Who has driven the NEW Ridgeline?

Laugh all you want at the Ridgeline for not being a real truck. It has more payload capacity than the Tacoma and better MPG. Probably drives better too.

 

Have not got to drive one yet, but here is what I know. All trims have push button start, the second level trim and up have rear air condition vents. The top three trims have the apple car play/android auto. The top two trims have the bed audio system. The biggest complaint so far is the opening angle of the rear doors. There is a lot of space available in the rear with the seats folded up, but you can´t really use it due to the doors not opening but about halfway. The top 4 trims have power drivers seat and passenger seat. The Sport has manual seat height adjustment, not sure about the two lower trims. Remote engine start is standard on level 2 and up.

 

Ridgelineayload is 1600 lbs
Towing Capacity is 5000 lbs

Tacoma: Payload is 1620 lbs
Towing Capacity is 6800lbs

??

 

Yes.

But change vagina into mangina.

Not sure what a mangina is.

 

Drove new Ridgeline today. Pros, more rear seat leg room. Cons, surprisingly not happy with the ride. It floated down the highway like a Ford crown Victoria. Glad I hated it, the Ridgeline and truck dont belong in the same sentence. Don't consider, it's a joke.

 

...^^^... My 2013 Ridgeline "floated" too because it was more unibody SUV like and less truck like ... with no firm ride.

Where the Ridgeline shines is as a family hauler on rainy and snowy roads at low to high speeds with it's 4WD/AWD.

After mods to my suspension ... the ride was much firmer ... but I got rid of my Ridgeline because it was too big/bulky and had a less firm ride than the Tacoma. Most hard core Tacoma owners will not want a Ridgeline, unless it will be used as a Home Depot and family hauler with good road manners in rain and snow at high speeds.

Good call on the test drive though ...
.

 

I haven't driven it yet. The first generation looks weird but the 2nd Gen doesn't Look that bad. Interior seems nice and roomier than the Tacoma. Hey, it has disc brake and adjustable seats....

 

I just got the call, the ridgeline sport I have been waiting for is in. I will go check it out and drive it today after work. I will follow up here with results. Looking at the headroom and legroom dimensions, ridgeline should be more comfy. I will let you know my thoughts on the ride quality.

 

Drove two of them yesterday (an RTL and a Sport), I liked them a LOT more than I thought I would. I would absolutely already be driving one if I didn't regularly offroad. If you don't do serious offroading honestly the Ridgeline is a better "truck" in every other regard. I used to work for Toyota and although every Tacoma buyer swears they offroad the truth is only like 2-5% ever actually do, the rest are buying for the image or for "plans" to offroad that never come to fruition. Can't tell you how many tacomas I've taken in on trade that never even had 4x4 engaged (which is really bad for the front transfer case btw... gotta keep it lubed).

Anyways I do offroad, regularly, and because of that I'll be sticking with my Tacoma. Way more capable, more aftermarket support, way more options. My Tacoma I KNOW can take a beating, I've jumped it on stock suspension, hit dirt whoops at 80mph, flooded it trying to cross a river, done countless doughnuts and general fucking around, second Tacoma and never once been let down. The ridgeline feels great on-road but I can't imagine it surviving the level of abuse I've put my Tacoma through. Just doesn't "feel" as solid and you can tell by looking at the half axles and suspension components that they're dinky and not meant to be abused.

Now if you DONT offroad the Ridgeline is amazing, best handling and smoothest riding truck I've ever driven.... probably because its NOT a truck. It drives like an Accord Touring with a pickup bed. Its pretty freaking fast definitely more passing power on the freeway than both the old and new Taco. But best of all its QUIET, especially the fully loaded RTL models they must've put more into the sound deadening and NVH stuff because it drives like a Lexus, you completely forget you're in a truck, it drives like a grand touring sedan.

Every easy to maneuver around town too, my girlfriend is a little intimidated by my Tacoma but feels very confident driving the ridgeline.

Again I'll never get one because I regularly go to Anza Borrego and Baja.

