My Ridgeline RTS has 225k miles on it. I bought it in March 2005, when they first became available. I swore then that I would drive it until the wheels came off. I still have quite a way to go before that happens. It has been the most trouble-free vehicle I have ever owned.
Mine has similar miles on it but has rusted in some critical areas so i had to have it repaired by welding in More material or risk body ripping apart. Of you get one folks make sure you take it to a rust proofer for a complete saturation inside and out. Im in the salt belt but i wash my vehicle every week during the winter. Trouble free otherwise.
@@godofrock washing vehicles with saltwater is the worst thing ever. Car washes recycle water meaning you are rinsing of with saltwater. I don’t wash my vehicles at all in the winter time and they are clean from rust, I live in the rust belt
Mine is my second personal Honda with the first being the 2004 Si (EP3) yep, shifter sticks out of the dash. I seem to gravitate to "quirky" Honda vehicles.
Another fun fact is that The Honda Ridgeline is the most American of all gas trucks. More parts, manufacturing, and assembly for the Ridgeline happens in the US than any other gas truck from any manufacturer. So if you want an American truck, buy this Honda.
I know people bag on these, but you've done more offroading in this car than most buyers of highly capable off road vehicles will do in their lifetime.
@@RN-fx3zl Um, yeah I would not take the Ridgeline rock crawling. As great a product as it is, this "truck" isn't designed to climb boulders. Light off roading at best. But anything you do on pavement, should be all the truck you actually need.
@@RN-fx3zl It would make sense braking a control arm on a non 4x4 vehicle, but how often does a control arm break unless it's been pushed to its limits. After all, it's basically a Pilot/odyssey/passport.
My 2006 Ridgeline was the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. I put 285k miles on it and I'm sure it would have easily gone another 200k. my time owning the vehicle, other than timing belts, tires, brakes, and oil changes I had no others repairs needed. Zero. Unreal 😮 All you need to do is look for a used one and you'll be amazed at how many of them are for sale with over 200k miles When I no longer need a minivan for my kids I'll be going back to a Ridgeline for sure. It might not be seen at a "real truck" but I can guarantee you that most other real trucks can't even touch the reliability of a Ridgeline.
Same here. Owned a first-year 06 model for about 5 years from 175,000 up to about 225,000 miles. Only non-wear maintenance/repair I did was a new power steering pump! The thing ran basically like new throughout my ownership.
I just follow the maintenance indicator and voila 7 years later the truck is like brand new. I am over hill and dale doing my beekeeping and not one complaint. Canada
Last week my '14 Accord turned 222,222 miles. Only unscheduled repairs was a sun visor. Uses a quart of oil about every 5 to 10 thousand miles, I should ad it has the rare 6 speed manual! :). Also it has the 2.4 litre.
I bought my '02 RSX Type-S with 150K on it, and put another 150K on it. Oil consumption was a bit high at 300K (1qt/1000mi), but I'd still be driving it if someone on their cellphone hadn't center-punched my passenger side in an intersection. First car I ever owned with VTEC. I'm a road racing fan and when it 'kicked in', I thought, "Holy crap. They made this for Senna!!" It was actually kind of 'spiritual'! 😆 Love the sound of that V6 in the RIdgeline. If I wasn't retired, I'd be shopping TLXs.
I bought a 2023 and I absolutely love this truck! For the average Joe Schmoe homeowner, it’s perfect for hauling mulch and lumber. And it rides like an SUV.
Yeah really at the rate most of these manufacturers are going they're going to be using Harbor Freight Predator motors with quadruple monster turbos turn to shoot for 500 horsepower😅
Wow!!! First time viewer to this channel!! I love the super nerdy technical details you added, referencing the ACTUAL technical specs not just speculating! Great review!!!!
My new Trailsport is 10 days old now. Still getting used to it as I'm coming from sportier cars. The day we bought it, my wife said "I have the new car smell in my mouth, I can chew it, and I love it."
Hi Sarah. I am so happy that you are still reviewing The Honda Ridgeline. I loved the one where you were amazed by it making it up the hill. I have owned three Ridgelines and I just recently purchased a 2024 Black Edition Honda Ridgeline. Also I still love my 2012 Honda Ridgeline and it now has 308,000 miles on it and I have zero doubts about it making it to 400,000. Heck I am thinking it will go a million miles. It's in great shape and it burns zero oil. Anyway there's no doubt Honda Ridgeline is one awesome Truck
The Ridgeline starts in second gear unless you switch to sequential/sport mode. The delay may be going down to first gear when you mash the throttle on takeoff in normal mode. I own a 2024 TrailSport in gray.
