[Mikeg]

A far as a tonneau cover, I have had a soft rollup one on each of my trucks. It keeps the snow out in the winter, helps keep cargo dry, and supposedly improves gas mileage.

I also have a cargo net which can be very handy too.

Mikeg

 

[2012Goldwing]

My wife has a 2016 Mazda CX-5 and last year we also purchased a 2024 Ridgeline Black Edition. I also have a 2017 Mazda Miata RF. I am so impressed with the Mazda brand and both our Mazdas are fun to drive, good handling and dependable (the Miata is a hoot!). However, we sure do like the Ridgeline. It only gets about 5mpg less than our CX-5 and it has more power, people room and hauling and towing capacity. It also rides better and quieter. It is the "luxury vehicle" of the three. If you already have a CX-5 I'd go for a Ridgeline.

 

[markk53]

Absolutely stuck on making a final decision: Ridgeline RTL or Mazda CX-5, both 2025s.

Couple things holding me back on the Ridge:

• Mpg rating of 18-24 vs. 26-30 on the Mazda
• Living with a truck bed. I grew up in a truck house, but never owned one of my own.
• Asking price is about $5k more than Mazda

Hold backs on the Mazda:

• My wife has a 2017, fantastic car but it may be a disadvantage for the two of us to have the exact same car
• Cargo gets a little tight sometimes

Ridgeline Pros

• Love how it looks! I see some people call it plain, but to me I love the understated simplicity and clean lines. Looks great in every color
• Drives like a dream (despite the 2024 anomaly I posted about earlier). Seriously one of the best driving vehicles we’ve ever driven.
• That V6 sounds and feels fantastic
• I do a lot of woodworking and diy home repair, wife does a lot of gardening. The idea of being able to haul pretty much anything without weight worry is very appealing

Mazda Pros:

• Looks fantastic! Still one of the best looking vehicles on the road
• Love that 2.5L engine, rock solid and has never let us down. Can be very fast when you need it, or hang back and be cool for cruising
• We regularly get 24mpg around town and 28-31 on highway trips
• Way more tech and amenities and $5k less
• 0.9% for 36 months vs 2.9% for Ridge

Don‘t think I can go wrong with either car really. One great thing about an suv is covered, dry storage. I can fit 8’ lumber inside and close the hatch no problem. Caveat is I can only hold so much and it comes up quite close to the dash. Same with buying soil, mulch and drainage rock…it fits, but sometimes you need two trips and you definitely feel the weight. But the rest of the time it’s nice not having to worry about tying anything down or whether it’s raining or snowing.

My heart is with the Ridge, but my practical brain is with the Mazda.

So, what you're saying is the Ridgeline could haul a load of mulch or crap (fertilizer) you don't want to haul in an SUV, right?

That is why I have a Ridgeline, I need to haul grass clippings and yard waste and I don't think hauling it in the back of any SUV would be a recommended practice. So my practical brain said "Ridgeline" or similar vehicle with a bed. My wife has an HR-V and no way I'd lob a bunch of yard junk in it. But I will say I did haul some clean new cut lumber in a Pontiac Vibe GT a number of times. Then I got another pickup, a 96 Ranger step side V-6 five speed manual lowered with a 3/4 drop and loved it.

If I didn't need the open bed for stuff like the yard waste I'd have something else with a class 2 or 3 hitch to haul the bikes on a trailer when I want to go somewhere and ride. Probably something like a Pilot or maybe smaller, just capable of hauling around 4000 lb or less.

Sounds like you don't need to search for the "need for a pickup", you have it. With a tonneau cover the bed will stay dry enough. I'm using a low buck roll up MaxMate soft cover that cost $190 now on Amazon. The goal was wide open bed when needed and the hard covers just didn't do what I wanted. Plus I did a ton of research and finally found an independent article that listed best covers. The MaxMate was best all around value. The soft cover is pretty heavy duty. I figure at 1/3 the price of some hard covers I can buy three of them over time if the one should wear out. Plus the bed actually stays fairly dry.

I'd say based on all you listed it came down to the simple fact that it sounds like you can use the bed better than the enclosed back of the SUV, so you don't damage the interior, not to mention you can still have 4 people in the Ridgeline. And you will find that "door swing" tail gate to be one of the best things ever on a pickup.

It's the Ridgeline by a landslide.

 

[markk53]

It's not just packing boxes, but that seems to be a common size for other Coolers, Tubs, Crates. When I first got the truck in 2017 I bought the most portable, foldable, lightweight snow blower just to clean the sidewalks...I could lift it with one hand and it folded small. But the damned thing wouldn't fit under the hard cover, by one freak'n inch. I had to put it in the passenger seat to haul it (in that 2017 year the back doors didn't open wide enough). The truck is brilliant, but that one inch affects your shopping and hauling sometimes.

