Yahoo Autos 2022 Honda Ridgeline Review | What's new, price, pictures, HPD package
Congratulations, 2022 Honda Ridgeline, you're no longer alone. The Ridgeline has been the only pickup in the U.S. market that used crossover architecture, granting it unrivaled interior space, handling and ride comfort for a midsize pickup. Of course, it also granted it unending guffaws and eye rolls from the majority of the truck-buying population who don't view it as a truck. Besides the lack of traditional body-on-frame architecture (it's built on the same car-like crossover platform of the Honda Pilot), it can only tow 5,000 pounds, has minimal ground clearance and only one cab/bed/powertrain combination. Yes, it looks a bit more macho after last year's styling update, but we doubt many minds have been changed.
At least not yet, because the introduction of the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick could easily lead to a wider acceptance of the crossover pickup concept Honda has been trying to make a thing for two Ridgeline generations. They too have the same advantages of the Ridgeline – and similar demerits – but they're also considerably smaller. So although this pair of compact crossover pickups can be considered alternatives, the Ridgeline remains the only midsize crossover pickup. Guess it's still alone after all.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Features | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What's new for 2022?
After significant updates a year ago, which you can read about in last year's Ridgeline review, there are no changes for 2022 except for the option of Sonic Gray Pearl painted added starting in December.
What are the Ridgeline interior and in-car technology like?
For better and for worse, the Ridgeline interior is copied and pasted from the Honda Pilot from the B-pillars forward. That means it's not an especially attractive space, and certainly not one that screams "tough, fun truck!" Then again, it's not as if the Ford Ranger or Chevy Colorado do that, either. That's the "for worse" bit. For better, the Pilot interior offers exceptional small item storage, and that basically carries over to the Ridgeline unchanged. The roomy covered center bin is especially handy for keeping even sizable items away from prying eyes or from flying around the cabin.
But now, back to the worse bit. The Pilot/Passport/Ridgeline's infotainment system is the interior's weakest attribute. Yes, it gained a volume knob last year, but that's just correcting a misstep. It doesn't change the missteps that remain: a convoluted menu structure, rudimentary navigation system (if so equipped) and lack of physical supporting buttons.
How big is the Ridgeline?
On the outside, the Ridgeline is basically the same length and height as other midsize crew cab pickups. Its wheelbase isn't quite as long, and it has less ground clearance (7.6 inches), but it's notably wider – by a whopping 5.3 inches compared to the Ford Ranger. However, the Ridgeline's unibody "crossover" construction means these similar dimensions on the outside do not translate into similar measurements inside. Simply put, the Ridgeline cabin is far roomier and more comfortable for passengers. You can see this most in terms of rear seat legroom, and all that extra width results in a similar advantage in shoulder room. There's also the matter of interior height: There's more of it in the Ridgeline, meaning the seats can be higher off the ground (especially compared to the Toyota Tacoma), resulting in greater comfort even if headroom is similar.
Unlike most of the other midsize trucks, the Ridgeline does not offer a smaller, "extended cab" body style. There is also only one bed length, 5 feet 4 inches, which is consistent with the short beds that typically come standard with the crew cabs of other midsize pickups (it's also much longer than the cargo areas of midsize SUVs). The Tacoma and Colorado/Canyon crew cabs alternately can be paired with a longer bed; the Ranger cannot.
None of those competitors, however, offers the unique attributes of the Ridgeline's bed. That starts with the clever Dual Action tailgate, which drops down like normal or swings out like a door. The latter is helpful for climbing into the bed or leaning in to get something, and it also provides access to the Ridgeline's other unique feature: a trunk. This water-tight 7.9-cubic-foot space fit three medium-sized pieces of luggage in our luggage test and has a plug in the bottom to let you wash it out or fill it with ice to create a gigantic onboard cooler. Just know that it takes a lot of ice to do it. Finally, the top two trim levels feature the Truck-Bed Audio System, which basically turns the bed into a giant speaker. It's pretty cool.
What are the Ridgeline fuel economy and performance specs?
The Ridgeline sure keeps things simple by offering only one powertrain and drivetrain combination: a 3.5-liter V6 that sends 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque through a nine-speed automatic to a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. You want rear-wheel drive? Too bad, the Ridgeline is based on a front-wheel-drive platform. You want front-wheel drive? No, of course you don't. You aren't alone, Honda discontinued that option last year.
EPA-estimated fuel economy is 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. Considering the crossover architecture, nine-speed automatic and Honda's reputation, you'll probably be surprised to hear that combined estimate is actually 1 mpg worse than a Ford Ranger 4x4 and the same as a Ford F-150 4x4 with the 2.7-liter turbo V6.
What's the Ridgeline like to drive?
The Ridgeline has without a doubt the smoothest ride and best on-road handling of any midsize pickup. It even has a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, which shunts power to each rear wheel to improve handling and traction. Basically, the Ridgeline drives more like a crossover than a body-on-frame truck – because that's exactly what it is. The ride is a little firmer than a Pilot or Passport's, but every Ridgeline is a very civilized pickup to drive.
There are, of course, downsides. Its 7.6 inches of ground clearance isn't even high for a crossover, and although its all-wheel-drive system, off-road driving modes and HPD package upgrades make it surprisingly capable off the beaten path, it also can't touch even the more basic versions of the Ranger and Tacoma. Its towing capacity of 5,000 pounds is also quite weak (the Ranger, Colorado/Canyon, Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator are all over 7,000), but its payload of 1,583 pounds is comparable to all but the best-in-class Ranger.
