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F150 owner test drive review of the Ridgeline

60643 Views 194 Replies 82 Participants Last post by  zroger73, 
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I own a 2016 Ford F150 XLT supercrew 4x4. It is a great vehicle, but very difficult to park at my work. I hated the way the 2016 Tacoma drove, and I didn't bother looking at the Colorado/Canyon because of poor reliability ratings. I've been following the Ridgeline carefully as a mid-size truck seems like a great fit for me.

Well, I finally got to test drive one today. It was an RTL trim with AWD. The MSRP of the Ridgeline RTL is about $3000 less than my F150 sales price. I wanted to test drive one that cost near the same as my F150, but my choices were limited. A closer comparison with my truck would probably be the RTL-T or RTL-E Ridgeline since my XLT came with the 302a "luxury" package from Ford. I don't need to tow much, and my hauling is mostly kids, bicycles, groceries, and large items purchased from home improvement stores. The Ridgeline is enough truck for my needs.

Here is what I think after a test drive:

1. Handling: The Ridgeline has nice acceleration and handling. It drives more like a car than the F150. Getting around in traffic is a breeze. On the down side, the Ridgeline driving position is lower, giving less view of the road. Winner: Ridgeline

2. Comfort: The front driving position is comfortable in the Ridgeline, but my Ford is more comfortable. The Ford has more adjustments (telescoping steering wheel, adjustable pedals, and more adjustments on the power seats) to get the best driving position. The Ridgeline soaks up bumps in the road better and doesn't seem to hop like my Ford does when taking bumps on a turn. The back seats in the Ridgeline are awful in comparison to my Ford. I'm tall, and my knees were in the seat back when sitting in the rear. Winner: F150

3. Parking: This was my main reason for looking at the Ridgeline. It is easier to park, but surprisingly not much easier than my F150. The RTL doesn't have back up sensors, and my Ford does. I nearly backed into a post with the Ridgeline because I was using my side mirrors to squeeze into a spot. I was focused on the sides and not what was directly behind me. The Ridgeline seems as wide as my Ford. The Ridgeline is definitely shorter, through. A higher trim Ridgeline with back up sensors would be better. Winner: Ridgeline (not by much though)

4. Truck bed: The Ridgeline in-bed trunk is clever, but the lack of a locking tailgate is awful. My Ford has a bedrug carpet bed liner and tonneau cover. When I lock my tailgate, the entire volume under the tonneau cover is like a trunk in my F150. The Ford box-link system gives more options for cargo in the F150 bed. The F150 bed is deeper and therefore has a bigger volume to store stuff below the sides of the bed. The little storage compartment on the side of the Ridgeline is useless because the cover is made of flimsy plastic and it doesn't lock. Winner: F150

5. Electronics: The Ford Sync 3 system doesn't (yet) have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. My F150 trim level doesn't have navigation. For fairness, a higher trim level Ridgeline that costs as much as my F150 would have these things. The RTL trim does not. Ford Sync 3 will have these things in 2017. My F150 also has a lot more power options, including TWO standard 115 volt 400 Watt outlets in the cab, more usb charging ports, and other charging ports. Winner: Tie

6. Towing and payload: The F150 has significantly higher tow and payload ratings. My F150 also has trailer backup assist that makes it easier for a novice to back up a trailer. Winner: F150

7. Off road: The F150 has a traditional 4x4 system that is manually selectable. The Ridgeline AWD system is always on and the computer handles everything. The F150 has higher ground clearance and a full sized spare tire. I would much rather have the F150 if I were heading out into the wilderness. On city streets with light snow or ice, the Ridgeline would probably be better. Winner: F150

8. Cost to buy and maintain: The sales prices are actually similar. Ford has a higher MSRP, but sells at deep discounts from that. The Ridgeline gets slightly better gas mileage than my F150 with the 2.7 L turbo 6 cylinder. The F150 body is aluminum, so it won't rust, but will likely cost more to repair after a collision. Honda has a reputation for reliability, but there is no information yet on the Ridgeline reliability. The F150 is rated fairly highly on reliability from Consumer Reports. Winner: Tie

So there you have my opinion. I think the Ridgeline is a good product that can compete against the Tacoma and Colorado/Canyon. The Ridgeline offers a far better driving experience than the Tacoma that I test drove. The Ridgeline is even competitive in a number of ways for customers like me who have purchased full sized trucks given the poor choices in the mid-sized segment.

Am I going to trade in my F150? No. The Ridgeline just doesn't offer enough of a compelling reason to take the financial hit that I would take on a trade. The F150 is more truck than I need, and I may eventually trade it for a Ridgeline when I am not regularly hauling kids in the back seat and when the Ridgeline has made some improvements (hopefully a locking tail gate and a way to securely carry a full sized spare tire).
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Alright Festus, I know you're being sarcastic / tongue-in-cheek, but here is my response anyway...

I'd rather have the Odyssey than the Ridgeline. It is more sorted out, and has enough competition that Honda actually puts a lot of engineering thought and seemingly better QA/QC into its production.