I said early on that a person could make a few bucks if they either made:

• And accordion style adjustable cover to raise a little for clearance.
• or riser studs that that would lay flat on the bed rails and boost the cover. I think @OneFish fabricated his own vision of that.

Again, not a problem of course if you don't need the cover. And not a problem 93% of the time you need the truck bed. The truck has amazing cargo space overall.

I still wouldn't trade this truck for any other on the market now. Hard to beat the trunk and the fold-up rear seats. You won't find a better ride for a pickup. That is just some of the details to be aware of, and hopefully Honda does something better next time.

You would have a GREAT couple of vehicles if you added a Ridgeline to your Mazda lineup.

You've listed a bunch of reasons why I went with a soft roll up cover and after some hours online researching I ended up with the MaxMate soft roll up. It actually seals fairly well, with some foam inserts for some gaps due to body panel "seams" at the rear window area. Cost less than $200 and fitted on in about an hour, taking my time.

I've used the roll up cover because I haul grass and other yard waste in the bed and the recycling farm is only 3 miles down the road, so I roll up the cover, throw a tarp in the bed, dump the grass on the tarp, then simply pull the tarp out of the bed to dump the grass at the farm.

Then I had to take my job site table saw to my nephew's house, roll the tarp up and put in the saw, tying it down using the tie loops in the bed, against the tail gate.

Then I had to haul four large bins of the wife's craft stuff, a folding table and two folding racks along with some other stuff in the bed. I also had to fill the back seat area with other pertinent stuff. I got a web strap kit with a roll of web strap and 20 fastex style clips, to make up some tie down straps for the bins, then cross tied the whole thing down with some 12 foot cam lock tie down straps. Try that with an SUV.

I will say I went to a 5x10 utility trailer now for the motorcycles. I can load them alone with the trailer ramp, have chocks in the bed of the trailer, easy tie down, and haul it with the pickup. I used to load alone with the lowered Ranger, but no way with the Ridgeline. Still, towing is good and the bed/trunk are wide open for gear and the back seat area for luggage, helmet, boots, and other stuff like that.

Only negative I have is I could smoke a stogie with the window cracked in the Ranger, no way I'm doing that with the Ridgeline, I'd never hear the end of it if I did!

 

[HipsterDoofus]

So, what you're saying is the Ridgeline could haul a load of mulch or crap (fertilizer) you don't want to haul in an SUV, right?

That is why I have a Ridgeline, I need to haul grass clippings and yard waste and I don't think hauling it in the back of any SUV would be a recommended practice. So my practical brain said "Ridgeline" or similar vehicle with a bed. My wife has an HR-V and no way I'd lob a bunch of yard junk in it. But I will say I did haul some clean new cut lumber in a Pontiac Vibe GT a number of times. Then I got another pickup, a 96 Ranger step side V-6 five speed manual lowered with a 3/4 drop and loved it.

If I didn't need the open bed for stuff like the yard waste I'd have something else with a class 2 or 3 hitch to haul the bikes on a trailer when I want to go somewhere and ride. Probably something like a Pilot or maybe smaller, just capable of hauling around 4000 lb or less.

Sounds like you don't need to search for the "need for a pickup", you have it. With a tonneau cover the bed will stay dry enough. I'm using a low buck roll up MaxMate soft cover that cost $190 now on Amazon. The goal was wide open bed when needed and the hard covers just didn't do what I wanted. Plus I did a ton of research and finally found an independent article that listed best covers. The MaxMate was best all around value. The soft cover is pretty heavy duty. I figure at 1/3 the price of some hard covers I can buy three of them over time if the one should wear out. Plus the bed actually stays fairly dry.

I'd say based on all you listed it came down to the simple fact that it sounds like you can use the bed better than the enclosed back of the SUV, so you don't damage the interior, not to mention you can still have 4 people in the Ridgeline. And you will find that "door swing" tail gate to be one of the best things ever on a pickup.

It's the Ridgeline by a landslide.

You've listed a bunch of reasons why I went with a soft roll up cover and after some hours online researching I ended up with the MaxMate soft roll up. It actually seals fairly well, with some foam inserts for some gaps due to body panel "seams" at the rear window area. Cost less than $200 and fitted on in about an hour, taking my time.

I've used the roll up cover because I haul grass and other yard waste in the bed and the recycling farm is only 3 miles down the road, so I roll up the cover, throw a tarp in the bed, dump the grass on the tarp, then simply pull the tarp out of the bed to dump the grass at the farm.

