I’ve been driving my 2019 Ridgeline for 28,000 miles and 16 months. Very pleased with the vehicle. Comfortable, quiet, drives like a nice sedan not a bubba truck. No rattles, shimmies or shakes like you get in a conventional truck. It’s a great truck for those of us with white collar jobs that need a truck for our hobbies, not our jobs. I towed a 24’ go-fast boat from Baltimore to SC. About 3300 pounds all up weight for boat and trailer. No problems, tracked straight, the Lane keep assist did its job well while towing. I would NOT have bought a conventional truck as I hate the way they drive. Also they are bigger than I needed and are a PITA to park. The Ridgeline checks all the boxes for me. If you don’t need a Big Bubba Truck to reinforce your masculinity, aren’t towing more than 5000# and don’t need to go hardcore off roading to get to your construction job the Ridgeline might be a good choice.

The bed is not covered in a composite material. The bed is a composite material.

I just traded my 2018 Tacoma off-road,that I never used for off-road for a ridgeline. I was so up in the air weather or not I should do it, but I’m glad I did. I was tired of putting up with the unsure feeling on road in corners, the horrible transmission shifting,slipping, and lugging, bump steering, no room in the cabin, etc. All this, I was told is normal by Toyota. Best decision I’ve made in a while, Ridgline offers so much more of what I need a truck for. I was the second owner of the Tacoma with under 14,000km on that pos

Saw your video on the rear door fix and did it on my 2017 model ,also installed a lock on the the tailgate with a after market kit which works with the power lock system. Thanks for your videos.

Your reviews are enjoyable and very informative.

After putting 183,000 miles on my 2017 Ridgeline yes that’s a lot of miles for 2 1/2 years I fix appliances and I drive an average of 150 to 200 miles a day fixing appliances I have had zero issues with my Ridgeline gets great gas mileage comfortable ride it pulls a trailer I’ve carried dirt in the back of it I pulled a bobcat behind it as it does anything that my F150 could’ve done your thing with American trucks don’t do is they don’t give you the luxury ride and all the sensors you have to pay like really extra I mean come on people really a Silverado $75,000 this ridiculous van but as I know American trucks won’t go to 150 thousand miles with zero maintenance on the Ridgeline has gone over 180,000 miles have hadNo issues other than basic maintenance

Very informative review. This is looking like my next ride.

Very nice review, thank you. I disagree with your comments about other trucks looking better. The Ridgeline is much more sophisticated looking than some of the other "bricks with wheels".

Nice review! Now that I'm retired there is no reason for me to have two vehicle. I thinking about trading the Tacoma and the A4 in for a Ridgeline. I can still haul stuff if I need, and the wife still gets a decent quiet ride! I test drove one last summer and it seems very nice. I just wish they would man up the looks a little bit.

Always have had Honda's since my first CIVIC in 76' Currently own two CRV's here on our ranch. IF Honda ever gets around building a real work worthy truck, I'll be first in line!!!

112k miles on my 2017 with 22" wheels on 265"s. Hands down best Daily vehicle i have ever owned. Did the rear door mod which is a must for 17 - 19s and cheap to do.

Excellent comprehensive review. If I ever have to replace my 2008 4Runner, this will be my choice.

Love this truck! I either want this as my next ride or an Acura RDX. I need room to haul larger things.

Just got one. My wife is 4'11" and can get in and out much easier than other trucks we looked at. Also rear seat room is great, i can spilt fold with my kids booster back there.

I had a 2006 for 14 years and it never gave me trouble. Now I have a 2019 and loving it even more. The 280hp really is nice compared to the old 247hp. Well done Honda.

Almost purchased the Honda tailgate key lock kit and handle for my 2017, per your fantastic video on how to do it! But I just finished watching your 2020 review for the Ridgeline and you show off the Honda new electric tailgate lock. Do You have the Honda part#'s, so we can install them instead? Keep up the best reviews and how to's on the internet!