This is the first video from this channel that I've watched before, as I was googling reviews on the Ridgeline Trailsport. I had no idea I could enjoy a quirky, yet detailed mechanical and performance review with just enough autism spectrum to make things believable numbers wise. Yet I did. Thanks for a helpful look at a vehicle I'll probably end up buying now!
9 หลายเดือนก่อน +9
Another awesome review. Love the lifted “on the lift” illustration, Honda please take note. Thank you Sarah.
I love this thing. Its a truck for a suburb dad whos going to take it off-roading maybe once. 100% it'll be for going to the office, grocery store and the occasional home depot trip.
Aside from these rich & informative contents, I like that red point. Especially when you are disappointed on some parts, and slapped them. That's really amusing, thank you!
It's almost there for off road use. Like you said, it needs a lift. There is a 3 1/2" available. And also more extensive skidplates. Happy belated Birthday. You look great for 29 at 39.
I watch a lot of car TH-cam channels, but Sarah is one of the only experts. I would be much more interested in her review of older cars. For instance, I'm shopping for an RD1 CR-V. It has a great reputation, and I'm sure Sarah could explain why.
Since 2016, competitors have clearly not been asleep and have been developing, but even today, in terms of its capabilities and appearance, the current Ridge looks quite decent and relevant. Excellent results for off-road monocoque and, to a greater extent, road use. Well, practicality is at its best
I am sure the two black square box that next to the dash is low and high dimmer switch for the dash I have 2023 RTL it does excellent on snow, sand and dirt. Just change to the aggressive tires. 19:32
Bought a 2023 Ridgeline RTL. Best vehicle in a pickup truck class that I have ever owned. I owned a 2.7L Tacoma (2003) and an extended V6 Tundra. Both were very reliable. Neither compares to the Ridgeline, so I have to agree with Sarah and offer my thumbs up for this vehicle. Hope to keep it for many years!
just traded my 2020 for a 25 trail sport just to go a bit different from the RTL...beefier tires, heated wheel, trim on seats were nice upgrades...I did see a 1.5 inch lift kit which was minimally invasive compared to a 4.5 inch lift which would require newer tires to make it look natural but required cutting inner fender plastic....i am totally happy with the Ridgeline no matter what the year
I’ve got a ‘22. Pretty spot on review. I’m almost ashamed to admit it’s the fastest car I’ve ever owned. The terrain modes are pretty great for varying weather conditions. It’s not just traction control, it controls throttle response as well. Those tires look like a big upgrade over the lower model OEM Firestones. Maybe I’ll spring for Coopers at the end of the summer. My only real gripe is the time the shift-by-wire, it takes forever to shift from reverse to drive. It seems silly the Trailsport doesn’t come with the bed power inverter.
Excellent review, as usual. Not a fan of the push button shifter and completely agree that the truck should have been lifted another 2-3 inches. So glad Honda stuck with the naturally aspirated six.
I just bought one of these and I really like it. There are a few things I don't like, for example: It rev limits you in reverse. The auto dimming on the rear view mirror could be darker. The transmission can be a bit clunky and undecisive when it's cold. The windshield washer fluid resevoir is small and doesn't tell you when it's almost empty. You have to turn off the auto start/stop every time you start the vehicle. The auto on/off high beams are a joke, but you can disable them. No front camera sucks. Ground clearance could be better, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things. But I still find all that manageable because everything else about the truck just works. The 3.5L vtec is spunky and a pleasure to drive. You never feel it change it's cylinder mode, it's very smooth. The ride quality is superb, and the rear trunk is surprisingly useful. I find the handling to be very sporty compared to other trucks I've owned or driven. Also, just a tip that I learned from another commentor on here. The truck seems to always start out in 2nd gear. So if you want to do some slow trail crawling, put it in sequential mode (S) and tap the downshift paddle and 1st gear is much much better for crawling. You'll see these trucks get about an 80 out of 100 rating on most sites. I would say that's right on par for this truck. A solid B+ vehicle that will probably treat you well if you take care of it.
I own a 21 sport model & after seeing this I don't feel I missed out on the trailsport. It has some nicer features, but anyone can swap out a set of tires.
I have a 2021 Sport with the HPD package, which is basically just bigger fender flares, and bronze wheels and some decals. I’m at 40 miles now, and no complaints. I’ll probably buy another one when it’s time to do so.
I'm quite pleased with my 2024 Black Edition, but it's not perfect. I disabled the VCM immediately, but the transmission's lag is still rather annoying, and there have been quite a few transmission failures reported on the Ridgerline forums.I intend to do frequent fluid changes to hopefully prevent any issues. With an MSRP of $48k, this thing better last the rest of my life!
Luckily from what I've read its a fairly easy transmission to rebuild (actually looks kinda fun to tear apart). I would definitely say fluid changes with high quality fluid is a must, I also would be curious if temps are an issue on those, an upgraded transmission cooler would be an easy thing to do.
