The Honda Ridgeline is a mid-size

pickup truck A pickup truck or pickup is a Truck_classification#Table_of_US_GVWR_classifications, light or medium duty truck that has an enclosed cabin (truck), cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (th ...

manufactured and marketed by

Honda commonly known as just Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate automotive manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in October 1946 by Soichiro Honda, Honda has bee ...

over two generations in a unibody, crew–cab, short-box configuration with a transverse-mounted engine.

First generation (YK1; 2005)

The first-generation Ridgeline went on sale in March 2005 as a 2006

model year The model year (sometimes abbreviated as MY) is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured. ...

vehicle. ''The Car Design Yearbook'' called it "Honda's first foray into the true heartland of the American automotive way of life—the pickup truck." An engineering team from Honda R&D Americas, led by Gary Flint, designed the vehicle. According to the author of ''Driving Honda'', the automaker wanted to target buyers who were looking to move to a pickup from

sedans A sedan (American English) or saloon (British English) is a passenger car in a three-box configuration with separate compartments for an engine, passengers, and cargo. The first recorded use of ''sedan'' in reference to an automobile body oc ...

, minivans, and sport utility vehicles (SUV). The development started in 2001 with a

development mule A development mule, also known as test mule or simply mule, in the automotive industry is a testbed vehicle equipped with prototype components requiring evaluation. They are often camouflaged to cover their designs. Application Mules are nec ...

using an extended version of a first-generation

Acura MDX The Acura MDX is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by the Japanese automaker Honda under its luxury Acura division since 2000. The alphanumeric moniker stands for "Multi-Dimensional" luxury. It has ranked as the se ...

with a competitor's pickup bed integrated into the rear structure. After four years of development, a Sport Utility Truck

Concept A concept is an abstract idea that serves as a foundation for more concrete principles, thoughts, and beliefs. Concepts play an important role in all aspects of cognition. As such, concepts are studied within such disciplines as linguistics, ...

was shown at the 2004

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. Later that same year, Honda unveiled a revised version at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show and announced the official name of the vehicle, the Ridgeline. The production version of the Ridgeline was unveiled the following year at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. Honda's publications claim that the first generation Ridgeline shared only 7% of its components with other Honda vehicles. Its powertrain resembled the one used in the first-generation Acura MDX but was "extensively calibrated and strengthened" for heavier hauling and towing duties. Production of the first generation Ridgeline ended in early 2015.

Second generation (YK2/3; 2016)

After a one-year hiatus in Ridgeline production, the second-generation went on sale in June 2016 as a 2017 model year vehicle. The second-generation Ridgeline took a different approach in design from the first generation Ridgeline by sharing Honda's new "global light truck platform," used for the third-generation Honda Pilot as well as other large Honda vehicles. Honda modified the Pilot platform, including extending the

wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...

and various parts to support hauling, towing, and off-road use. Honda reported that 73% of the second-generation Ridgeline's components remain common with the third-generation Pilot. Major changes included a 17% stronger front structure, a 31% sturdier rear, and 50% of the

chassis A chassis (, ; plural ''chassis'' from French châssis ) is the load-bearing framework of a manufactured object, which structurally supports the object in its construction and function. An example of a chassis is a vehicle frame, the underpart ...

' components changed or were strengthened for the second generation Ridgeline. The second generation Ridgeline's new structure gives it an average reduction in weight from the first generation pickup. The C-pillar and rear subframe were strengthened giving the second generation 28% more

torsional rigidity Stiffness is the extent to which an object resists deformation in response to an applied force. The complementary concept is flexibility or pliability: the more flexible an object is, the less stiff it is. Calculations The stiffness, k, of a ...

over the first generation Ridgeline.