However, you can't haul dirt bikes, lawn tractors, snowblower, large appliances in the Odyssey. Plywood and drywall are difficult, and yes, you can lay down a tarp to haul compost or mulch, but it just stinks up the van and dust/debris gets into nooks and crannies that the tarp can't cover.

Yes, I could use a trailer for all of those things, but the Odyssey doesn't come with an integrated tow hitch, and it's much more limited in what it can tow. Plus, I don't have room to store a trailer at my place.

Oh, and the Odyssey doesn't have AWD (I really thought that would be an option in the new version). I don't need AWD, but I like for my wife to have it when she has to make long road trips here in the wintry north.

So, yeah, the Ridgeline is the next best thing to the minivan, for my needs. Let the less-educated "truck guys" make fun of it all they want.... I will be the one with the last laugh! :p
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Uncle Festus said:
I read these threads, and I always end up wondering why so many truck haters bought a Ridgeline instead of an eminently more practical minivan that would fit their needs better. After all, you can haul 99% of the stuff in a minivan that you can in a Ridgeline, all you have to do is pull out the easily-removable seats or fold them flat. A minivan is more efficient, more practical, safer, more maneuverable in town, provides a better ride and handling, has similar ground clearance, seats more people, blah blah blah blah.

I see Ridgelines all over the place here in Texas, and I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever seen anybody towing or hauling anything with one. The vast majority of the ones I see have only one person in the truck and the bed is empty - what a complete obscene waste of resources.

NOBODY really needs a Ridgeline instead of a minivan. Anybody that buys one is just foolish, trying to intimidate other drivers, or compensating for a small weenie. They should have bought a minivan.
Click to expand...

Anytime I see an Accord, I think, "You could do that in a Civic, stop being insecure and buy a practical vehicle."
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longboat said:
Alright Festus, I know you're being sarcastic / tongue-in-cheek, but here is my response anyway...

I'd rather have the Odyssey than the Ridgeline. It is more sorted out, and has enough competition that Honda actually puts a lot of engineering thought and seemingly better QA/QC into its production.

However, you can't haul dirt bikes, lawn tractors, snowblower, large appliances in the Odyssey. Plywood and drywall are difficult, and yes, you can lay down a tarp to haul compost or mulch, but it just stinks up the van and dust/debris gets into nooks and crannies that the tarp can't cover.

Yes, I could use a trailer for all of those things, but the Odyssey doesn't come with an integrated tow hitch, and it's much more limited in what it can tow. Plus, I don't have room to store a trailer at my place.

Oh, and the Odyssey doesn't have AWD (I really thought that would be an option in the new version). I don't need AWD, but I like for my wife to have it when she has to make long road trips here in the wintry north.

So, yeah, the Ridgeline is the next best thing to the minivan, for my needs. Let the less-educated "truck guys" make fun of it all they want.... I will be the one with the last laugh! :p
Click to expand...

Mini-vans with AWD cannot have seats that fold into the floor. That is an engineering issue they really need to figure out, because a lot of people need (or feel more comfortable in) a vehicle with AWD.

The Odyssey also has 4.5 inches of ground clearance, which puts it in worrisome territory just pulling out of a steep driveway.

With a few tweaks though, a mini-van could be the best vehicle on the road for most people. There is a lot to like about vans.
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silkiechicken
Uncle Festus said:
NOBODY really needs a Ridgeline instead of a minivan. Anybody that buys one is just foolish, trying to intimidate other drivers, or compensating for a small weenie. They should have bought a minivan.
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Heck yeah, I'm compensating for a small weenie! Oh wait, I don't have one. LOL

I think if I wanted to intimidate other drivers I'd have gotten a Diesel truck, lifted it so it would be unusable, and added a light bar to the top. But then I would not have fit in the parking garage. I would say 95% of all trucks on the road, not just RL's are used as daily drivers moreso than stuff haulers. 99% of what I use my RL for I have been using my coupe for in over the last decade! That is to get from point A to point B in comfort.

