The first-generation Ridgeline went on sale in March 2005 as a 2006model year vehicle.[6]The Car Design Yearbook called it "Honda's first foray into the true heartland of theAmerican automotive way of life—the pickup truck."[7] An engineering team fromHonda R&D Americas, led by Gary Flint, designed the vehicle.[8][9] According to the author ofDriving Honda, the automaker wanted to target buyers who were looking to move to a pickup fromsedans,minivans, andsport utility vehicles (SUV).[8]
The development started in 2001 with adevelopment mule using an extended version of a first-generationAcura MDX with a competitor's pickup bed integrated into the rear structure.[10] After four years of development, a Sport Utility TruckConcept was shown at the 2004North American International Auto Show.[3] Later that same year, Honda unveiled a revised version at theSpecialty Equipment Market Association show and announced the official name of the vehicle, the Ridgeline.[11] The production version of the Ridgeline was unveiled the following year at the 2005 North American International Auto Show.[6]
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.[3]
Production of the first generation Ridgeline ended in early 2015.[12]
After a one-year hiatus in Ridgeline production, the second-generation went on sale in June 2016 as a 2017 model year vehicle.[13] The second-generation Ridgeline took a different approach in design from the first generation Ridgeline by sharing Honda's new "global light truck platform,"[14] used for the third-generationHonda Pilot as well as other large Honda vehicles.[15][16] Honda modified the Pilot platform, including extending thewheelbase and various parts to support hauling, towing, and off-road use.[17][18] Honda reported that 73% of the second-generation Ridgeline's components remain common with the third-generation Pilot.[17] Major changes included a 17% stronger front structure, a 31% sturdier rear,[19] and 50% of thechassis' components changed or were strengthened for the second generation Ridgeline.[18][20] The second generation Ridgeline's new structure gives it an average 78 lb (35 kg) reduction in weight from the first generation pickup.[14][17] TheC-pillar and rearsubframe were strengthened giving the second generation 28% moretorsional rigidity over the first generation Ridgeline.[17][21]
The design of the unibody pickup with a transverse-mounted engine and a crew-cab short-box configuration makes the Ridgeline unique.[3][4][22][23][24] 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."[25] Others in the automotive press had differing views, such as The Driver's Seat TV, who called the Ridgeline "theSwiss Army knife of trucks". They also described the Ridgeline as "the anti-truck" and summarized their view by stating, "The Ridgeline scores high on practicality but very low on image."[26]
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."[27]Car and Driver wrote, "The company [Honda] readily 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."[28] "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..."[29]
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."[30]
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."[31] Despite the first generation Ridgeline's poor sales,[32] according to the author ofDriving Honda, this mid-size pickup was one of the more profitable vehicles for Honda[8] with reported sales in over 20 countries.[33]
The second generation Ridgeline sales appeared to start strong[34] but comparing sales in the US between 2017 and 2018 shows a 12% decline overall.[35] 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."[36]
IIHS's first pickup to earn the Top Safety Pick-Plus award (2017)[38] 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 2019[57]
^abcdeSteve Behm, Principal Underbody Design Engineer, 2017 Honda Ridgeline Body Development Leader, Honda R&D Americas (17 May 2017)."Great Designs in Steel, The 2017 Honda Ridgeline".autosteel.org. Archived fromthe original on 2018-05-28. Retrieved28 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Honda Ridgeline Sales FiguresArchived 2018-01-08 at theWayback Machine, GoodCarBadCar, last accessed February 3, 2019(Note: 2016 sales numbers include a few Gen1 Ridgeline sales—three in the US and eight in Canada—that were taken into account when posting the sales figures for this article. Additionally, February 2012 sales figures on GoodCarBadCar's website are in error,according to Honda's press releaseArchived 2019-06-06 at theWayback Machine, and have been adjusted accordingly.)
