play for Honda? Probably not, but it's clear the company still believes in the promise of the concept, and the burden will be on them to prove its viability with the next-generation model.



Source;
http://www.trucktrend.com/roadtests/pickup/163_1312_2014_honda_ridgeline_first_test/

2014 Honda Ridgeline Adds New Top-of-the-Line Special Edition Model

09/05/2013

• Ridgeline remains most versatile vehicle in the 4-door truck segment
• Only pickup with standard rearview camera

Building upon a successful model year of double-digit sales growth in 2013, the versatile Honda Ridgeline returns for 2014 with a new, top-of-the-line Special Edition model. The Special Edition model, joining the lineup in November, features model-exclusive 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with black-trimmed spokes, special badging and the popular black trim package from the Ridgeline Sport. The rest of the 2014 Ridgeline lineup goes on-sale today with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price¹ (MSRP) starting at $29,575.

"Honda's commitment to the truck segment is underscored by the new special edition model of the 2014 Honda Ridgeline," said John Mendel, Executive Vice President of Sales at American Honda. "The increased customer interest in Ridgeline this year demonstrates the important role Ridgeline will continue to play in the Honda lineup."

The 2014 Honda Ridgeline features a closed-box, unit-body structure and independent front and rear suspension to deliver a unique combination of truck capability, a spacious five-passenger cabin and car-like ride and handling. The Ridgeline also delivers a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds and a half-ton payload rating, all while offering innovative and unique features that include the large In-Bed Trunk® and dual-action tailgate for easy access. Providing more confidence in reverse gear, Ridgeline remains the only pickup truck on sale in the U.S. to feature a standard rearview camera.

Four distinctive Ridgeline models are available now: the Ridgeline RT, Ridgeline Sport, Ridgeline RTS and Ridgeline RTL, which is available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™².  View, build and price a 2014 Honda Ridgeline at http://automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline.

TRIM	MSRP1	EPA Fuel Economy Ratings3 (city/highway/combined)
Ridgeline RT	$29,575	15/21/17
Ridgeline Sport	$30,720	15/21/17
Ridgeline RTS	$32,380	15/21/17
Ridgeline RTL with leather	$35,155	15/21/17
Ridgeline RTL with leather and Navi	$37,505	15/21/17
Ridgeline SE with leather and Navi (available November)	$37,505	15/21/17

Ridgeline RT features include:
Unique 17-inch steel wheels, integrated trailer hitch, pre-wiring for 7-pin trailer hook up, keyless entry, power windows and door locks, power sliding rear window, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, trip computer with instantaneous and average fuel economy, 6-speaker 100-watt audio system with CD player and MP3/WMA playback capability, rearview camera, and 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage.

Ridgeline Sport features include (adds to Ridgeline RT):
Exclusive black 18-inch aluminum wheels, black honeycomb grille with black surround and exclusive sport emblem, black headlight and brake light housings, fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, auxiliary audio input jack, all-weather floor mats and rear privacy glass.

Ridgeline RTS features include (adds to Ridgeline RT):
Exclusive 17-inch aluminum wheels, painted inner grille surfaces, body-color painted door handles, 7-pin trailer wiring connector, 8-way power driver's seat with lumbar support, dual-zone automatic climate control, 7-speaker 160-watt audio system with subwoofer, 6-disc in-dash CD system, steering wheel-mounted controls, auxiliary audio input jack, exterior temperature indicator, all-weather floor mats and privacy glass.

Ridgeline RTL features include (adds to Ridgeline RTS):
Exclusive 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, fog lights, power moonroof, heated side mirrors, leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, XM Radio⁴, HomeLink® remote system, ambient console lighting, 115-volt power outlet and carpeted floor mats.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™² with Voice Recognition and Zagat Survey® restaurant information is available on the Ridgeline RTL. It includes XM® Radio⁴, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® and a multi-information display. The navigation system includes a rearview camera display, thus eliminating this display in the rearview mirror.

Ridgeline Special Edition features include (adds to Ridgeline RTL):
Exclusive 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with black-trimmed spokes and Special Edition badging on the rear tailgate. The model also adopts the black trim package from the Sport model, which includes black headlight and brake light housings, black tailgate and black honeycomb grille with black surround.

The Ridgeline Special Edition also comes standard with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™² featuring Voice Recognition and Zagat Survey® restaurant information, and includes XM® Radio⁴, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, plus multi-information display and rearview camera display.
Colors choices for the Ridgeline Special Edition are Taffeta White, Crystal Black and Alabaster Silver, all with black leather interior.

Powertrain
The Ridgeline's all-aluminum, 60-degree, SOHC 3.5-liter VTEC V-6 engine produces 250 horsepower⁵ and 247 lb-ft. of torque⁶. Variable valve timing enhances low-rpm torque while extending high-rpm horsepower for a broad power band. The 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission features Grade Logic Control to help maintain the most appropriate gear when going uphill or downhill to avoid gear "hunting."