I just traded my 22 RTL for a 2025 Trailsport. The improvements they've made in this truck in three years - well, they fixed what I hated, improved on what was already acceptable and kept what I like. I love seeing that hill test. I'll be in Colorado in 3 weeks with it... :) Additionally, I keep hearing all of this griping about the road clearance, but I can find several videos of the Ridgeline climbing well (two of them are yours) but I'm struggling to find any where it hasn't been able to or the current ground clearance being an impedance.
15:14 that’s for the models that don’t have the fancy touchscreen infotainment system. It’s where the instrument cluster brightness / dimmed physical control is located.
My 2017 with around 110k miles has been trouble free since day one. So far only normal maintenance. TBH this is all the truck I need for a daily driver, trips to Costco. Easily packs all the gear and dogs for our 300+ mile trip to our cottage. Not looking to upgrade anytime soon. Two of my kids visit bought Ridgeline’s.
A full on texas rancher brought Ridgeline in for service in california 2021 had 300k miles mud and hay stuck on it was fine just had a flat tire but no service history issues
THOSE ARE BULLET PROOF ENGINES, I HAD THE SAME 3.5 LITRE IN MY 2002 ODYSSEY, EXCELLENT ENGINE, OURS HAD 240 H.P WHICH WAS PLENTY ENOUGH TO CLIMB ANY HILL.
I have driven large and small trucks. My Honda Ridgeline runs great even if it is old. I’ll be buying a newer one soon with exactly the features I want on it and drive it until the wheels fall off.
Do I think the Trailsport is an serious offroad vehicle, no. But I do think it is reliable and can still go offroading but I dont think you will be rock climbing anytime soon. It was never ment to be a rock climber tho. 90 percent of silverado owners go to the beach or take a few trails or even haul a boat, dirt bikes, and fishing gear. This truck can do all of that while costing less. I couldnt justify a silverado unless I was hauling a horse trailer so I got a 2024 trailsport and I love it. Its the perfect daily truck that 90 percent of americans need.
With only 7 in of ground clearance you're going to "Safely" do absolutely No "off roading"/nasty dirt roads. It is An inexcusably low truck with no skid plates and no front camera, particularly when it's labeled as their Trail model... pretty Sad
Obviously besides the "off road" specific features and some slight aesthetics, are their any other reasons to choose this over the RTL trim if it's primarily going to be a daily driver?
So why do I get so tickled whenever Sarah gives a test vehicle "the beans" followed by a shot of the tailpipe with the superimposed lightning bolts. Giggle.....
I have this exact engine and transmission in my 2016 TLX and it's incredible! The transmission in particular is a blast, incredibly smooth and aggressive when you want.
I do have to say you did an awesome test to this trucks capability. This vehicle was not designed to handle heavy off roading. But let’s be honest MOST people don’t buy a truck for that anyway. Amazing video, I am picking up my brand 2025 today. Previously owned a 2006 RT, I know for a fact I’m going to be super happy with 2025 trailsport. Amazing styling in my opinion.
@ yeah I’ve seen them. But I do not have the time to install something like that. And honestly I don’t like other people working on my vehicles. It’s a trust thing
The brake travel is low however it changes in an emergency situation and become higher and more aggressive. Front sensor detects objects in front and it changes and actually really strong bite on the brakes.
The button that was blanked off on your test model dims my instrument cluster on my 2019 Honda passport touring.. Two buttons there horizontal to increase or decrease instrument panel lighting brightness..
Glad you mentioned "utes" because I've honestly thought that way from the first gen Ridgeline. If it had been marketed as a ute from the start, I kinda think Honda would have sold far far more of them because the hate from the "real" truck crowd wouldn't have been as strong.
Our Odyssey doesn’t have hood struts either. But there’s a couple holes to stick the prop rod. One is nearly with the hood straight up. Lots of room to work.
A Ridgeline is a little bit larger than an extended cab Ranger and gets way shittier gas mileage. Without a diesel option it wouldn't fare in the EU market.
I had one of these and loved it but Honda does need to give it 9 inches of ground clearance. BTW, I filled my bed compartment with beer and ice when some Army buddies of mine returned from Iraq...lol
Simply a great vehicle , love how agressive thev engine is and the way the ridgline drives . It really is on the top of its class. You can't really compare it to a Ford Maverick or anything else Ford might make to compete. Lol . FORD is notorious for building junk . Hondas are more expensive, because they are more reliable and will last many more miles ! Great review 🙂
I had a 2006 Gen 1 Honda Ridgeline that I bought new and I liked it. I bought a travel trailer that was too long for it. I traded it for a 2011 F-150 in 2011.