Then I had to take my job site table saw to my nephew's house, roll the tarp up and put in the saw, tying it down using the tie loops in the bed, against the tail gate.

Then I had to haul four large bins of the wife's craft stuff, a folding table and two folding racks along with some other stuff in the bed. I also had to fill the back seat area with other pertinent stuff. I got a web strap kit with a roll of web strap and 20 fastex style clips, to make up some tie down straps for the bins, then cross tied the whole thing down with some 12 foot cam lock tie down straps. Try that with an SUV.

I will say I went to a 5x10 utility trailer now for the motorcycles. I can load them alone with the trailer ramp, have chocks in the bed of the trailer, easy tie down, and haul it with the pickup. I used to load alone with the lowered Ranger, but no way with the Ridgeline. Still, towing is good and the bed/trunk are wide open for gear and the back seat area for luggage, helmet, boots, and other stuff like that.

Only negative I have is I could smoke a stogie with the window cracked in the Ranger, no way I'm doing that with the Ridgeline, I'd never hear the end of it if I did!

Hope this helps - We went through a similar decision-making process in our home. We have a 2017 Outback 3.6L, my old-but-bought-it-new 2004 Boxster S, and my 2006 Ridgeline. There was never any question about needing a pickup - moving firewood, getting gas for the snowblower, making runs to dump, and being able to transport all the crap I would never put in the passenger compartment of any vehicle. But, OTOH, I was really enamored of the Mazda CX-50. So the decision was, do we get the Mazda SUV and keep the old Ridgeline and then have (4) vehicles - (2) of which are crossovers, or forget about the new SUV since the 3.6L Outback has all the SUV bells and whistles and is a fun, quick drive and outstanding for winter driving, and then trade the old Ridgeline for a new one. It became an issue of practicality and domestic tranquility so the old Ridgeline went "off to the farm" and I have a '23 RTL-E that is a very cushy ride and capable of hauling whatever I need when necessary. I have a soft tonneau that is mostly weatherproof and smooths out highway driving much better than an open bed and is easy to roll up when I need the bed area open. So, if you already have a sweet crossover/SUV, a sports car (and I had the first-year Gen2 Miata and it was a scream to drive), then the rational choice is a pickup. And any modern pickup is light years beyond old-school pickups for comfort and appointments. And the Ridgeline is the only true midsize on the market - I don't accept the existence of the Maverick as an actual vehicle. Good luck with your decision making and you have a lot of good advice from this forum.

 

[markk53]

SUV with a bed then.

I think the analogy of "if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck it is a duck" suits totally here:

It sits like a truck, can tow stuff like a truck, has an open bed to haul stuff like a truck it is a truck.​

A damn nice riding, nice interior for any sort of truck that the OP ought to buy, because he likes it and, better yet, he has good reasons to have the open bed.

Gray Beard go buy the Ridgeline you like it and your uses will justify it better than the SUV. Right now the interest rate is nearly the same as the rate of inflation and I guarantee you it will be lower than the rate of inflation for sure shortly. One other thing, interest on money in CDs is around 3.75-4.50%, the reason why I financed both our HR-V and the Ridgeline, I was better off putting money into a 4.5% CD making more there and the rate of inflation was lower both times. The HR-V was 0.99% and the Ridgeline was 2.99%. And your wife already has an SUV.

 

[markk53]

That’s my wife’s stance as well.

Absolutely. I used that thought process both for our cars (HR-V and Ridgeline) and wife agreed with that thought process as well. I also used it with my motorcycles, road bike and dual sport bike (Yamaha XSR700 and KLX250S). Different vehicles capable of different purposes, minimum overlap, widest variety of uses.

 

[markk53]

It comes down to use case. We've had various combinations of cars but there's always a void without a minivan or a truck. Sure the SUV will cover 95% of the uses but something always comes up and renting a truck although an option isn't always that easy especially if there is a time crunch.

You don't mention what you currently drive in addition to the Mazda and how you make everything work. A Ridgeline will compliment the Mazda well for your use case.

I do think that it's a mistake to not have a CRV hybrid or RAV hybrid in the fold as the MPGs. will almost double the Ridgeline as the offerings slowly move away from ICE only to electric.

We currently have a RAV4 hybrid a RAV4 Prime and a Ridgeline. The Ridgeline mostly sits because it guzzles gas but comes in very handy when that "something" always comes up.

By 2027 it is highly likely there will be a hybrid Ridgeline or similar model from Honda. It is in the works from what I've learned here 12 miles from Marysville.

 

[markk53]

1) SUV has better visibility vs a sedan, is what i meant.

2) SUVs have an integrated D-pillar that gives them more structural strength for towing. The Ridgeline lacks a D-pillar, although engineers tried to make up for it via extra-strong trusses between the bed and cab. That being said, the Ridgeline will feel more comfortable towing vs the Pilot simply because it has a longer wheelbase. If the Pilot and Ridgeline had the same wheelbase, the Pilot would make a better tow vehicle.

This phenomena does not apply to BoF vehicles because most of the towing forces are handled by the frame rails, and not dependent on the cab or bed. Most mfrs prefer to build trucks this way because it is much simpler and cheaper, but you pay for it with very poor packaging and relatively poor ride and drive characteristics.

From what I've understood, the biggest issue with towing for the Ridgeline is the independent suspension, especially on the rear. Lots of places for flex and movement when compared to the fixed axle on leaf springs. The more the weight the higher the stress in the flex. I don't know if any body on frame trucks use independent front suspension, but the ones with fixed axles on leaf springs will add to strength against flex. All the joints and framing on independent setups will allow flex. Not so much with fixed axles on leaf springs.

 

[markk53]

I switched from Ridgeline to Passport and quickly came back. I severely underestimated how much I use the truck bed and convenience.

Don't ya just love that door swing tail gate? I know I've only used the normal drop down gate about a dozen times in a year and a half. I couldn't start to count the number of times I've used the door swing gate. Love it.

 

[longboat]

From what I've understood, the biggest issue with towing for the Ridgeline is the independent suspension, especially on the rear. Lots of places for flex and movement when compared to the fixed axle on leaf springs. The more the weight the higher the stress in the flex. I don't know if any body on frame trucks use independent front suspension, but the ones with fixed axles on leaf springs will add to strength against flex. All the joints and framing on independent setups will allow flex. Not so much with fixed axles on leaf springs.

I suspect the towing limit is more closely related to clutch durability on the iVTM4 setup. Axle diameter/strength has also been listed as a limiting factor.

I would designate the IRS as a minor factor wrt towing limitations. After all, the Ridgeline will tow 4500lbs much better than a Tacoma, and FWD minivans have been known to tow quite a bit more than 5000lbs.

 

[zroger73]

By 2027 it is highly likely there will be a hybrid Ridgeline or similar model from Honda. It is in the works from what I've learned here 12 miles from Marysville.

The next Ridgeline will almost certainly share a powertrain with the current Pilot and coming Passport as it has in the past. We would almost certainly see a hybrid powertrain in the Pilot before the Ridgeline and that hasn't happened yet. And, it looks like fuel economy and emissions standards will be rolled back by the current administration, so there's less incentive to create a hybrid powertrain.

I doubt I'll ever buy another gasoline-powered vehicle, but if I did, I would most certainly seek out a plug-in hybrid or at least a hybrid for a number of reasons - I like the smoothness, quietness, efficiency, and absence of a traditional starter and transmission along with the ability to run the climate control without having to constantly run a gasoline engine.

 

[Solo]

Absolutely. I used that thought process both for our cars (HR-V and Ridgeline) and wife agreed with that thought process as well. I also used it with my motorcycles, road bike and dual sport bike (Yamaha XSR700 and KLX250S). Different vehicles capable of different purposes, minimum overlap, widest variety of uses.

It's a major effort to load my DR by myself. Made easier with 2 8'2x12s. One for the bike, one to walk it up. I'd prefer a trailer, but nowhere to put it.

 

[Allied]

The shallow bed is definitely on my mind as well, that’s really interesting about the moving boxes. These are the kinds of things you don’t really know with any car until you live with it a bit.

Search "truck bed soft topper". I have a neighbor with a '24 BE that installs and removes one when the need arises. He had a gen 1 RL with a fiberglass topper previously, but went with the soft one on his new RL. He seems to be happy with it. I had a 2010 RTL with a BakFlip which was okay, but the vertical height was limited due to the bed rails and of course it limited the trunk lid too. I bought a new '25 BE in October and went with the Honda hard cover. I have more vertical height than with my old BakFlip and the trunk lid works better with it and no bed rails. It is also lighter and very easy to remove if need be. There are times when a completely open bed is preferable and you can take that thing off and on in a few minutes. So far I am very happy with it. It doesn't matter which cover you choose, they will all have their limitations. You just have to try and find what works best for you.

 

[Pleease]

The RL comparison to other similar sized vehicles in the truck world always puzzled me. The RL is a True Sport UTILITY vehicle in every sense of the word. Not a pick up truck. This coming from a F-150 owner for the past 40 years. Yes I left a Ford F-150 Lariat for a 2025 Honda Ridgeline and am not looking back.

