autoevolution
 

HONDA Ridgeline Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 4
First production year: 2005
Engines: , Gasoline
Body style: Truck
HONDA Ridgeline photo gallery

Looking for mechanical updates? Well, don’t, because the 2021 Ridgeline doesn’t have any.

It seems that the 2021 Ridgeline went on steroids to achieve the new makeover, probably because Honda observed that Americans are more attracted to big pick-ups, like Dodge’s.

The new Ridgeline was mostly focused on style, bringing a new hood, a new dual exhaust, new fenders and a completely new face. The front bumper cover was redesigned with added functional slick air curtains,

The grille was the most considerable change the Ridgeline saw, increasing in size and becoming bolder. Honda also introduced the Honda performance development appearance package (so called HPD) that came with a unique grille, black fender flares and bronze alloy wheels.

Overall, the Honda’s only pick-up got a tougher truck-like design.

Inside the new Ridgeline we could notice the upgraded infotainment system, with updated new graphics, quicker reactions and also a physical knob.

The materials used were the same good quality as on the previous 2020 model, however, the new one came with new contrast-color stitching standard on all trim levels.

The users could choose between the standard front wheel drive and the iVTM four-wheel-drive system, the 280 hp being sent to the wheels through the standard 9-speed automatic transmission.

The 280 hp were developed by the standard 3.5-liter direct-injected VTEC V6 engine.

full description and technical specifications
HONDA Ridgeline photo gallery

The light pickup-truck from Honda received a new generation in 2016, after two years of absence on the market. It returned with the same idea of offering a leisure truck instead of a workhorse.

The Ridgeline was the first one-ton pickup-truck built by Honda and it was built using a combination of unibody bodywork. Its concept was good to decrease the vehicle's mass, but with the cost of utility capabilities. But for Honda, that wasn't considered a problem since it didn't build the Ridgeline to be driven daily on a farm or construction site.

The design was in the line of the Pilot SUV model. Its look was complemented by a very versatile loading. The bed could have been open by lowering or opening on one side of the tailgate. Under the rear part of the floor, there was a big trunk. It also featured a Truck Bed Audio System, connected to the infotainment unit.

Inside, the dashboard was nearly identical to the one in the Honda Pilot, with a standard 4.2” infotainment unit that could have been upgraded to an 8” unit. Due to the "Magic Seats" system, under the rear bench, there was a storage space where additional luggage could have been stored.

The Ridgeline was offered with front-wheel-drive as standard and an option for all-wheel-drive. Due to its light construction, it was able to carry 718.5 kg (1584 lbs) and tow up to 2268 kg (5000 lbs). The 3.5-liter engine was mated as standard to the 6-speed automatic transmission.

full description and technical specifications
HONDA Ridgeline photo gallery

The 2009 Honda Ridgeline was a mild facelift for the first generation of the Japanese pickup-truck that was launched in 2005 as a 2006 model. After the facelift, it was better equipped.

In 2005, on the American market, a pickup-truck meant a V8 under the hood, a body-on-frame construction, and a solid rear axle. It was a true workhorse and the small versions built for daily driving was still a workhorse, but with a lower payload. Honda changed that when it showed the Ridgeline, which was built on a unibody, car-like, construction, with independent rear suspension and a V6 under the hood.

For the 2009 facelift, there were some minor exterior changes to the grille. For the base trim level, named RT, it received standard 17” light-alloy wheels instead of steel as before. The top of the line RTL received standard 18” light-alloy wheels.

Standard features on the Ridgeline RT include an integrated trailer hitch, a power-sliding rear window, remote keyless entry, a trip computer, and a six-speaker CD stereo with MP3 playback capability. The top-of-the-line RTL received a moonroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a 115-volt power outlet, and satellite radio.

The drivetrain remained basically unchanged, apart from a slight increase in power. The 2009 Ridgeline received 3 extra horsepower, so there were no differences in performance data.

full description and technical specifications
HONDA Ridgeline photo gallery

Honda dared to throw a punch to the pickup market when it introduced the Ridgeline in 2005, as the first vehicle of its kind that didn't rely on a chassis.

Most pickup customers were concerned about two key factors: loading and pulling. Honda knew that it couldn't pull as a full-size V-8 pickup. It couldn't pull even as hard as a V-8 powered F-150, but it could do better than most other mid-size vehicles with V-6 powerplants.

Honda didn't want the Ridgeline to look like any other pickup on the market. That's why it created a different look for it. The rectangular grille sported a bigger logo than on other Hondas. Despite its enlarged wheel-arches and angular shapes, it looked like a leisure vehicle rather than a workhorse. Moreover, it didn't have a gap between the bed and the cabin. It worth mentioning the tailgate, which the owner could have opened either sideways or lowered as on any other pickup.

Inside, the carmaker installed an SUV-like interior. The front passengers could have crossed the car from left to right, thanks to the flat floor. On the instrument panel, Honda installed the same dials and gauges as in any other regular vehicle: a center-mounted speedometer flanked by the tachometer on the left and the fuel and temperature gauges on the right. In the back, there was room enough for three adults. Another advantage of Ridgeline's unit-body construction was the trunk located under the bed's rear side.

Under the hood, Honda installed only one engine option: a 3.5-liter V-6 carried over from the Honda Pilot. It was paired with a five-speed automatic. The base model featured a front-wheel-drive only, while the all-wheel-drive system was available.

full description and technical specifications