15:18 Lol on the MDX they have a little reflective mirror wrap when that pops down so you can see what your kiddos are doing. Very smart Honda. This one has the mirror delete lol
15:17 I have a 2023, that area is a button to adjust the backlit brightness of the infotainment/ instrument cluster if I’m remembering correctly. Also the small storage area in the bed is a 400watt plug, guess they “improved” out the feature😑
As a Honda owner, yeah...no. I can tell my car isn't long for this world with how poorly build and trouble prone it is. And it's only a 2018. Currently suffering water leaks all over. Had a oil leak and engine mount disintegration as well. Quality of the materials is beginning to fall apart. All under 100k miles too.
My Ridgeline RTS has 225k miles on it. I bought it in March 2005, when they first became available. I swore then that I would drive it until the wheels came off. I still have quite a way to go before that happens. It has been the most trouble-free vehicle I have ever owned.
You would not get same mileage with direct injection Honda ridgeline. Carbon build up will destroy this engine before you know it and fuel dilution
Maybe just maintain it @@repairvehicle
@@tyhyhh how do you maintain a design flaw ? Look it up Honda carbon build up. Fuel dilution
Mine has similar miles on it but has rusted in some critical areas so i had to have it repaired by welding in More material or risk body ripping apart. Of you get one folks make sure you take it to a rust proofer for a complete saturation inside and out. Im in the salt belt but i wash my vehicle every week during the winter. Trouble free otherwise.
@@godofrock washing vehicles with saltwater is the worst thing ever. Car washes recycle water meaning you are rinsing of with saltwater. I don’t wash my vehicles at all in the winter time and they are clean from rust, I live in the rust belt
I love how Honda lives in their own little world and DGAF about what anyone thinks.
Mine is my second personal Honda with the first being the 2004 Si (EP3) yep, shifter sticks out of the dash. I seem to gravitate to "quirky" Honda vehicles.
Toyota is kinda doing their own thing too...
Agreed. They build what they know most truck owners need. Smart company.
Had three of them so far👍
Well if they updated the J35 (it's a great motor, but OLD) and gave it more ground clearance, it would be GOLD.
Another fun fact is that The Honda Ridgeline is the most American of all gas trucks. More parts, manufacturing, and assembly for the Ridgeline happens in the US than any other gas truck from any manufacturer. So if you want an American truck, buy this Honda.
I know people bag on these, but you've done more offroading in this car than most buyers of highly capable off road vehicles will do in their lifetime.
I took mine off-road on a jeep trail and the control arms broke. It’s reliable it’s just not very durable.
@@RN-fx3zl How many control arms did you break?? Seems more than one would be a challenge.
@@GlennC789 the whole front end went it was bouncing around like a low rider
@@RN-fx3zl Um, yeah I would not take the Ridgeline rock crawling. As great a product as it is, this "truck" isn't designed to climb boulders. Light off roading at best. But anything you do on pavement, should be all the truck you actually need.
@@RN-fx3zl It would make sense braking a control arm on a non 4x4 vehicle, but how often does a control arm break unless it's been pushed to its limits. After all, it's basically a Pilot/odyssey/passport.
Now Sarahs even colour co-ordinating her foam finger. When details count you can rely on her👍
Needs color coordinated glasses. Name tag and ID tag on loop to complete look
@@gerry-p9x The red finger pointer should be held back for performance cars. It locked out of place, somehow
My 2008 RTL has 430000 miles on it and still going strong…
Awesome truck
👍👍
Angel-foodcake giggling in the background when Sarah launches the foam finger is hilarious 🤣😂
The legendary meat ball score
Most car gals kinda do mirror a 👦 but it's what ever right.
My 2006 Ridgeline was the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. I put 285k miles on it and I'm sure it would have easily gone another 200k. my time owning the vehicle, other than timing belts, tires, brakes, and oil changes I had no others repairs needed. Zero. Unreal 😮
All you need to do is look for a used one and you'll be amazed at how many of them are for sale with over 200k miles
When I no longer need a minivan for my kids I'll be going back to a Ridgeline for sure. It might not be seen at a "real truck" but I can guarantee you that most other real trucks can't even touch the reliability of a Ridgeline.
Same here. Owned a first-year 06 model for about 5 years from 175,000 up to about 225,000 miles. Only non-wear maintenance/repair I did was a new power steering pump! The thing ran basically like new throughout my ownership.
I just follow the maintenance indicator and voila 7 years later the truck is like brand new.
I am over hill and dale doing my beekeeping and not one complaint. Canada
Last week my '14 Accord turned 222,222 miles. Only unscheduled repairs was a sun visor. Uses a quart of oil about every 5 to 10 thousand miles, I should ad it has the rare 6 speed manual! :). Also it has the 2.4 litre.