A fully automatic Variable Torque Management® 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4®) provides confident operation in rain, snow, ice, sand and mud, while also improving on-road and towing performance by distributing torque to all four wheels as needed. The system operates predominately in front-wheel-drive mode during dry-pavement cruising conditions and continuously proportions torque to the rear wheels during acceleration and low traction situations. The VTM-4 lock button located on the instrument panel allows the driver to temporarily hold engagement of both rear wheels to aid traction in the first two gears at speeds of up to 18 mph.

Standard towing equipment includes an integrated tow hitch, transmission and oil coolers, heavy duty brakes, dual radiator fans and a wiring harness for a 7-pin trailer hook up (pre-wiring only on RT and Sport).

Body
The unit-body architecture is designed for vastly superior rigidity compared to traditional body-on-frame designs and provides the foundation for the Ridgeline's spacious interior cabin and bed, safety performance and class-leading ride and handling performance. Its modern and athletic design incorporates a solid, one-piece appearance with no separation between the bed and the cab. The windshield wipers have a heated wiper zone to enhance wiper performance in winter driving conditions and minimize ice buildup, while large side mirrors enhance rear vision while towing.

A 5-foot-long composite cargo bed with eight tie-down locations provides a payload rating of 1,100 pounds, while four cargo area lights illuminate both the bed and the in-bed trunk. A dual-action tailgate opens down for traditional access to the cargo area or to the side for ease-of-access to the 8.5 cubic-foot In-Bed Trunk®. The Ridgeline is available with a wide variety of accessories and can conveniently accommodate motorcycles or ATVs. The cargo area measures 49.5 inches wide between the wheel wells, 20.7 inches deep and 60.0 inches long (79.0 inches with the load-supporting tailgate in the down position).

Chassis
A MacPherson strut front suspension and fully independent multi-link rear suspension with trailing arms provide a smooth ride and responsive handling. A heavy-duty braking system includes 12.6-inch front and 13.1-inch rear 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. The Ridgeline RT has 17×7.5-inch steel wheels and P245/65 R17 all-season tires, while the Ridgeline RTS upgrades to 17×7.5-inch aluminum wheels. Ridgeline Sport and Ridgeline RTL models are uniquely equipped with 18×7.5-inch aluminum wheels and all-season P245/60 R18 tires. The Special Edition model features exclusive 18x7.5-inch aluminum alloy wheels with black-trimmed spokes and all-season P245/60 R18 tires.

Interior
The interior takes advantage of Honda's unit-body packaging efficiency to deliver full-size interior space dimensions while maintaining garage-friendly, mid-size exterior dimensions. The driving position provides ergonomically comfortable access to large and easy-to-use controls.

Between the front seats, a large multi-function console features a sliding armrest and sliding lower tray – each with a hidden storage area. Other console storage areas accommodate large and small items like mobile phones, beverage holders, compact discs and portable digital music players.

The 60/40 lift-up rear seats feature a storage area underneath that is large enough to accommodate a golf bag. Plus, the rear seating area can quickly convert for cargo duty by lifting the seats up to create enough room for a full-size mountain bike with the front wheel removed. The rear seat incorporates three LATCH positions for compatible child safety seats.

Safety
All Ridgelines are equipped with standard safety features including dual-stage, multiple-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags, side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, front-seat active head restraints, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), a tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights.

Awards, Accolades and Ratings
The 2013 Ridgeline received a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning the highest-possible score of GOOD in four IIHS tests, including the side impact test and the rigorous roof-strength test. In addition, the Ridgeline is ranked among the best in compact pickup trucks by U.S. News and KBB.com, based on reliability, comfort of ride and refined drivetrain.

Warranty
The 2014 Honda Ridgeline is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.

About Honda
Honda offers a complete lineup of cars and trucks through a network of more than 1,000 dealerships in the United States. The Accord, Civic, CR-V sport-utility vehicle and Odyssey minivan were the best-selling models in their respective segments among individual car buyers for the first six months of 2013. The company operates 14 manufacturing facilities in North America, including seven auto plants. In 2012, more than 90 percent of the Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were manufactured in North America⁷. Over the past three years alone, the company has invested more than $2.7 billion in its North American manufacturing capabilities, bringing to more than $22 billion the amount Honda has invested in its North American operations.