Great video and thank you! I have a 2017 RTLE just like the one you are driving. Except for the wheels, 9 speed and locking tail gate I see no differences. I truly love my RTLE and after 34k miles I still get a trill when I drive it. My dealer has loaned me a Pilot with a 9 sped twice. I like it. Not sure I would pay extra for it. I have noticed the 9 speed keeps the engine at and below 2k RPMs virus 2500 to 3,000 with the 6 speed. other than that with normal driving I can not tell the difference. Oh, the lack of gear shift took me a few minutes to get used to. I found I have a habit of holding the gear shift while I drive and it just wasn't there. Knobs??? that's also a change. But for the driver just use the button on the left of the steering wheel. I tried the volume slider a few times and found just tapping the +/- works better for me. For you guys that just can't live without knobs, check out the Tesla. Knobs are mechanical and are quickly leaving the seen. I love the wide bed as I do carry 4'x8' plywood at times. But that wider bed also carries over to the cab, from and back seats. While in the driver seat, in driving position, raise you right elbow as to get something from the back of the console. You'll notice you didn't poke the wife. :) For power and handling I'd put a RL against a Taco any day. Yes the Tacoma has more ground clearance by 1.5" or so. But who in their right mind is going to take a $40k truck stump jumping. Mud & Snow?? I would put money on the AWD of the RidgeLine. For you guys, and ladies, that plan to haul the family around think about that during heavy rain and slick roads. There is no shifting in or out of All Wheel Drive (AWD), it's there, always.

Nice job with the review.

Nice test drive through Morton arboretum, good call!

That locking rear differential is gonna make offroaders very happy.

Nice review!! I wish Honda put in ventilated seats and wireless charging this year

Im still loving my 1st gen 2007 Ridgeline. 238k miles and no issues. Still shifts like butter. Might consider the 6 speed 2nd gen RL in a few years once they go down in price, or if I find a project.

I own a 2006 with 140K miles. It's still going strong. The Ridge is easily the best day to day runner. It's great for camping, but not so great for towing. It's solid for light off-roading/snow with all-terrain tires. The trunk is an incredible feature as well. I was going to sell it and get something more aggressive looking, but realized there are just too many killer features I'd miss on the Ridge.

Fixed a few key things. Now they need to have a proper strong and accessible tow hook/recovery point on the front end! Bolt through bumper into the frame would do.

Nice work on the review!! It’s the first in-depth review I’ve seen on KZfaq so far. I’ve seen all of your other videos and like the look of your personal Ridgeline with the lift kit and aftermarket wheels and tires. I like that Honda fixed the rear doors to open wider and being able to lock the tailgate with the key fob but hate that they added the 9 speed transmission and push button gear selector. I also don’t like the START/STOP feature either which you mentioned but didn’t go into detail about in your review. What’s your opinion on the START/STOP feature. Did you like/dislike it? Is it a smooth transition when it stops and starts again? Thanks for taking the time to make and share your reviews on the Ridgeline. Keep up the good work!! 👍🏻

I have a 2019 ridgeline and have the 8 inch infotainment system. Nobody mentions that there are volume controls on the steering wheel. That's what I use and I dont miss the volume knob.

I had a 2006 Ridgeline and loved it. Only ever seen the dealer bay for regular maintenance. We traveled 380km, 200km of that pulling our 24ft ultralight RV trailer. Seriously considering a 2020 Ridgeline again. I really miss the trunk and tailgate swing door. Just not sure the new 9 speed transmission would pull the RV. Maybe you could do a review pulling its max load.

Very good review! I thank Jesus so much because I’ll be buying a white one very soon 👍✨💖

Nice review. Thanks. The Ridgeline is not a traditional truck, but in some ways that is a good thing. It looks comfortable and that tough composite material bed is one of the features I like.

Does it have paddle shifters? Now, the biggest annoyance is the plastc infotainment without a volume knob. Another reviewer said it's hard to clean fingerprints off of that plastic screen. Consider volume knobs and glass screens Honda. Wish Honda offered cloth seats on the upper trims. Love this truck though. Waiting to see if the 2021s have volume knobs and turbo-charged engine options (Type R?). Nice review. Enjoyed the reviews of your 2017 Ridgeline too.