I bought my '02 RSX Type-S with 150K on it, and put another 150K on it. Oil consumption was a bit high at 300K (1qt/1000mi), but I'd still be driving it if someone on their cellphone hadn't center-punched my passenger side in an intersection. First car I ever owned with VTEC. I'm a road racing fan and when it 'kicked in', I thought, "Holy crap. They made this for Senna!!" It was actually kind of 'spiritual'! 😆 Love the sound of that V6 in the RIdgeline. If I wasn't retired, I'd be shopping TLXs.
I bought a 2023 and I absolutely love this truck! For the average Joe Schmoe homeowner, it’s perfect for hauling mulch and lumber. And it rides like an SUV.
There are cheaper ways to bring home mulch, this is not necessary to do that.
@@zfunk9 Says Who? Bagged mulch.. with out stinking up SUV or Car
@@zfunk9 Well, sure...if you're really cheap, you could put it in a wheelbarrow and push it home.
@@jamesw1659 not cheap. That’s why we buy an over priced Ridgeline 💩🙌🏻
Sarah, when putting these trucks through the ringer sounds like a football coach! That's a great thing! Make em work!
Glad to still see the V6 still going strong!
Yeah really at the rate most of these manufacturers are going they're going to be using Harbor Freight Predator motors with quadruple monster turbos turn to shoot for 500 horsepower😅
their 4 cylinder probly cant output enough for truck uses
@@bradhaines3142 No inline 4 can. Which's why other manufacturers are turbo charging their 4s!
If only they made a rwd car with that engine and a six speed.
@@GregZentTrumpetMan that could be in an acura model
I think that little rectangle on the dash is where the dimmer is on my 2019.
I’ve owned two Ridgelines a 2010 and my current 2019, love these trucks.
Wow!!! First time viewer to this channel!! I love the super nerdy technical details you added, referencing the ACTUAL technical specs not just speculating! Great review!!!!
I always stop what I’m doing to watch Sarah’s videos. I have learned a lot.
Absolutely the single best review of a Ridgeline that I’ve ever seen! Well done.
My new Trailsport is 10 days old now. Still getting used to it as I'm coming from sportier cars. The day we bought it, my wife said "I have the new car smell in my mouth, I can chew it, and I love it."
Thanks for the non review
@@sammyjammy6647 demand to speak to the manager
15:15 - For my 2020 ridgeline; it's the brightness setting switch for the dash. Nice review!
Great quality and thorough review. Thank you!
I think if more people were honest with themselves when buying a truck, Honda would sell a lot more of these.
Hondas are great but I won’t buy a Fwd drive based truck
My last 2 trucks were Rams and before that 2 Fords. I own a Ridgeline today and its my favorite truck.
If more people were more honest with themselves, pickup truck sales would drop tenfold, and people would be buying Versas and Corollas.
@@waterloo123100 because? If it works... as it does for 90% of truck drivers.
not at that price
Hi Sarah. I am so happy that you are still reviewing The Honda Ridgeline. I loved the one where you were amazed by it making it up the hill. I have owned three Ridgelines and I just recently purchased a 2024 Black Edition Honda Ridgeline. Also I still love my 2012 Honda Ridgeline and it now has 308,000 miles on it and I have zero doubts about it making it to 400,000. Heck I am thinking it will go a million miles. It's in great shape and it burns zero oil.
Anyway there's no doubt Honda Ridgeline is one awesome Truck
The Ridgeline starts in second gear unless you switch to sequential/sport mode. The delay may be going down to first gear when you mash the throttle on takeoff in normal mode. I own a 2024 TrailSport in gray.
Was just looking at that one 👍
That makes sense. Never looked into it. May be why it’s so sluggish off the line, but has plenty of power other times.
my 2020 Ridgeline RTL-E AWD would chirp ALL 4 tires on dry pavement when i stomp it!
This is the first video from this channel that I've watched before, as I was googling reviews on the Ridgeline Trailsport. I had no idea I could enjoy a quirky, yet detailed mechanical and performance review with just enough autism spectrum to make things believable numbers wise. Yet I did. Thanks for a helpful look at a vehicle I'll probably end up buying now!
Another awesome review. Love the lifted “on the lift” illustration, Honda please take note. Thank you Sarah.
that V6 always surprises
19:15 the best way of describing this vehicle. Thanks for the new vid, Sarah
I love this thing. Its a truck for a suburb dad whos going to take it off-roading maybe once. 100% it'll be for going to the office, grocery store and the occasional home depot trip.
Aside from these rich & informative contents, I like that red point. Especially when you are disappointed on some parts, and slapped them. That's really amusing, thank you!
Sarah probably the only reviewer that coordinates outfits with vehicle color
totes the best part to make sure everything looks great together. sarah, girl you kick sss !!
