What is a Ridgeline? A Ridgeline is a 4 door midsize pickup truck built in the Lincoln, Alabama assembly plant, and sold in North America by Honda. The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is a versatile and feature packed truck that offers a number of advantages over its competitors, such as the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, and the soon to be released Dodge Dakota.
The Honda Ridgeline has an edge over all its rivals as being a performance wise pickup truck, as it comes standard with a powerful engine that delivers 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This is more than enough power for most drivers, and is superior to the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger, plus all wheel drive (AWD) is standard equipment.
Honda wanted to target buyers who are looking to move up to a pickup truck from sedans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles and still have that poise and control of a car.
Unlike rival trucks that are based on a traditional body-on-frame design, the Ridgeline is built more like a crossover SUV with its unibody construction and independent rear suspension. This gives Ridgeline a distinct advantage in ride, comfort and interior space.
To prove that point, this week Honda sent me a 2024 Ridgeline Trail Sport AWD pickup truck to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this Trail Sport model is: $44,980. The only option on the test truck is the paint color for $455. The manufactures suggested retail price (MSRP), including the $1,395 destination fee, is: $46,830.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the out the door and in your driveway total purchase price came to: $52,684. At $52 Grand and change, the 2024 Honda Ridgeline has everything that you need in a great running and driving pickup truck, and it’s loaded with safety, convenience, and technical items that are all included in the Trail Sport Edition.
This new trim level includes special features and chunky tires that encourage taking the Ridgeline off-road. All trim levels have the 3.5L liter VTEC V6 gas engine with 280 horsepower (HP) and a 9 speed auto transmission, plus all Ridgeline’s have AWD as standard equipment. But only the Trail Sport edition comes exclusively with an under-body skid plate, an off-road suspension, and all-terrain tires to boost its on road and off road performance.
The Ridgeline Trail Sport edition adds some very nice features on top of the standard items: such as, leather trimmed seats, a leather wrapped and heated steering wheel, a power moonroof, an auto dimming rear view mirror, an upgraded audio system with 7 speakers, blind spot alert, a rear cross traffic monitor, traffic alerts, voice recognition, Honda navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, a wireless phone charging pad, SiriusXM satellite radio, a center stack multi function and information display, Bluetooth hand free links, USB audio interfaces, push button start, tri-zone automatic climate control, a drivers 10 way power seat with memory, a 4 way power passenger seat, heated front seats, split fold up rear seats, a tilt and telescopic steering column, a power sliding rear cabin window, front auto up and down power windows, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, HomeLink, and a set of floor mats. These are the options you will use every day to keep you happy.
On a Ridgeline, you will find more safety features, more horsepower, standard AWD, a more spacious interior, a longer and wider truck bed, better fuel efficiency, and more technology. The Ridgeline is the only truck in its class to feature an in-the-bed covered and locking trunk. At 7.3 cubic feet of space, it’s large enough to fit an 82 quart ice chest, and it has a drain plug. Load it up with ice, fill it with your favorite drinks, and when you are done, open the drain, dry it out, and it’s a great place to hide your valuables. Plus Ridgeline has a 2 way opening tailgate, as it can drop down, or swing to the left.
And how long do Honda Ridgelines last? A typical Honda Ridgeline will last around 200,000 to 250,000 miles. These numbers will require careful maintenance, and timely service, if you want to make the most of your driving experience behind the wheel.
So, call, click or visit your local Honda dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the new 2024 Honda Ridgeline AWD Trail Sport pickup truck. And remember that the base price for a new Ridgeline starts at only $39,750. Honda – The Power of Dreams.
Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net