Love the ridgeline. Best truck I have ever owned

So I previously commented on this video that I would never buy this truck but I recently purchased a 2021 and I have to say it does everything that I need it to do. Now you’ll probably get a little razzing from your other truck loving friends but I’m OK with that. I’ll have the last laugh when my truck is still on the road at 200,000+ miles. I went from a full-size truck to a Ridgeline and I will say this truck does not sit up very high you do feel like you’re driving a car but that’s not always a bad thing. I miss that feeling of being in a truck which other midsize such as the Ranger,Colorado and Tacoma have that clearance the Ridgeline lacks. But with that said it’s the most comfortable truck like vehicle I’ve ever driven especially if this is your daily driver. The push button shifter is annoying I wish they wouldn’t went with that but it’s not a deal breaker for me. Going from a Nissan titan to the Ridgeline I will say the Ridgeline is in a class of its own. I would not consider it a work truck or a off-road vehicle but for most city guys and gals your handymen/women this is really all you’re going to need PLUS you’re going to get excellent gas mileage,dependability,comfortable ride and a amazing resell value. It’s nice to finally own a truck that you enjoy riding in or if you’re going somewhere folks actually wants to take it because it’s not too uncomfortable, noisy and crowded.

I have a 2017 Black Edition with all the hacks, honda hack infotainment and then some... 75000 miles and going strong

I have push button shifter in my accord and love it. It did take a few months to get use to though.

Good review

I like that they got rid of the old style shifter. It is not needed in this day of drive by wire and the stick is just an obstruction that just gets in the way. Glad they modernized it.

Looks so much better than the first gens. Now it will be more diffcault for me to choose a truck for my next purchase. the Tacoma, Ranger and Colorado are all looking great as well.

I just bought the RTL-E and I am not looking back. I had my heart set on the Tacoma but after driving each one the choice was easy to make. I agree that this vehicle does not look tough but I believe that the features and function of this truck will suit the needs of about 95% of truck owners and the comfort level is unmatched by any other mid size truck.

I want one. That hidden trunk is so good.

Biggest complaint I had with the older Ridgeline I have, 2011, which was fixed was the windshield wipers, could not be lifted off the windshield. Cleaning the snow off the windshield during the winter or just cleaning the complete windshield during the rest of the year. Waiting for my 2022.

Still waiting for Honda to give the Ridgeline a more Truck like aggressive appearance . In the meantime I'll continue to drive my 2008 Ridgeline awhile longer .

I totally agree with you about the transmission. I'm a firm believer that six gears are plenty, and will always be more dependable and efficient in the long run. That said, I've heard that Honda makes the absolute best 10 speed automatic transmission in the entire world, but for some reason they keep using these problematic 9 speed ZF units across the vast majority of their non-CVT lineup. I was told that this is because they already had a contractual agreement with ZF to purchase a ton of these transmissions, and are obligated to keep using them until that contract has been satisfied.

I bought a 2019 RT-L and love it. I tow with it occasionally and the trunk is a great place to stow my hitch and tools. But the new transmission and lack of a real shifter would have been deal breakers for me. The 6 speed is a proven design. Not too sure about the 9 speed.

My new 2020 ridgeline have a whistling noise coming from the passenger front side window or vent when driving on the highway. Took it back to the dealer and they could not find the problem. Test drove another 2020 ridgeline and had the same problem.

Great truck... Fantastic on snow n icy roads with SHAWD.

Man I thought I made a huge mistake when I purchased a GMC canyon instead of a full size but damn this would be a instant regret. I have since traded the Canyon for a full size. Best move ever.

I think Honda really underestimated how much truck buyers care about looking tough. They could sell a ton of these if the front didn't look like a minivan.

Excellent review! Freaking hate my infotainment system on my 2017. Made by Clarion, and its junk. I put an Amazon Alexa in my truck to deal with the crap stereo functionality.

I wish Honda would include cooled seats and power folding side mirrors, (that the Pilot has on the upper trims), on the Ridgeline.