It's almost there for off road use.
Like you said, it needs a lift. There is a 3 1/2" available. And also more extensive skidplates.
Happy belated Birthday. You look great for 29 at 39.
Uhhhh. Not even close... slapping offroad badging sells cra even if it means nothing
I have a 14 and a 19, both over 100k, both absolutely bulletproof. Cant be beat by anything in the snow
The AWD system doesn’t use breaking to control the individual wheel speed as mentioned in video… it’s a true mechanical AWD
Braking.
In the rear I think it has a clutch pack system and the front is brakes ?
I watch a lot of car TH-cam channels, but Sarah is one of the only experts. I would be much more interested in her review of older cars. For instance, I'm shopping for an RD1 CR-V. It has a great reputation, and I'm sure Sarah could explain why.
Not a bad vehicle, it is the right tool for many.
Since 2016, competitors have clearly not been asleep and have been developing, but even today, in terms of its capabilities and appearance, the current Ridge looks quite decent and relevant. Excellent results for off-road monocoque and, to a greater extent, road use. Well, practicality is at its best
I am sure the two black square box that next to the dash is low and high dimmer switch for the dash I have 2023 RTL it does excellent on snow, sand and dirt. Just change to the aggressive tires. 19:32
That blank cover next to gauge cluster is to adjust brightness on previous cluster.
Bought a 2023 Ridgeline RTL. Best vehicle in a pickup truck class that I have ever owned. I owned a 2.7L Tacoma (2003) and an extended V6 Tundra. Both were very reliable. Neither compares to the Ridgeline, so I have to agree with Sarah and offer my thumbs up for this vehicle. Hope to keep it for many years!
Love that sound of the V6 in the dirt.
That moaning cow sound is moooo exciting.
just traded my 2020 for a 25 trail sport just to go a bit different from the RTL...beefier tires, heated wheel, trim on seats were nice upgrades...I did see a 1.5 inch lift kit which was minimally invasive compared to a 4.5 inch lift which would require newer tires to make it look natural but required cutting inner fender plastic....i am totally happy with the Ridgeline no matter what the year
I’ve got a ‘22. Pretty spot on review. I’m almost ashamed to admit it’s the fastest car I’ve ever owned. The terrain modes are pretty great for varying weather conditions. It’s not just traction control, it controls throttle response as well. Those tires look like a big upgrade over the lower model OEM Firestones. Maybe I’ll spring for Coopers at the end of the summer. My only real gripe is the time the shift-by-wire, it takes forever to shift from reverse to drive. It seems silly the Trailsport doesn’t come with the bed power inverter.
I absolutely love the rigor you put this truck through. Thank you for this awesome reveiw!
Excellent review, as usual. Not a fan of the push button shifter and completely agree that the truck should have been lifted another 2-3 inches. So glad Honda stuck with the naturally aspirated six.
I'm completely used to the pushbuttons and the only problem I experience is when I drive our 2005 for awhile.
I just bought one of these and I really like it. There are a few things I don't like, for example: It rev limits you in reverse. The auto dimming on the rear view mirror could be darker. The transmission can be a bit clunky and undecisive when it's cold. The windshield washer fluid resevoir is small and doesn't tell you when it's almost empty. You have to turn off the auto start/stop every time you start the vehicle. The auto on/off high beams are a joke, but you can disable them. No front camera sucks. Ground clearance could be better, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things. But I still find all that manageable because everything else about the truck just works. The 3.5L vtec is spunky and a pleasure to drive. You never feel it change it's cylinder mode, it's very smooth. The ride quality is superb, and the rear trunk is surprisingly useful. I find the handling to be very sporty compared to other trucks I've owned or driven. Also, just a tip that I learned from another commentor on here. The truck seems to always start out in 2nd gear. So if you want to do some slow trail crawling, put it in sequential mode (S) and tap the downshift paddle and 1st gear is much much better for crawling. You'll see these trucks get about an 80 out of 100 rating on most sites. I would say that's right on par for this truck. A solid B+ vehicle that will probably treat you well if you take care of it.
I own a 21 sport model & after seeing this I don't feel I missed out on the trailsport. It has some nicer features, but anyone can swap out a set of tires.
RTL is the answer
I have a 2021 Sport with the HPD package, which is basically just bigger fender flares, and bronze wheels and some decals. I’m at 40 miles now, and no complaints. I’ll probably buy another one when it’s time to do so.
I'm quite pleased with my 2024 Black Edition, but it's not perfect. I disabled the VCM immediately, but the transmission's lag is still rather annoying, and there have been quite a few transmission failures reported on the Ridgerline forums.I intend to do frequent fluid changes to hopefully prevent any issues. With an MSRP of $48k, this thing better last the rest of my life!
