We were really excited to pick up the 2019 Honda Ridgeline and see if things had changed at all since the last time we’d driven one. As soon as we got into the truck it got us thinking “Has anything changed?”. Is the Honda Ridgeline the vehicle Honda has forgotten about or have they got it all sorted and are simply continuing to roll it over with some simple changes? This is what we wanted to find out!
The Honda Ridgeline is a truck that we often see in the area where we live. While it may not seem like having a pickup truck would be the right fit for a family living in an urban setting, the Ridgeline just might surprise you and win you over. It is definitely a versatile vehicle.
As a family of 4, we appreciated that the cab was pretty spacious. You can fit up to five people in the Ridgeline. We were able to get both of our car seats in and there was still a decent amount of room in the middle if we needed to fit someone in between. Honda, if you are reading this we would love to still see more leg room for the driver and passenger that would, in turn, give more room for the row behind. In the photos, you can see that our girls could easily touch the back of the seats with their feet. A change in the design of the dash and configuration of what’s behind it could provide more room.
The overall look inside did remind us a bit of the Honda Pilot when it came to the looks of the dash. The difference came with not having buttons to put the vehicle in drive and reverse with the gearshift. This helped keep a more truck-like feel. We would still prefer to see more knobs and less touchscreen when it comes to a truck. It’s our personal preference that it would make the vehicle feel more rugged.
THE IN-BED TRUNK IS STILL THERE!
It was really nice to see that the dual action tailgate was still there. This is a feature that we loved and appreciated in the Ridgeline. It opens as a usual truck tailgate would, or it can open more like a car door. Makes it very handy to reach things that have been stowed away in the in-bed trunk. The in-bed trunk is another feature that is fantastic if you want a truck but also wants to be able to store things in it and keep them locked up without it all being in the cab. If we were to ever get a truck, this feature is a huge selling point for us.
There is also bonus storage space underneath the back seats. Items can be tucked under or if you need to you can also fold them up to provide even more room. Being able to change the configuration this way does help with the transportation of items or if you are packing for a road trip. With the seats folded up, you could fit a bike in the back!
We were really hoping that our local drive-in movie theatre would be playing a family-friendly movie when we had the Ridgeline to test drive. The truck bed has even more unique features that have continued over from when we last test drove this model from Honda. There are speakers that can be utilized and a drain in the in-bed trunk. Perfect for filling with ice and putting drinks and food in. You can step up your tail-gate parties or drive-in movie experience by playing music through the speakers in the truck bed. Our girls loved climbing in the back and dancing to their favourite music.
HAS THE RIDGELINE CHANGED FROM LAST TIME?
We were really looking forward to seeing what changes had happened to the Ridgeline since the last time we test drove one. To be honest, it did not feel like it had changed. It still felt like the same vehicle we drove a couple of years ago. What gives?
It still has a rugged look to it and does present as another option for a family vehicle if you need something with more storage capacity. The gas mileage was what we expected with it being around 11.5 litres/100 km on average between our driving it to and from work and on the highway. Which, makes it comparable to our CRV and other large vehicles we have test driven from Honda.
What exactly has changed though? Well, there’s another USB port in the back which would be convenient if you have teenagers who need to charge things or need to plug something in yourself. Select 2019 models also have a power sliding rear window and moonroof. Our girls loved that the window right behind them could open. A highlight for the girls was when the windows in the truck were down and driving home while the sun was setting. There was just something special about that moment in a truck, our youngest has her hands up trying to catch the breeze.
We were also in the 2019 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition which just looks exceptionally sleek with its trim and unique leather seats, black alloy wheels and red ambient lighting. The Black Edition has a touch of red throughout it, which I really liked!
All around, we were left wondering if Honda is simply going with “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? We do feel like in many ways it was the exact same vehicle. Maybe Honda does need to push themselves and give the Ridgeline an overhaul. We are definitely looking forward to seeing what is to come, but we are also happy with exactly how the Ridgeline is.