I really like Hondas for their engines and overall quality, however am on the fence on these. The front does look exactly like an suv, which does not need to be. Why not make it look like a truck from the front? They could put to rest the “el camino” argument. Nice review BTW very well done.

I love my 2007 Ridgeline that is turning 200,000 miles. I don't want to change. Did I say i love my Ridgline!

I prefer the traditional shifter and 6 speed in my 2019

Good review. You would have thought with upgraded transmission they would have move parking brake off floor to console like in their other vehicles. I was in a 2020 few days ago and the brake pedal is a safety issue for my size shoe and frame. 6’3” size 14. My foot and leg is almost always touching brake. Had similar issue on our 08 odyssey but there was more open floor to move away but I vowed to never but another vehicle with small area with floor break our 18 civic no floor break and my size has great leg room. Go figure I want an Ridgeline but will see what happens for 2021 model.

I like it

It would work for me. I have a small trailer to haul what I need to haul. I use a truck mostly like a car.

Does it have Auto Start Stop? If so, you either fix it where it doesn't die at every red light or you can keep it.

For all the safety features and tech...I noticed the signal lights are broken, you haven't used them for all the recorded turns you made =)

I have a 2017 and it's awesome. I had a 'real truck' Tacoma... this truck is a way better daily driver, honda engineering, smooth, quiet, roomy interior, lift up rear seats, flat floor, rear trunk, honda sensing tech. I could keep going, there is no other truck that gives you the tech for the price as this truck. That being said I'm not too impressed with the 9-speed ZF transmission, I have that in my Pilot and not really impressed. I prefer my 6-speed in my 2017 Ridgeline.

I watched all your older videos. Last winter I bought a 2019 RTL-E. Love it. I am thinking of upgrading to a 2020 when 0% financing is released. Do you like the 6-speed over the 9-speed? Am I better off keeping my 2019?

Glad to see Honda fixed a couple of the shortcomings on the Ridge. But why go with that gear selector? It's another step backwards I think. Thanks to your videos, I fixed both the rear doors narrow opening and the non-locking tailgate on my 2017. Forget the knobs on that infotainment, they should just replace the system. It's just too slow especially at startup.

Have you heard any news at all regarding 2021 Ridgeline regardless of how minor? Hate to get a 2020 if 2021 is gonna be significantly changed....

I like it, much better than our CR-V....

Honda ridgeline is so nice ♥️🎌🥰

I don't understand why you are emphasizing that the Honda is 'midsize'; the dimensions are almost identical to a Ford F150, which is always described as 'full-size'.

Nice car

リアシートのザメン跳ね上げはウチのFitと同じくなんだな。 座面裏の収納はないんか？

Great review. Still no vented seats for US models? I dont get it.

I used to trash talk the RL and was a fanboy for ford. I don’t really have use for top line off reading accessories or towing capacity so this actually does seem the most practical.

I like it...

Good review. Can you permanently disable the auto start / stop?

oh noes, they got rid of the knob on the stereo! also, the new gauge cluster looks funky. just my opinion.

I vacation in the Smokies and the 2020 ZF9-speed transaxle with paddle shifting is superior to my old 2019 6-speed. In the mountains, proper engine breaking is necessary to prevent burning out the disk brakes. The L and D4 transaxle options on the old 6-speed were vastly inadequate. With the lower gearing on the 9-speed, the complaints about the overheating experienced with the 6-speed have pretty well gone away. The ZF9 shifts nicely through the friction plate clutching on gears 1 - 4, and gears 5 - 8. Many complaints have been filed against the dog plate clutching to/from gears 4 - 5, and 8 - 9. Those two shifts have longer delays associated with an electronic synchronizer, which can produce a shuddering feeling if you aren’t experienced with the proper shift points in the manual sport mode. Overall, the ZF9 has a nice manual transaxle feeling to it that many users haven’t felt in decades. In heavy snow, using sport shifting to manually lock in lower gearing rather than just a L option can prevent overheating the clutch packs in the transaxle. The concept would apply to towing if you wanted to avoid the dog plate clutching into 5th gear. The D/S push button is poorly positioned for those wanting to use this feature. Shift by wire needs to be on the steering wheel or a more accessible console like the CR-V. Also, the initial push on D/S only displays S? I’d much rather know what gear I’m already in, as opposed just a S indicator. Once an up shift/down shift is selected on the paddle, only then does it begin to display the active gear number. Also, selecting the D/S initiates a downshift even if all you want to do is prepare for manual shifting. My biggest complaint is the Ridgeline always being one release year behind the Pilot and Passport. We shouldn’t have to wait an additional year to obtain features already present on two models produced in the same Lincoln, Alabama plant. Likewise, an Elite Edition trim level would be nice as well. The key fob locking trunk is activated by a manual toggle switch in the glovebox; while the key fob locking tailgate is activated from the infotainment. It would be nice if these were consolidated into a singular location within the infotainment. The tailgate still doesn’t unlock by proximity using the key fob, only the doors respond to key fob by proximity. The additional 11% opening on the rear doors is a huge improvement. When the rear seats are upright, I’d like to have a 100% flat surface without the raised channel to improve functionality. Some pet owners remove that channel to better accommodate their pets. USB type C is an industry standard now, so it’s time to remove the legacy slow charging USB ports that operate below 3.1 AMP. Most pickup trucks are lacking in this area as well. The dampened tailgate feature is still oddly missing, which is desperately needed for family friendly safety. Ridgeline has one of the heaviest tailgate in its class, due to additional hardware to accommodate the swing functionality. I don’t feel Ridgeline needs to compete against TRD or Rubicon, but 8.5” should probably be the minimum ground clearance at squat weight. The longer wheelbase as compared to the Pilot or Passport makes a bit more clearance needy. Most off-road suspension packages overly plush and worsen the top heaviness of pickup trucks; very few midsized pickup trucks tow over 4K lbs once raised under SAE benchmarks. Door tags for towing are only for base models before accessory weight. Ridgeline is purposefully functional at 5k lbs towing and anything over 5k lbs probably belongs on a wider axle available on a full sized chassis. The Tonneau cover unfortunately blocks the LED in-bed lamps when raising the trunk lid. Getting items out of the trunk in the dark is inconvenient. Without the Tonneau cover, these LED lamps are adequately positioned. I’d still prefer to have the traditional under-mounted trunk lid lamp. I absolutely hated my 2019 halogen to LED styling mixture, as they failed to visually mix at all. The all LED lighting on the 2020 front is styled so much better. The optional upgrade to a carbon fiber honeycomb grill (Passport appearance) should have been the standard appearance option. A variation of a chrome grill should have been the upgrade option. The glitchy infotainment 2019 & 2020 both desperately need a soft reboot option that doesn’t require power cycling the vehicle as a whole. The “USB device not found” gets annoying after a while, again updating from legacy USB would probably help here. Ridgeline and Gladiator are the only two vehicles in the midsize class offering tri-zone climate control and Ridgeline includes humidity control with theirs as well. I have three kids in the back seat on a regular basis, so this is a must have for a hot/humid Summer vacation in Florida or visiting family in Michigan during the Winter. The humidity control does a great job of reducing window fogging as well. The oversized short-bed (largest in class) holds a 1.5 cubic yard bucket of mulch/compost from a front-loader or Bobcat. I level it off with a garden rake and all the product fits without any spillover. I recommend using a tarp as a liner to avoid jamming the channel for opening the trunk, and Ridgeline has a larger gap between the trunk and tailgate than a normal pickup truck.

I like the tailgate out swing and trunk in the bed! The interior is nice lots of creature comforts but it still looks like a mini van with a truck bed WHY? The competition all look like trucks with a sporty take. So why does honda insist on trying to make a truck look like a car. The other question is how does it sit after a long ride? I owned a Civic once and it sat like the seats were made out of concrete. 30 Minutes in that car and I was ready to get out. My 09 Tacoma TRD Sport 4.0 is a great truck it may not have all of the new tech and some of the features the ridgeline has but it looks like a truck.