Marketing

The design of the unibody pickup with a transverse-mounted engine and a crew-cab short-box configuration makes the Ridgeline unique.Honda Ridgeline Pickup Truck Makes Canadian Debut in Montreal
, Auto123.com, dated 13 January 2005, last accessed 8 March 2019 Some in the automotive press that have studied the first generation Ridgeline, such as PickupTrucks.com, consider it "one of those odd vehicles." They wrote, "The Ridgeline can't really do what most people who like trucks need it to do." Others in the automotive press, such as The Driver's Seat TV, had differing views and call the Ridgeline, "the Swiss Army knife of trucks." They also described the Ridgeline "the anti-truck" and summarized their view by stating "the Ridgeline scores high on practicality but very low on image." Compared to the first-generation Ridgeline, Honda's second-generation Ridgeline has the automotive press changing its tune, yet it still has an image problem. Gearheads.org wrote the "2017 Honda Ridgeline still won’t get respect but should" stating, its "downside is going to be looks." ''

Car and Driver ''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine first published in 1955. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased it from its prior owner Hachette Fi ...

'' wrote, "The company ondareadily admits that the problem with the first generation pickup was that the styling was off-putting, but then it went ahead and made the next iteration of the truck just as unconventional as before." "The Ridgeline’s roomy cabin, ample storage, smooth ride, and innovative touches make its rivals seem outdated. ...it not only has cargo space, but also the makings of a great tailgate party..."Medium Done Well: Mid-Size Pickups Ranked-#1 Honda Ridgeline
, Car and Driver, last accessed 15 August 2016 Karl Forster, an SAE trailer towing group member who was vehicle dynamics project leader on Honda's unibody Ridgeline pickup and Pilot SUV described studies of pickup usage and "found out that 84 percent of truck buyers tow 5000 pounds or less."

Production and sales

According to Honda, the Ridgeline was not designed to take sales from the traditional trucks marketed in North America, but was developed to "give the 18% of Honda owners who also own pickups a chance to make their garages a Honda-only parking area." Despite the first generation Ridgeline's poor sales, according to the author of ''Driving Honda'', this mid-size pickup was one of the more profitable vehicles for Honda with reported sales in over 20 countries. The second generation Ridgeline sales appeared to start strong but comparing sales in the US between 2017 and 2018 shows a 12% decline overall. A 2018 Autoline Daily report stated the Ridgeline is the only mid-size truck in North America whose sales are down in a market that "suggests there’s room for more players."

Awards

North American Car of the Year The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year are a set of automotive awards announced at a news conference each January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury consists of no more than 60 automotive journalist ...

for 2006 and 2017.Honda 2017 Digital FactBook
, Hondanews.com, dated 22 May 2017, last accessed 5 January 2019 * Canadian Car of the Year and Best New Pickup for 2006Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, 2006 Canadian Truck of the Year
, Previous Winners (Vehicle Comparisons)/Canadian Car of the Year, last accessed 11 October 2015 * ''MotorTrend'''s 2006 Truck of the Year * ''

s #1 mid-size truck for 2006, and 2017–2019Unique and Highly Capable Honda Ridgeline Named to Car and Driver Magazine List of the 2018 10Best Trucks and SUVs
, Hondanews.com, dated 10 January 2018, last accessed 5 March 2018Honda Ridgeline Named to Car and Driver Magazine List of the 2019 10Best Trucks and SUVs
, Hondanews.com, dated 16 January 2019, last accessed 19 January 2019 * Autobytel's 2006 Truck of the Year2006–2007 Honda Award List
, hondanews.com, dated 29 August 2006, last accessed 6 August 2017 * Sobre Ruedas ''(On Wheels'', a Latin American automotive magazine'')'' 2005 Best Pick-up Truck * Auto123.com's 2017 Pickup of the Year2017 AUTO123.COM AWARDS: MEET THE WINNERS!
, Auto123.com, dated 23 November 2016, last accessed 7 January 2018 * J.D. Power and Associates' Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Award for 2006–2008, 2017,Honda CR-V and Ridgeline J.D. Power & Associates “2017 APEAL Award” Winners; Honda Brand Places Highly in APEAL Study Rankings
, Honda Media Newsroom, dated 23 August 2017, last accessed 26 August 2017 and 2018Honda Accord and Ridgeline Named as J.D. Power & Associates "2018 APEAL Award" Winners with CR-V and Odyssey Also Highly Ranked
, hondanews.com, dated 27 July 2018, last accessed 1 August 2018 * '' Green Car Journals 2017 Green Truck of the YearSan Antonio Auto Show Green Car Awards
, Green Car Journal, dated 15 November 2016, last accessed 28 July 2018 * Consumer Guide Automotive's Best Buy Award for 2017–20192018 Honda Ridgeline Best Buy Review
, Consumer Guide Automotive, last accessed 18 January 20182019 Honda Ridgeline Best Buy Review
, Consumer Guide Automotive, last accessed 8 December 2018 *