Luckily from what I've read its a fairly easy transmission to rebuild (actually looks kinda fun to tear apart). I would definitely say fluid changes with high quality fluid is a must, I also would be curious if temps are an issue on those, an upgraded transmission cooler would be an easy thing to do.
$48k is what an SR5 Tacoma costs now. That's a steal.
@@SarahnTuned the 2020 RTL-E has a transmission cooler with enough room to go bigger, i'm not sure about the other year models.
@@dcl97 I disagree. We'll leave it at that.
Picked up a 2024 RTL and disabled the VCM off the bat too.
I just traded my 22 RTL for a 2025 Trailsport. The improvements they've made in this truck in three years - well, they fixed what I hated, improved on what was already acceptable and kept what I like. I love seeing that hill test. I'll be in Colorado in 3 weeks with it... :)
Additionally, I keep hearing all of this griping about the road clearance, but I can find several videos of the Ridgeline climbing well (two of them are yours) but I'm struggling to find any where it hasn't been able to or the current ground clearance being an impedance.
I always liked these and they don't get enough credit IMO. Great review!
15:14 that’s for the models that don’t have the fancy touchscreen infotainment system. It’s where the instrument cluster brightness / dimmed physical control is located.
Great review. You have renewed my interest in the ridgline
in regular mode, the transmission starts in 2nd gear, which makes it feel like it's lagging for better MPG. Sport mode starts in 1st.
😂 Sell Soup at the stadium... Hilarious!
Thanks for the entertaining review.
Glad to still see the V6 still going)
I like Honda’s dual exhaust!
A majority of the time that means it's a V6 with a few exceptions mostly being 4 cylinder sport models.
@@FireTruck-pb7mk My 2005 has a single exhaust and half the exhaust components compared to our 2023 Passport.
My 2017 with around 110k miles has been trouble free since day one. So far only normal maintenance. TBH this is all the truck I need for a daily driver, trips to Costco. Easily packs all the gear and dogs for our 300+ mile trip to our cottage. Not looking to upgrade anytime soon. Two of my kids visit bought Ridgeline’s.
Pretty nice review, as Always! Love it!
That ivtm-4 sure is impressive. Damn thing absolutely rocks on ice and snow.
Yes!!! The seat bolster test!!
Grow up
Yes!!! I know, but I can´t help it.
Sarah, Iove your videos. actually just bought at Ridgeline because of this video. I got the Black edition and I love it.
Loved when your finger went flying 😂😂. Great review.
A full on texas rancher brought Ridgeline in for service in california 2021 had 300k miles mud and hay stuck on it was fine just had a flat tire but no service history issues
THOSE ARE BULLET PROOF ENGINES, I HAD THE SAME 3.5 LITRE IN MY 2002 ODYSSEY,
EXCELLENT ENGINE, OURS HAD 240 H.P WHICH WAS PLENTY ENOUGH TO CLIMB ANY HILL.
I have driven large and small trucks. My Honda Ridgeline runs great even if it is old. I’ll be buying a newer one soon with exactly the features I want on it and drive it until the wheels fall off.
Do I think the Trailsport is an serious offroad vehicle, no. But I do think it is reliable and can still go offroading but I dont think you will be rock climbing anytime soon. It was never ment to be a rock climber tho. 90 percent of silverado owners go to the beach or take a few trails or even haul a boat, dirt bikes, and fishing gear. This truck can do all of that while costing less. I couldnt justify a silverado unless I was hauling a horse trailer so I got a 2024 trailsport and I love it. Its the perfect daily truck that 90 percent of americans need.
Spot on👍
It's arguably the 2nd best transverse drivetrain configured AWD vehicle off-road I've tested. The I-VTM4 system is really that good.
With only 7 in of ground clearance you're going to "Safely" do absolutely No "off roading"/nasty dirt roads.
It is
An inexcusably low truck with no skid plates and no front camera, particularly when it's labeled as their Trail model... pretty Sad
@@SarahnTuned,😲. Well come on! Which one was number 1???😜. 🙂
Obviously besides the "off road" specific features and some slight aesthetics, are their any other reasons to choose this over the RTL trim if it's primarily going to be a daily driver?
The little cover on the dash is for the gauge dimmer buttons on the older un-refreshed gen2
So why do I get so tickled whenever Sarah gives a test vehicle "the beans" followed by a shot of the tailpipe with the superimposed lightning bolts. Giggle.....
I have this exact engine and transmission in my 2016 TLX and it's incredible! The transmission in particular is a blast, incredibly smooth and aggressive when you want.
Smooth criminal
Not the same
2021 + has the 2nd Gen 9spd transmission which is a “ better version or upgraded version “
I agree with Sarah. Tons of great upgrades, but for offroad could use a bit more HPD love.
