I drove the new ‘Swiss Army knife of trucks’ – it’s like an SUV with a bed rather than pickup & has an unexpected extra
AN icy blue pickup was perched on Manhattan streets on a drizzly day. I hopped into the SUV-like vehicle with a full-size bed, fraught with expectations – the car didn’t disappoint.
I drove Honda’s new SportTrail trim on the Ridgeline pickup series. It’s the buffest version of the cozy work tool.
SuppliedHonda’s Ridgeline comes with a new trim for 2024[/caption]
SuppliedThe beefier truck has several new off-roading features[/caption]
SuppliedThe U.S. Sun’s Motors Reporter, Ben Shimkus, drove the Honda Ridgeline TrailSport[/caption]
The Ridgeline is not a standard mid-size pickup.
Most pickups are built body-on-frame, mounting a separate body onto a rigid, ladder-like chassis.
The resulting truck receives a muscular, stiff ride that feels more comfortable on off-road tracks and gravel construction sites than in grocery store parking lots.
Honda capitalized on the growing segment of new vehicle buyers using their pickups as daily drivers. It built a Swiss Army Knife of a vehicle, capable of taking on several terrains.
The Ridgeline operates on underpinnings similar to the Odyssey minivan, giving the truck car-like steering and SUV-like smoothness over potholes.
Traversing the tight streets of New York City was a breeze in the pickup. Guiding the pickup through double-parked cars and rows of tourists on bikes was simple.
The pickup features a torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system that sends more power to exterior wheels while turning.
Drivers can turn the truck on a dime.
But this year, Honda produced a beefier option for drivers hoping to take their trucks further out of their suburban sprawl.
New for 2024 is the TrailSport trim. Previously, the Ridgeline offered the same chasis options on every the truck.
The TrailSport is the “most off-road capable” version of the truck, Honda said. It adds an off-road-tuned suspension, nobby tires, and a steel underbody.
Despite the rugged adds, the truck keeps its daily commuter manners.
The Ridgeline also features a surprising amount of interior versatility and leg room.
Backseat passengers are treated to 36.7 inches of area between the back bench and the front chairs.
An over-six-foot passenger I carted in the vehicle called their time in the backseat “extremely comfortable.”
If drivers don’t have backseat occupants and need more storage, the seat runs can lift and stow on the cabin’s back wall.
Honda said the extra space allows drivers to pack objects as big as a bicycle in the second row.
Honda Ridgeline Review
Ben Shimkus, the Automotive Reporter for The U.S. Sun, drove the Honda Ridgeline for a weekend. Here are his thoughts on the pickup.
Drivers looking for a capable off-road truck with calm pavement vibes don’t need to look much further than the Ridgeline.
The pickup is comfortable on city streets with ample leg room and storage capacity.
Drivers can also expect standard Honda practicality and resale value.
The biggest knock on the truck is its social acceptance in the truck world.
Truck purists are apt not to give the pickup its flowers. I think that’s a shame.
Here are the specs on our Ridgeline TrailSport:
$46,375 MSRP plud destination charge
18 mpg city – 23 mpg highway – 20 mpg overall (though, our truck exceeded these numbers)
280-horsepower V-6
Active safety features including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring
Huge storage and new tech in the infotainment and instrument cluster
New Ridgelines also boasts a trove of new tech in the cabin.
Active safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring, guide safe driving.
This year’s larger infotainment screen has updated maps and faster processing speeds. The truck holds on to its wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Some drivers will love the truck’s versatility – count me in as one of those people.
However, truck-purists have guffawed at the pickup’s family-esque manners.
“I might do a lot of things wrong, but at least I don’t drive a Honda Ridgeline,” one truck enthusiast wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
If drivers ignore social media hate, they can snag a money-saving, comfortable truck.
Including destination charges, Ridgeline TrailSport buyers are looking at shelling out just over $46,000 for the pickup.
The Ridgeline is one of the better-performing vehicles on the market for resale value.
The pickup is expected to depreciate just 29% in five years of ownership, according to Car Edge.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings