The 2022 Honda Ridgeline offers plenty of features and amenities to get excited about, mixing some of the best attributes of both mid-size trucks and crossovers, which earns it a place on our Editor’s Choice list. The cargo box is obviously its defining feature, and it includes an underfloor trunk and a short-but-wide bed. Despite some truck-like styling cues, Honda’s pickup can’t hide its unibody construction, which limits its off-road capability and maximum tow rating but optimizes on-road comfort.
ENGINE AND IMPLEMENTATION
The lone powertrain is a 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 262 pound-feet of torque and hooks up to a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The engine feels smooth, and the throttle response is especially receptive when you call for hard acceleration. An untraditional pickup in many ways, the Ridgeline surprises from behind the wheel. On the road, it is well-mannered and feels extremely competent.
Its coil-sprung independent rear suspension contributes to a carlike ride quality not available with the leaf-sprung, solid-axle setups used by the competition. Body lean in corners is minimal, and small bumps are barely noticeable. The electrically assisted steering feels appropriate. The 2022 Honda Ridgeline‘s braking performance stands out as its lone dynamic blemish. Its braking distance from 70 mph to zero is on the long side, and we thought the brake pedal felt soft and had too much travel during normal use.
ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline‘s engine is the most fuel-efficient V-6 in its class at 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. On our 75-mph fuel-economy route, which simulates real-world highway driving and is part of our extensive testing regimen, an all-wheel-drive Ridgeline earned 28 mpg. That figure matches our results for a GMC Canyon with the diesel engine and all-wheel drive, which is impressive considering the Honda’s gas engine.
INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline‘s interior is tops in its class in terms of practicality and comfort. As with most other mid-size pickups, the Honda features hard plastics below the dash level. Otherwise, the materials are above average. Rear-seat passengers will enjoy the most space of all mid-size rivals. Fold-down armrests on both front seats are a welcome addition, especially since the center console sits low between them.
The Honda pickup has only one-bed length, 5.3 feet, which lines up with competitors’ short beds and has the second-lowest volume at 34 cubic feet. The antidote to this disparity is its locking, weather-tight in-bed trunk with a 7.3-cubic-foot capacity. There’s one more advantage: with 50.0 inches between its bed’s wheel wells, the Ridgeline is the only mid-size pickup that can fit a sheet of four-by-eight-foot building material flat on the bed floor.
Clever features continue inside. The rear seat splits 60/40 and, when flipped up, provides room to fit a full-size bicycle. Unfortunately, loading large items may be difficult, as the rear doors don’t open very wide.
IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS
Every 2022 Honda Ridgeline comes standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It now features a physical volume knob and screen icons that Honda says are easier to use than its predecessor was. However, we haven’t had a chance to test this claim or the updated Display Audio system for ourselves. The Ridgeline also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, certain models can be equipped with an in-bed audio system that can liven up any tailgate party. Using actuators that vibrate, it turns the cargo bed into a huge speaker.
PROTECTION AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS
The Honda pickup truck also includes a host of standard driver-assistance technology. For more information about Ridgeline’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites
PHOTOS
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FULL SPECIFICATIONS
2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport HPD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $40,515/$40,910
Options: Platinum White Pearl paint, $395
ENGINE
SOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 212 in3, 3471 cm3
Power: 280 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.6-in vented disc/13.0-in disc
Tires: Firestone Destination LE
245/60R-18 105H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 125.2 in
Length: 210.2 in
Width: 78.6 in
Height: 70.8 in
Passenger Volume: 110 ft3
Trunk Volume: 34 ft3
Curb Weight: 4469 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.2 sec
100 mph: 18.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.0 sec @ 93 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.3 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.9 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.8 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 111 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 186 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.79 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 19 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 26 mpg
Highway Range: 500 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 21/18/24 mpg