I do have to say you did an awesome test to this trucks capability. This vehicle was not designed to handle heavy off roading. But let’s be honest MOST people don’t buy a truck for that anyway. Amazing video, I am picking up my brand 2025 today. Previously owned a 2006 RT, I know for a fact I’m going to be super happy with 2025 trailsport. Amazing styling in my opinion.
The lift kits are super effective with the next size tire up. There's several forums out there.
@ yeah I’ve seen them. But I do not have the time to install something like that. And honestly I don’t like other people working on my vehicles. It’s a trust thing
I am watching car reviews on the Internet today!
🏁
So many things I like about the RL especially the roomy crew cab, best in its class!
I'm still chuckling to myself five minutes after Sarah sent her finger flying into the cruel, cruel world!
The brake travel is low however it changes in an emergency situation and become higher and more aggressive. Front sensor detects objects in front and it changes and actually really strong bite on the brakes.
Much better brakes than our 2005.
Much awaited, much appreciated looking forward to excellent insights as always from you.
The button that was blanked off on your test model dims my instrument cluster on my 2019 Honda passport touring.. Two buttons there horizontal to increase or decrease instrument panel lighting brightness..
I have a 2022 Ridgeline RTL, and that plastic blank behind the steering wheel is where my gauge cluster dimmer buttons are located.
Glad you mentioned "utes" because I've honestly thought that way from the first gen Ridgeline.
If it had been marketed as a ute from the start, I kinda think Honda would have sold far far more of them because the hate from the "real" truck crowd wouldn't have been as strong.
I know these get slack for not being a "real" truck, these are more than capable for most folks needs.
Yep, AWD, V6, tows 5000lb and gets decent mpg. hard to argue with for most needs.
Our Odyssey doesn’t have hood struts either. But there’s a couple holes to stick the prop rod. One is nearly with the hood straight up. Lots of room to work.
It's really a shame, that the Ridgeline isn't sold in Europe. I would really want one as a work horse. Perfect size for that over here.
A Ridgeline is a little bit larger than an extended cab Ranger and gets way shittier gas mileage. Without a diesel option it wouldn't fare in the EU market.
My first gen 2011 went 290K before I traded it in. Zero issues with it
I had one of these and loved it but Honda does need to give it 9 inches of ground clearance.
BTW, I filled my bed compartment with beer and ice when some Army buddies of mine returned from Iraq...lol
Excellent video. One of the best vehicle reviews I've seen.
Simply a great vehicle , love how agressive thev engine is and the way the ridgline drives . It really is on the top of its class. You can't really compare it to a Ford Maverick or anything else Ford might make to compete. Lol . FORD is notorious for building junk . Hondas are more expensive, because they are more reliable and will last many more miles !
Great review 🙂
The build quality kills the Mavericks too. The Ecoboost engines are not long lived normally.
Great review Sarah ! I’m considering one, and you checked a lot of boxes.
White Castle is something you have to have to understand. It's worth the trek.
Hmmm,🤔. I think it's something you have to be stoned and really hungry to be impressed😅,🙂
I had a 2006 Gen 1 Honda Ridgeline that I bought new and I liked it. I bought a travel trailer that was too long for it. I traded it for a 2011 F-150 in 2011.
That's...actually REALLY light for a truck. But somehow it's also better protected than most $100K trucks weighing three tons these days. LOL.
2018 RTL-E here, that mystery blank looks like where my physical dash brightness buttons are.
Dazzling as always.
15:18 Lol on the MDX they have a little reflective mirror wrap when that pops down so you can see what your kiddos are doing. Very smart Honda. This one has the mirror delete lol
Yes! I guessed it right that time in your IG quiz.
15:17 I have a 2023, that area is a button to adjust the backlit brightness of the infotainment/ instrument cluster if I’m remembering correctly. Also the small storage area in the bed is a 400watt plug, guess they “improved” out the feature😑
My 2019 Ridgeline RTL-T has 40K miles. I love it. I had Benz, Toyota, BMW...I just love Ridgeline. I take it for long, 1-1.5K trips. It's perfect
Sitting in the rear deck was so sublime and WOW
Awesome review!
15:12 On my 2021 Ridgeline, that is where the brightness adjustment buttons for the instrument cluster are.
It's a Honda. It will still be running well in 20 years.
As a Honda owner, yeah...no. I can tell my car isn't long for this world with how poorly build and trouble prone it is. And it's only a 2018. Currently suffering water leaks all over.
Had a oil leak and engine mount disintegration as well. Quality of the materials is beginning to fall apart.
All under 100k miles too.
@baronvonjo1929 not a single issue with our 17 👍
the blank piece at 15:13 is the brightness control for 2nd gens. @ Sarah -n- Tuned