Kelley Blue Book Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. (KBB) is an American vehicle valuation and automotive research company. Based in Irvine, California, the company is owned by the Cox Automotive subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. History The company began as the Kelley ...

's Top Ten Best Resale Value Award for 2017–20192017 Best Resale Value Awards: Top Ten Cars
, Kelley Blue Book, last accessed 7 January 20182018 Best Resale Value Awards: Top Ten Cars
, Kelley Blue Book, last accessed 3 February 20182019 Best Resale Value Awards: Top Ten Cars
, Kelley Blue Book, last accessed 23 January 2019 * The Car Connection's Best Pickup to Buy for 20182018 Honda Ridgeline Named as The Car Connection Best Pickup to Buy
, Hondanews.com, dated 20 November 2017, last accessed 5 March 2018 * Women's Choice Awards in the Eco-Friendly and Safety categories for 2018Seven Honda Vehicles Earn Multiple Women’s Choice Awards
, hondanews.com, dated 29 November 2017, last accessed 15 July 2018 * ''

Popular Mechanics ''Popular Mechanics'' (often abbreviated as ''PM'' or ''PopMech'') is a magazine of popular science and technology, featuring automotive, home, outdoor, electronics, science, do it yourself, and technology topics. Military topics, aviation an ...

2006 Automotive Excellence Award for functionality * Society of Plastics Engineers 2006 Grand Award for the composite in–bed trunk35th-Anniversary Innovation Awards Gala, "License To Thrill"
, Automotive Plastics News, dated January 2006 (Volume 35, Issue 2), last accessed 26 November 2016 *

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) is an agency of the U.S. federal government, part of the Department of Transportation, focused on automobile safety regulations. NHTSA is charged with writing and enforcing Feder ...

's first four-door pickup to earn five-star safety rating * IIHS's first pickup to earn the Top Safety Pick-Plus award (2017) and has also earned the Top Safety Pick award for 2009, 2012, and 2013, and is the only pickup to earn the award for 2018 and 2019Top Safety Picks, Large pickup ''(go to "Other years" and select the one you want to view)''
, IIHS.org, last accessed 29 June 2019 * SCORE Baja off-road race winner in the Stock Mini Class in 2008Honda Ridgeline Grabs First-Ever Baja 1000 Win
, PickupTrucks.com, by Mike Levine, dated 22 November 2008, last accessed 20 September 2015 and 2010Honda Ridgeline Wins Again at Baja
, Honda News & Views, dated 23 November 2010, last accessed 20 September 2015 as well as Class 7 in 2015,Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Conquers Baja 1000
, Hondanews.com, dated 22 November 2015, last accessed 27 November 2015 2016,Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Takes Class Victory at Baja 500
, hondanews.com, dated 7 June 2016, last accessed 5 November 2017 2018,
, PickupTrucks.com, by Mark Williams, dated 15 June 2018, last accessed 23 June 2018 and 2019New Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Debuts With Baja 500 Victory
, hondanews.com, dated 2 June 2019 * iSeeCars.com's longest-lasting truck, most likely to reach 200,000 milesThe Longest-Lasting Cars to Reach 200,000 Miles and Beyond
, iSeeCars.com, by Julie Blackley, last accessed 8 March 2019

References

External links

Honda Ridgeline Owners Club (ROC) forum

The Story Behind The Honda Ridgeline's Wildly, Unusually Detailed Wikipedia Page
{{— Honda road light truck/SUV timeline, international markets, 1993–present — Ridgeline Pickup trucks All-wheel-drive vehicles Motor vehicles manufactured in Canada 2010s cars Sport utility trucks Cars introduced in 2005 Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States