Honda has made a few minor tweaks to its Ridgeline that give it a welcome air of modern toughness

Honda’s staple a smart option for long hauls

The Ridgeline has been a staple of the Honda lineup since its inception back in 2006 and rightly so. Meant to bridge the gap between conventional SUV and truck markets, the Ridgeline also offered a fuelefficient alternative to larger cross-bred utility creatures such as the Chevy Avalanche, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, and the awful Hummer H3T that launched later in 2009. With Honda’s then-proven reliability and solid economy numbers backing it up, the Ridgeline was seen as an easy choice for someone looking to gain some size and utility without jumping up to an F-150. Six years later, the Ridgeline has seen little more than the occasional styling tweak, so I figured I should get it out and see if it can still keep up with the competition.

For starters, the latest design tweak of the Ridgeline is a pretty good one. The black honeycomb-style grille and black detailed alloy wheels give the exterior of the Ridgeline that hint of modern toughness that had been lacking over the last few years. It’s surprising how much impact such a minor change can make. The funky twin-function tailgate that either folds down or swings open is still intact. On many occasions it proved to be invaluable when loading heavier items in and out of the massive hidden trunk. Yes, that’s right — the Ridgeline has both a short truck-bed, and a large, fully sealed trunk underneath it, so regardless of where you’re heading there’s tons of room to pack anything you might need.

Sadly, there’s a plain and utilitarian style to the Ridgeline’s passenger cabin that just doesn’t feel up to par. With truck manufacturers making vast improvements to their interiors over the past few years, we can only hope that Honda will up their style game soon. Still, for those looking for utility over esthetic, the Ridgeline’s cabin has that in spades. There seems to be a never-ending array of compartments and cubbyholes available to hide everything from your smartphone to a 10-course picnic lunch. Although it has an appropriate hiding place for that phone, the Ridgeline is one of the few vehicles left out there that doesn’t come with Bluetooth as standard equipment. To get Bluetooth, you’ll have to

Justin Mastine- Frost/ Edmonton Journal Bridging the gap between the SUV and truck markets, the 2013 Honda Ridgeline Sport benefits from design tweaks that have toughened its exterior style.

Supplied The Ridgeline’s interior is plain but practical, full of handy compartments and cubbyholes.