2009 Honda Ridgeline Review | Buyer Guide
Honda’s Refined Pickup Gets Upgrades
The Ridgeline has been around for a few years now, so the folks at Honda thought it would be a good idea to freshen it up for 2009. To start with, they gave it a mild facelift. The grille now resembles that of the Honda Pilot SUV. The headlights, taillights and bumpers are also new. The interior got some tweaks too. The most visible is the new three-spoke steering wheel. But there is also a new black interior color, and active head restraints for the front seats.
The cabin of the Ridgeline is spacious. Passengers, front and rear have plenty of head- and legroom, and the seats are comfortable. Up front, there are numerous bins and cubbies to hold odds and ends. The instrument panel features three large gauges right in front of the driver. The panel then stretches to the right to incorporate the audio and air conditioning controls. But it’s a long reach for some of the radio buttons. It would be better if this part of the instrument cluster were angled slightly toward the driver.
The pickup bed is only five-feet long, but it is wide enough for a sheet of plywood to lie flat. It is capable of carrying up to 1550 lbs. of home-improvement supplies, or whatever you want. The tailgate opens two ways—it drops down in the conventional manner, and it swings open from the side. If you swing the tailgate open, you can then access a locking 8.5-cu.-ft. bin beneath the cargo floor. This a great place to store tools or other valuables.
Honda powers the Ridgeline with its 3.5-liter V-6. It cranks out 250 horsepower, three more than last year. Teamed with the V-6 is a five-speed automatic. Four-wheel drive is standard. In normal cruising situations, the system drives the front wheels. However, during acceleration, and in low-traction conditions, torque gets transferred to the wheels in back. The Ridgeline is capable of towing a boat or trailer weighing up to 5000 lbs. For 2009, the towing package is standard. However, fuel economy is mediocre in the Ridgeline. The EPA rating is 15-mpg City and 20-mpg Highway. I averaged just 16.2.
On the road, the Ridgeline feels very solid, thanks to its unibody construction. You won’t feel the body shake, or hear rattles in the cabin, while traveling over rough patches. The Ridgeline also delivers a reasonably comfortable ride. This is due in part to its independent rear suspension. Handling is also better than average for a pickup. In fact, the Ridgeline is the most car-like pickup I’ve ever driven. This vehicle is well designed for the do-it-yourselfer, or sportsman.
Pricing starts at $28,670 for the base RT, and ranges up to $35,760 for the RTL with leather and a navigation system.
Snapshot Review
Car-like Ride and Handling
Roomy Interior
Lockable Bin Under Cargo Floor
Short Pickup Bed