Consumer information is available at http://automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline. To join the Ridgeline community on Facebook, visit https://www.facebook.com/hondaridgeline. Additional media information including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of the 2014 Honda Ridgeline is available at http://hondanews.com/channels/honda-automobiles-ridgeline.
¹ MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $830 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
² The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ is available on the Ridgeline RTL in the United States, except Alaska. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
³ Based on 2013 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
⁴ Required XM Radio subscription sold separately after 90-day trial period. Subscriptions are governed by the XM Customer Agreement available at xmradio.com/service terms. Other fees and taxes apply after trial period; see XM Customer Agreement for details. Fees and programming subject to change. Service not available in Canada, Alaska, or Hawaii. 2013 SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. SIRIUS, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. and its subsidiaries.
⁵ 250 hp @ 5,700 rpm (SAE net).
⁶ 247 lb-ft @ 4,300 rpm (SAE net).
⁷ Using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Third-party trademarks: The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license.

Ward's Auto: Honda Ridgeline to Take Nearly 2-Year Hiatus

Not too sure what to think about this one, I've personally heard that Honda would continue with the truck until the next one comes out, it would just be called something like the Ridgeline Classic....

The current-generation compact pickup is expected to end production in September 2014, with a new model not launching until 2016.

by Christie Schweinsberg | WardsAuto

Honda will pull the plug on its current-generation Ridgeline compact pickup earlier than expected, according to the most recent WardsAuto/Automotive Compass forecast.

Industry sources say the Ridgeline now is set to end production in September 2014, with a new model not launching until second-quarter 2016.

This is a change from a prior forecast that had the current-generation truck ending its run in spring 2016 and the next-generation model beginning production the following week.

The Ridgeline is built at Honda’s Lincoln, AL, plant alongside other Honda and Acura light trucks, including the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX cross/utility vehicles.

Honda introduced the Ridgeline to the U.S. as an ’06 model in spring 2005.

Ridgeline deliveries mostly have been on a downward trajectory since record volume of 50,193 was achieved in 2006.

Sales of the pickup did grow last year to 14,068 units, a 44.2% rise from 2011 that Honda officials credit to a new Sport grade that debuted for ’12.

With demand for the truck falling sharply from its 2006 high, rumors and reports of the Ridgeline’s imminent departure have been rampant. However, Honda has vigorously denied the vehicle will disappear completely from its U.S. lineup.

The auto maker’s Detroit-based spokesman Steve Kinkade says, “(While) we don't comment on future product decisions, Ridgeline continues to be an important part of our lineup and we're pleased with Ridgeline sales, up 24% year-on-year and 32% in June.”

When the Ridgeline debuted, Honda billed the truck as an “SUT,” or sport/utility truck, partially due to its then-innovative in-bed storage box.

While manufacturers of competing body-on-frame pickups initially decried the Ridgeline because it shared some lineage with the unibody Pilot, MDX and Odyssey minivan, elements of the Ridgeline design later were co-opted by other auto makers, including Chrysler, which has a similar storage box in its Ram fullsize pickup truck.

Additionally, competitors have discussed or shown concepts of unibody small trucks, believing such models could be a way to reignite the drastically declining segment.

WardsAutodata shows small-pickup sales fell from a record 1,462,543 units in 1986 to 278,265 last year.

Pricing that approaches or is on par with that of fullsize pickups has been blamed for the decline in compact-truck volume. Many manufacturers already have abandoned the segment in the U.S., including Dodge (Dakota) and Ford (Ranger). General Motors also has been absent in recent years but will roll out new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models in early 2014.

While the Detroit Three used to rule the compact-truck segment much as they do fullsize pickups, Toyota’s Tacoma has led Ward’s Small Pickup group since 2005.

Tacoma deliveries in 2012 tallied 141,365, a 27.7% increase from 2011 and nearly 90,000 units ahead of Nissan’s Frontier, the No.2-selling compact pickup last year.

Source;
http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/honda-ridgeline-take-nearly-2-year-hiatus

The Next Generation Honda Ridgeline.... EXPECT DELAYS

Bad news folks, I have it from reliable sources that the next Honda Ridgeline (2014/2015) is definitely in early stages of design etc.  Out of respect to the company I love, I can't say much aside from 2016 or 2017.  Bummer.

Next Generation Honda Ridgeline Truck Update

Well, no specifics yet, Honda is keeping their cards close to their chest on this one, no spyshots, renderings, official release date, concepts, .... nothing.  The original idea is that this truck would be redesigned for 2014, late in the year, from what rumours I am hearing is that this truck may not be released until mid/late 2014 as a 2015 model. 

Again, I have no idea if they are going to put a diesel (doubt it) engine into this truck.  I cannot see them going up to the 3.7L, seeing as Honda said that they will put a heavy emphasis on fuel economy this go around, so expect to see VCM cylinder deactivation, and Earth Dreams.  I would have to say I would expect a 6 Speed Automatic VS a CVT.

I expect the size to be about the same, I don't see Honda throwing their hat into the full size segment just yet (if ever).

I do expect something innovative that no one saw coming (like the in bed trunk) to compliment all of the other upgrades.

Stay tuned for any other updates.