My favorite pickup, but the clearance issue is a blocker. I can go farther on dirt roads in a Subaru Outback. In Utah the rocks and ruts on forest service and county roads make the Ridgeline a high risk option. Honda dealers frown on lift kits and underbody protection.

I have a 2020 and I have to agree, I hate the shiftier. It's not organic at all. I would prefer a standard shiftier.

Would you recommend the 2017 -2019 over the 20+ ? You lived with the 6spd. . would you upgrade?

Question, does this 9 speed transmission make the 2020 and up a deal breaker? I have read some terrible reports regarding these new 9 speed transmissions. Even read about a lawsuit against Honda over this ZF transmission. Blows my mind why Honda would put this thing in the Ridgeline with the known issues it has in the Pilot and Odyssey. Let me know what you think! Great review regardless!

The Ridgeline is great. The one negative is that the infotainment screen is seriously outdated.

Will there be a way to retrofit the locking tailgate I told my 2018 ridgeline?

I lOvE tHe rIdgElIne

what is the wining about the v knob it looks so much better without

Have to pass if it has timing belt. Not crazy about pushbutton shifter either.

Hi can you help,just got a 2020, but can't just turn on the top,long DRL's ,do you know how to turn them on? Thanks

I want a RTE-L Ridgeline too! 😄

Looking to get a Ridgeline, but wanting to have my own Head Unit (Infotainment system) that I purchase. Know if anyone has been able to keep the backup camera and in bed audio going on this?

2 quick questions. Has your personal Ridgeline had any reliability issues? Also, do you approve of the functioning of this test Ridgeline’s adaptive cruise control - and is it full stop? (I guess that’s 3 questions!). Thanks - good videos!

I have yet still to see a reviewer’s take on the paddle shifters on the steering column (not the buttons on the console). I am curious to see how they feel and how responsive they are. I am not expecting miracles, it is a Ridgeline after all. I am just interested to see how is the delay from pulling the paddle to gear shift.

can you fold the mirrors automatically?

Ridge line is a nice crossover with a bed. It isn’t really a pickup truck. If you don’t need the capacity of a truck it’s probably a good crossover.

Honda always number one ☝️

I’m pretty sure the ridgeline doesn’t have a locking rear differential lol. I could be wrong, but I’ve never seen that on anything besides trucks/SUV’s with a frame and an actual 4wd transfer case. I’m looking at replacing my 2012 tundra with a ridgeline or a Tacoma. I really only want the Tacoma for the looks and the off road capability tbh. I know the ridgeline drives so much better on road, but I don’t know if I could live with the look :/

I've had many trucks - from a Mazda to an F150 and a Tacoma and now a 2018 Ridgeline RTLE. All had their pluses and minuses but I believe the Ridgeline is better than the others by far. I like the looks and I think the missing volume control is a small issue since the steering wheel controls work perfectly. As for the 5000 pound towing capacity, that's plenty for me (I tow a 3700 pound travel trailer) and if I wanted to tow more than that I'd buy a full size pickup with a tow package. The Mazda had better gas mileage but was gutless. The F150 could tow more but was falling apart at 90,000 miles and the resale value was a joke. The only thing my Tacoma had over the Ridgeline is that it had a transfer case so you could but it in 4 wheel low but I owned it for 11 years and never needed it. One more thing I don't hear anyone talk about is the all wheel drive Intelligent Variable Torque Management system available on the RTLE and Black Edition. I've driven it in snow up to 12" deep and it drove surprisingly well - far better than the 4WD Tacoma would have.

For people who don't really need a truck

I noticed you mentioned that the ridgeline included locking rear differential, how is that activated and is it available only for the 2020 or 2019 and older also have that possibility?

i wish you would compare btw 1st gear of 6 and 9 speeds crawl

If they had an extended cab with a longer bed I'd probably consider the ridgeline. That's my only complaint, but I certainly understand honda's choice to offer only the crew-cab.

How did you get the connections with the dealership so they would lend you the car for this review?

Honda Pilot gets a volume knob but not the RL....

Time to upgrade

You forgot to mention the two highest trim levels get low beam LED headlights.