Cars, Trucks, Bikes, Project Cars, DIY, Travel, Adventure, Podcast, Videos
By Jeff Glucker
May 3, 2021
You think you need more truck, but the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is likely all the truck you *actually* need. I’m not speaking for all of you, of course, but for 90% of midsize truck buyers, the Honda Ridgeline makes a ton of sense. And with its revised styling, it looks great too.
[Disclaimer: Honda tossed us the keys to the Ridgeline and included a tank of fuel, a trailer, and a gassed-up Talon.]
Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff
“All the truck you need”
That doesn’t look like an Isuzu Elf? 😉
I personally wish that I had a lifestyle that would benefit from an F250 Tremor, alas, it is not so. I’m probably cured of wanting a truck at all until I’m not the chauffer, at which point I might go Cybertruck because I’m getting weirder as I age.
$40,000 for a 5′ bed or $4000 for an 8′ bed explains my truck choice. Plus the reality is I have hauled more long stuff in the bed than passengers in the back seat. I’m sure a Ridgeline is the sensible choice for folks looking at BOF crewcabs for school runs and the occasional light towing job but my 20 year old 1/2 ton is a better utility truck
About 3/4 of the people I know that drive a pickup would be better off with a Ridgeline, if they could just set their egos aside and give it a fair shake. The other 1/4 legitimately need a traditional BOF pickup for their needs, and shouldn’t consider it at all. The problem is that trucks– just like every other category of vehicle– don’t sell solely on their practical characteristics. If they did, there wouldn’t be so many inept idiots tooling around in Raptors and Rubicons.
Personally, I think this is a fine vehicle for what it is. Very practical, very comfortable, very usable. I don’t see any value in the HPD package, though. It’s all tacked-on visual stuff that doesn’t really make any difference in the utility of the vehicle. I don’t need my truck to “look tough”, I want it to “BE tough”. I do wish Honda had a different design language for the Ridgeline and Pilot, to differentiate them more from the Odyssey and the cars. Honda’s currently following the “one sausage, different lengths” formula that BMW used for years, except with a much homelier looking design.
four doors, a decent bed, road-handling and comfort with decent towing? Yep . . . decent truck.
Finally managed to watch the video, probably too late to ask if anyone knows of a comparison test that includes instrumented testing that would quantify just how much better handling the Ridgeline is? I haven’t driven all the current competition, or the Ridgeline which isn’t sold in Australia, but from what I have experienced it should be head and shoulders ahead.
I’m remembering that many years ago a test of active handling that showed even the Toyota Hiace van had much better roadholding than a pickup.
no I don’t need my truck to make me look tough i just don’t want it to make me look like i’m in a minivan with back chopped off.
i’m sure it’s a great front wheel drive truck.
but i’ll take a ranger, tacoma or even frontier before i’ll get one of these.