Honda’s mid-size pickup tows like a rugged champ
Redesigned model handles and drives like a car under load, and gets the job done
Towing 2,268 kilograms isn’t what it used to be. The weight of steel and wood hasn’t changed but the towing capabilities and capacities of vehicles sure have.
We have half-tonne trucks that can pull over 5,443-kg, heavy-duty pickups that can move over13,608 kg, and anew crop of mid-size trucks that are as capable as last decade’s halftonnes. For most hauling needs, today’s mid-size pickup is more than enough, and with Honda’s redesigned 2017 Ridgeline, you get a unique proposition in the segment.
Honda rates the Ridgeline to tow 2,268 kg, falling short of the Toyota Tacoma’s 3,084-kg max rating and the Chevy Colorado’s max rating of 3,493 kg, though in the payload department, the Ridgeline stacks up well.
It is the only mid-size pickup to use a multi-link independent rear suspension, rather than a leaf spring setup, and it is rated for a maximum 718 kg, 2 kilos more than the Chevy Colorado can handle.
Towing and hauling
Providing motivation for the Ridgeline is a transversely mounted 3.5litre V6 that makes 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels as standard, while all-wheel drive is included. GM manages to squeeze 305 hp and 269 lb.-ft. from its 3.6-litre V6, while Toyota gets slightly less hp and a little more torque from its 3.5-litre.
Spec for spec, Honda’s small pickup is about on par with the competition on most fronts, though it is the tow rating that falls short. Even if you’re not pulling the limit every time, having that extra capacity means you’re not stressing your truck as much when you pull.
So can the Ridgeline actually pull at its 2,268-kg limit with confidence? Seeing as towing confidence is never really a yes or no answer, let’s explore. We hitched up a large fourplace snowmobile trailer that weighs in just shy of 2,268 kg to dig deep into the truck’s capability and see how the Honda handled being truly stressed.
Easily the best part of the towing experience with the Ridgeline is the way the suspension soaks up all the weight with little issue. Despite the rear end squatting, the front wheels didn’t feel light and the nose wasn’t pointing straight up into the air. Side-to-side movement felt controlled and even the trailer’s weight couldn’t push the truck around.
This translates into the cabin with nice, planted steering feel and little to no torque steer, thanks in part to the all-wheel drive. If the towing experience ended there, the Ridgeline would have a stellar report card.
Not quite enough engine
The V6 needs to be constantly revved to keep it in the power band, and even at full tilt, it felt small with the big trailer behind it. Part of the problem is the lack of a proper tow/ haul mode. Honda offers a ‘D4’ button on the gear shift, which will lock out the top gear and also slightly adjust the shift points, but you cannot manually choose which gear you’d like your truck to be in. For engine braking, there is also an ‘L’ (low) gear which keeps the truck first through third only and tries to stay in the lowest gear possible. This setting does help when descending, but it cannot replace the ability to shift your own gears.
The biggest weak point in our test was the brakes, but there is a caveat here. Our trailer had trailer brakes, but the Ridgeline does not include an integrated brake controller.
An aftermarket brake controller would be the answer for anyone towing big weight with the truck and would go a long way to making towing safer. Because without trailer brakes, which is how we tested it, this rig takes some serious time to stop.
So what’s the take-away? If you plan to tow 2,268 kg every day, the Ridgeline will do it, but you’re better off getting a half-ton or a more capable mid-size pickup. I would say the comfortable max limit for the Ridgeline is around 1,588 kg.
So it may not be the heavy lifter among its peers, but there is one aspect of the Ridgeline that is second to none: unladen driving dynamics. Thanks to a combination of factors, including its unibody construction and independent suspension, the Ridgeline drives like a big Honda Accord, offering absolutely none of the stiff, choppy ride most body-on-frame trucks have.
Pricing
The Ridgeline starts at $36,590, which includes all-wheel drive as standard. At the top end, customers will spend $48,590 for the Black Edition. The Ridgeline is only offered as a crew cab with a single bed length.
The Verdict
The Honda Ridgeline is a quandary to truck buyers because it offers the ride and handling of a car, with some pickup truck capability. If you’re willing to live in the middle between those things, the truck will work wonders. But buying the Ridgeline in anticipation of a life filled with big trailers and heavy loads, you’ll wish you bought a bigger truck.