2017 Honda Ridgeline Expert Review
Reviewed by Frank Markus
Now that the midsize pickup segment has been revitalized by new entries from GM and Toyota (segment sales jumped by 28 percent in 2015), Honda is eager to ride this wave of interest and hopes to boost its share by rebooting the Ridgeline. Loyalists of the Ridgeline need not worry about the new 2017 model. The tailgate can still be opened like a left-hinged door or dropped like a normal tailgate; there's still a nice, deep weathertight under-floor trunk compartment with drain holes; there's still 4 feet of plywood clearance between the tiny wheelwells (a segment exclusive); and the new bed is made of UV-light-stabilized sheet-molding compound plastic said to be much more rugged than the prior fiberglass design.
As before, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline shares much of its running gear with the Pilot SUV alongside which it will be built in Lincoln, Alabama. Said Pilot was, of course, upgraded and relaunched last year as a 2016 model with a more potent, direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 with variable cylinder management and optional auto-start/stop. The new mill comes mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission and an available variable-torque management (i-VTM4) all-wheel-drive system with rear torque vectoring and intelligent traction management that tailors the system to snow, mud, sand, or pavement. Trailer Stability Assist is also added to AWD models.