 

Don't care for the look and hate the design of interior, but the bed trunk is so freaking cool

 

Here is the report. First off, this may very well be my last post here on TW. I test drove the sport. The cabin is super quiet, extremely comfortable, height adjustable driver seat. The steering was great, I don't know how they do it, but it is really smooth. The truck just glides along the road, in fact, it was so smooth the only way I knew it was a truck was by looking in the mirror and seeing a bed. The power is there, leaving a red light I gunned it, the rpms shot up, the truck launched, and it shifted right through the gears and before I knew it I was up to speed. The rear air condition vents were very well liked by my kids. I was a little disappointed in the opening of the rear doors. It seems like they could have made them open just a couple inches more. I am not a big fan of having the spare tire stored under the bed floor, that could make for a bad experience if you have a load in the bed. Also its a temp spare, not full size.
However, looking at the good points and the comfort, the ease of driving, the seat comfort and adjustment, I think I may be purchasing the Ridgeline instead of the Tacoma. Say what you will, but I don't off-road in trucks, I have atvs for that. The most I will ever tow will be a trailer with my motorcycle or 3 wheeler on it, so this will work just fine. It may not look like a "manly" truck, but I am o.k. with that, I am secure enough in my manhood to go with a comfortable ride vs. big ass grill.

 

Anyone seen a copy of the maintenance booklet yet? Does it specify 7500-mile rear diff fluid changes with Honda synth fluid, like the Pilot?

 

...^^^... One thing you will really like is the 4WD (really AWD with rear locker) driving in heavy rain or snow at much higher speeds than a typical 4WD. It cuts through heavy rain and snow on interstates with all 4 wheels at highway speeds like a big Subaru.

Owning a Ridgeline, I missed the "body on frame - truck like ride" of the Tacoma ... but there are many comforts that I miss from the Ridgeline too. That in bed waterproof trunk and dual action tailgate you will get hooked on real fast. Plus you can hose out the in bed trunk and pull drain plug or use it as a cooler with ice and drain it fast.

You could do very light off roading, but nothing heavy duty like a Tacoma.

You will find the QC of the fit and finish on the Ridgeline excellent too and mine was flawless.

But I will stay with Tacoma for now ... good luck ...
.

 

It states if you drive in Mountainous areas or tow a trailer often 7500.
Honda All Wheel Drive Fluid (DPSF-II).

 

The manual also mentions this

3. Remove the dipstick from the transmission and wipe it with a clean cloth. 4. Insert the dipstick all the way back into the transmission securely, as shown in the image. 5. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It should be between the upper and lower marks in the HOT range.

 

I believe this is what el camino drivers say.


Bye Felicia

 

I was actually paid by a company at the beginning of 2015 to review the new Ridgeline, 3rd gen Tacoma, Canyon, Colorado, Frontier, and F-150. They searched us at the beginning of the review to make sure we had no cameras or phones on us. Otherwise I might have posted the pics on here as an alias. The company was pushing the Ridgeline hard. They even had a loaded version curtained off at the end with an upgraded interior, and wait for it...... speakers in the tail gate that were controllable by a remote. I was underwhelmed by all of the trucks for the most part except for the 3rd gen Taco, and the Canyon. Bottom line. Out of the 100 people that were selected everybody panned the Ridgeline. A couple of people refused to even grade it because it's not really a truck. It's in purgatory with the el camino, ranchero, and brat. I'm honestly surprised they are continuing with this vehicle. Oh and out of the 100 people there I was the only one who popped the hood of the Tacoma. The people conducting the survey were shocked. What's up with that?

 

This sounds like a GOOD vehicle. I myself like Fulltime AWD more than 4x4, no need to stop and engage it to 4-wheel. Thanks for reviewing...

 

It is a good vehicle. It will not fit everyone's lifestyle, but you have to decide that. I definitely would not even consider light off roading in the ridgeline, it is strictly a pavement princess. If you have to put car seats in the back for small children this would be a pain, maybe next year they could figure out how to make the door open a little more, but my kids are both in their teens, so no issue there. I am thinking of purchasing a full size tire and wheel and mount in the bed probably against one side to overcome the spare tire issue, but that will be later. I would have liked to get one with android auto system, but I will not own a vehicle with leather seats, so that is out. As I said before, if this all the truck you can get by with, it certainly is one to go test drive and see for yourself. If you need to have that manly image to feel better about yourself, this is not it. If you off-road this is not the one, if you have small children I highly recommend trying the car seats in it before even looking any further at the truck. If you often have cargo in the bed, consider the location of the spare tire. Other than that, it is worthy of an hour or so of your day to check one out.