I think sport utility truck is an accurate description. If it isn't a truck then I've hauled some pretty gnarly loads in my SUV .

 

[graystroke]

Last night i bought a used electric snowblower. Got a heck of deal that even with reduced snow, it was a real bargain for the batteries alone.

Anyway, bringing back the snowblower and a piece of granite in the back of the bed was glorious. Another instance of me opening the back gate and whispering to myself "I'm Batman".

The only thing that will make me sell mr Ridgeline will be when an electric version is available, or a very compelling hybrid.

 

[markk53]

It's a major effort to load my DR by myself. Made easier with 2 8'2x12s. One for the bike, one to walk it up. I'd prefer a trailer, but nowhere to put it.

That's the hard part, where to put it. When we bought our house about 12 years ago part of the plan was a small shop and an enclosed trailer, so we found a place with about .9 acre of ground. Ends up my wife took over the enclosed trailer with her crafts bins, but I ended up with the utility trailer. As it turned out, we actually have both trailers kind of nested to the side of the drive under the pine trees. I absolutely love using the trailer instead of loading up. Then the Ridgeline versus the Ranger standard cab, no comparison. One way or another, as long as I'm riding, I'll have a trailer. Most of my riding goals are to ride at a specific area, not the trip to get there. If I have to do boring roads I'd rather be in a truck or car. Riding adventure is not plodding along on some straight roadway. It's the winding curves and dirt/gravel separate or together.

My son-in-law has one of the fold up Harbor Freight trailers. I'm not sure what it's like. My only thoughts would be quality of hardware, which can be easily cured at a good hardware store. It could be stored inside or outside with a cover.

One other thought would be if you have a friend who would let you store it at their place if they have the ground, for a twelve pack a month. Once you've used a trailer with the full width drop gate you won't want anything else, other than maybe an enclosed one.

I will say when I lowered the Ranger I was able to load my 250, probably could have done the 650, but wouldn't try a street bike. I loaded the bike off to the left side instead of centered. I could walk the 250 up onto the tailgate walking on the ground. Then I'd put the kick stand down, get up in the truck and finish the job.

 

[LDB415]

Mazda does do one killer red paint color.

 

[Jim Dale]

This is an interesting thread as I've been dwelling on a new vehicle around mid 2025. After some thought coupled with research I settled on a choice of four vehicles; Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot and the Honda Ridgeline. I don't really need the Ridgeline but having previously owned a 2007 RTL, from new to 12 years (180k miles), it was one of the best and most versatile vehicle I've ever owned, and I've owned enough. I no longer have a house in the mountains of WV so the Ridgeline isn't really a necessity like it was.

I currently really enjoy my current vehicle (2015 Jaguar XJL Portfolio) but approaching 77 years and the old hips increasingly complaining a bit when getting in/out of a saloon, suggests I'll need to change. Hence the SUV or Ridgeline. Many years ago, under the encouragement of my wife I test drove the Pilot and it just didn't handle as nicely as the Ridgeline. I felt the loll (top heavy) in the Pilot that I never did with the Ridgeline.

Recently, I'm down to a choice of two, the Pilot Elite (I like the new boxy look plus practicality) or the Ridgeline Black Edition (firmer handling and lost love?) but in the end it will come down to the test drive. Anyone else done that dance between the two Hondas?

 

[Nervey]

This is an interesting thread as I've been dwelling on a new vehicle around mid 2025. After some thought coupled with research I settled on a choice of four vehicles; Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot and the Honda Ridgeline. I don't really need the Ridgeline but having previously owned a 2007 RTL, from new to 12 years (180k miles), it was one of the best and most versatile vehicle I've ever owned, and I've owned enough. I no longer have a house in the mountains of WV so the Ridgeline isn't really a necessity like it was.

I currently really enjoy my current vehicle (2015 Jaguar XJL Portfolio) but approaching 77 years and the old hips increasingly complaining a bit when getting in/out of a saloon, suggests I'll need to change. Hence the SUV or Ridgeline. Many years ago, under the encouragement of my wife I test drove the Pilot and it just didn't handle as nicely as the Ridgeline. I felt the loll (top heavy) in the Pilot that I never did with the Ridgeline.

Recently, I'm down to a choice of two, the Pilot Elite (I like the new boxy look plus practicality) or the Ridgeline Black Edition (firmer handling and lost love?) but in the end it will come down to the test drive. Anyone else done that dance between the two Hondas?

In March, would you consider the new 2026 Passport? The tech is good, boxy flat folding seats with awesome cargo space, flip up space, 6cyl, rides high but not difficult-high, sharp looking. Eh, just a thought.