Redesigned Ridgeline

As far as off-roading, I don’t think I’ll ever do any extreme off-roading (in my truck anyway!). Last year we did a little on fire roads out in the Black Hills. I remarked to my fiancee’s brother that the trail was pretty gnarly, and he said, “I don’t know—yesterday we met up with a Crosstrek that had gone out to the end and was on its way back.”

Crosstrek-capable trails...that’s about my speed. Truth.

 

I went with a buddy to test drive an RL Black Edition. I brought my Taco so he can compare. He has a toddler and liked the extra space in the back of the RL. Smooth shifting; two front powered seats. He liked how the rear seat folded up to create space. A bike or two might actually fit in there. Of course the extra space in the bed is cool. We both agreed that it needed a bit more ground clearance and instead of the HPD "accessories" offered in the lower trim, they should have offered an option for a factory lift of some kind. Note: on the lot there was an HPD edition with the bronze-ish wheels and seemingly out of proportion fender flares; it looked liked it was put together by cost-cutting bean counters and not by engineers. The Black Edition stickered for 44K before TTL and the dealer wouldn't budge. He went to a Toyota dealer and was able to negotiate 45K before TTL on a MBM 4WD SR5 Tundra with the TSS package. He went with the Tundra. Below, the RL Black Edition he test drove beside my Taco.

 

Its a Lexus derived engine.

 

AND it has a frame, a traditional transfer case with a locking (read "real 4wd) center differential AND a 4-low range.

It's an actual pickup, vs. being a minivan or crossover utility that happens to have a bed on the back of it.

And not everyone needs more than that, a crossover with a convenient bed, but comparing a Ridgeline to a Tacoma is like comparing flip-flips to a hiking boot: both have their own uses, I just doubt you'd find yourself in a shoe store trying to decide which shoes buy between the two

 

I’ll tell you guys, although people get silly about the Ridgeline, the fact is that it’s good because it’s a HONDA. If Honda made something like the Tacoma then they would dominate the category just like everything else they do. That’s just my dumbass opinion based on my motorcycle/generator/outboard motor/ATV experience.

All I’m sayin’ is... if I wanted one and could afford it, I would have one

 

The new ones look way better than the avalanche-esq ones before. Still wouldn’t trade muh taco for one.

 

so are trucks from the 70's/60s more "REAL" than a Tacoma? since they have bigger axles, a solid axle in the front, etc... what about the people say that Toyota trucks aren't real because they Aren't American like ford/chevy

who writes the guideline on what an actual "real" pickup truck is?

no doubt tacomas are more capable than a ridgeline, but a ridgeline is a truck (has a bed) and can do 90% of what a Tacoma can do (ridgelines are horribly overpriced too tho)

 

"Can do 90% of what a Tacoma can do"......

Yes -maybe ON pavement: get them in the dirt, on a trail, in the rocks, I'm some mud, in a sandwash, -and the all wheel drive minivan DNA of the Ridgeline will become very apparent.

Again, I am NOT knocking the Ridgeline for its INTENDED purpose, but to compare its use to that of the Tacoma is either pure silliness or just ignorance or lack of understanding of the use of vehicles offroad.

 

Yeah, but.. consider the difference between 90 percent of what a Tacoma can do, and 90 percent of what Tacomas actually DO.

 

This Ridgeline can do or meet a certain percentage argument is absolutely freakin ridiculous. A 350 pound woman can meet a certain percentage of your needs too but they dont seem to be in demand either, there is a reason the RL has abysmal sales numbers...

 

The "offroad capability" argument is just as ridiculous, an old jeep cherokee XJ (unibody) on 33's and a 3 inch lift will out offroad pretty much every truck out there is that of a trucks that current trucks?

 

Ridge lines can’t get you as many ig followers which is why most I’m aN eXPo twats don’t like it.

 

The black edition is just cosmetics over the RTL-E. Looks nice. It’s not cheapish, though neither is a loaded Tacoma or Tundra.

I don’t like the cladding on the HPD. Looks cartoonish. The Tacoma OR is MUCH better than that.

The Tundra is due for a redesign in 2022. I don’t want a big truck, but if I did there is a lot of competition. Of course the Tundra gets 17 MPG on the highway, which is a real disincentive in my book.

 

I don’t think that’s a good comparison. It’s more like a heavy duty hiking boot vs a light hiker.

Interestingly, I just bought a pair of the former. Great for climbing over rocks—sole is firm as a rock—but heavy, and after an hour or 2 I’m itching to get my feet into some sneakers.

And yes 90% of my hiking and that of most people can be served by a light hiker.

The flip flop analogy might work with the Miata vs the Tacoma though! ;-)

 

Well I don’t like to admit this in public, but I have never used A-TRAC or locked my rear locker. Nice to know I could if I needed to I guess.

Would be interesting to take a poll of general Tacoma owners (not forum fanatics) to see what percent use these features.

 

What about all the Tacoma's that are just two wheel drive? How do they stack up to a RL?

You hit the main point. What is the INTENDED purpose / use of the vehicle.

 

Sort of on the same lines as claiming a Japanese mini-truck can out perform a Tacoma....... I agree however, for the RL’s intended purpose not much can beat it, that is to say who really needs that purpose filled? I suppose it’s in the same class as the Ranchero, El Camino, or more recently Chevy SSR, all of which didn’t sell tremendous numbers compared to sedans, or “real” trucks.

I should also clarify, I only posted the photo of my mini truck because it’s a Honda, and oddly enough is also unibody, full independent suspension, and “full time AWD” much like the RL. However there is a cult following for mini trucks, while then people spit on the RL 24/7. In my opinion the RL is the Nickelback of the vehicle world, people hate it because they were told to, not because they have evidence that they should.

 

Remember when every real truck could carry a stack of plywood flat? Now only 10% of trucks can do that while 100% of minivans can.

 

There was other car based "trucks" too, VW Rabbit, Dodge Rampage, Ford Durango, and so on. All of these Ute vehicles fill a niche segment but don't think low sales equals hate. The Ridgeline is ugly AF but people buy ugly vehicles, it's the expensive price tag on it that makes people choose other trucks instead.

 

I knew there was more of them, only listed a few as it still got the point across. Regardless if it is the RL, Accord, Pilot or any other, you simply pay more for Honda’s, whether they are worth it or not varies depending on who you ask.