I know some people with small livestock as a hobby that use a minivan....hosing animal poo out of a truck bed is WAY easier than trying to contain it in a tarp. Inevitability animal detritus escapes from the tarp and soaks into the interior. Trust me, my coupe will never smell the same. But heck I wanted and got a coupe... then I wanted and got a truck... I have always been foolish!
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FTM1
As said for 17yrs with my 2000 Acura TL and the 10 with 2007 Ridgeline.
I have used the steering wheel controls to adjust the volume on the radio.
Nobody else has any reason to be adjusting the volume control on the radio but driver while driving. If someone else is in the vehicle they can ask turn it up/down.
If I had Black Edition like are in my plans I would use steering wheel controls. If I had the models with a knob on the radio I would still use steering wheel control. 2000 TL has a knob on the radio as well as the 2007 Ridgeline.
I stopped using the radio knob when I purchased the TL Dec 1999.
I went to the Acura dealership with my 1994 Accord EX as trade in.
The steering wheel volume and Channel station/CD Track buttons I started using on the way home with new car. Same with Ridgeline first time I drove it was pretty much same in that vehicle.
Minivan is way different use of vehicle we had Dodge Caravan 10yrs it's a people mover. This is why when sister got new vehicle she did not get Honda Odyssey but went with Ridgeline. Hauling dirt mulch yard work stuff in the bed of a pickup much better then inside minivan. Hauling old junk to the dump. Large outdoor grille to somewhere else for large cookout gatherings.
If not carry 5-7 passengers on regular basis but haul items Ridgeline is more practical vehicle then Minivan or Crossover SUV. The truck bed and bonus in-bed trunk gives you the option to haul/carry stuff of various sizes and shapes. Also maintains your ability to carry driver and 4 passengers with stuff and not loose seating like minivan or SUV.
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noside85
I see most people around me in all sorts of vehicles drive alone, that's a waste as well. Picture me alone driving a vehicle that fits 8 people, sounds just as 'wasteful' as a truck with no load as you put it. Maybe we all need mopeds and tiny houses.

I can't think of one person who bought a Ridgeline to "intimidate other drivers"...
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gbusuk said:
The Toyota Sienna AWD back seat fold flat into the floor. The middle seats pop out easily enough. We just picked up a 2017 LE AWD for the wife and she loves it.
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Yeah, what I am referring to is the fact that middle seats cannot fold into the floor, they have to be removed. That is an engineering challenge that they really benefit from figuring out. My father bought a mini-van in 2014, and he said he would have bought a different brand if anybody offered an AWD van with seats that fold into the floor.

"Separate seats may be substituted for the bench, dropping passenger capacity to seven. Top-rung Limited models can even have airline-type reclining buckets. Second-row seats may be removed, but they don't fold into the floor as in Chrysler/Dodge minivans. With the third-row seat folded, cargo space totals 87.1 cubic feet."

2017 Toyota Sienna New Car Test Drive
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I think some of you missed the sarcasm in Uncle Festus' post.
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2017BE
nac386 said:
I think some of you missed the sarcasm in Uncle Festus' post.
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The sarcasm made no sense. I think most people missed it, if that's what it was.
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2017BE said:
The sarcasm made no sense. I think most people missed it, if that's what it was.
Click to expand...
:surprise:

No, wait...

:crying:

Or, on second thought...

:laugh:
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ISO Truck
nac386 said:
Mini-vans with AWD cannot have seats that fold into the floor. That is an engineering issue they really need to figure out, because a lot of people need (or feel more comfortable in) a vehicle with AWD. ....
Click to expand...

nac386 said:
Yeah, what I am referring to is the fact that middle seats cannot fold into the floor, they have to be removed. That is an engineering challenge that they really benefit from figuring out. My father bought a mini-van in 2014, and he said he would have bought a different brand if anybody offered an AWD van with seats that fold into the floor.....
Click to expand...

Now hold on there. Saying a mini-van "with AWD cannot have seats that fold into the floor" and saying "that middle seats cannot fold into the floor" are two very different propositions.

As gbusuk noted, the Sienna is available in AWD (and has been for over a dozen years) and rear seats fold right down flat into the floor. The middle row tumbles forward and leaves a flat cargo surface area that is larger than what the Ridgeline offers in the bed, plus the seats can then be easly removed enlarging the cargo space even further.

Last I checked (admittedly it's been a while), only the Chrysler-based mini-vans have fold-flat middle rows. They use the space that others use for the fuel tank. That is the exception in vans. So your father missed a good opportunity to buy a nicely engineered AWD mini-van. If he didn't like the tumble forward arrangement, he could have removed the seats and still had a 5-passenger AWD Sienna, and just quickly droppe din a middle row seat when/if he ever needed it (very easy to do.)

Definitely not saying a mini-van is a substitute for a Ridgeline or pick-up, but they are unquestionably very capable and versatile vehicles.
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Uncle Festus
ABSOLUTELY LMAO :laugh:

For those who don't "get" my previous post, it's pretty simple. Go back and re-read any of the million threads on this forum where Ridgeline owners preen their feathers at how much smarter / sophisticated they are than the foolish little-weenied scum who buy other brands / models of pickup, then read my post again. I was merely pointing out that the same logic used to condemn F-150 owners can be used by non-truck owners to condemn Ridgeline owners.

I am a rural guy. I have owned dozens of trucks in my life and I have 3 in the driveway right now - Ridgeline Gen 1, Chevy 1500, and a Dodge dually 1-ton diesel. My family uses them for different roles, and they all have nice features. The Ridge is practical and versatile, handles well, is a great daily driver with some neat features. The Chevy has a powerful V8 and is incredibly smooth and comfortable for long distance driving. The Dodge is an absolute beast of a workhorse, it is used to haul payloads and pull trailers that would leave the Ridgeline crumpled in a little weeping ball of aluminum and plastic and which would fry the transmission of the Chevy and crush its frame. On the flip side, the Dodge rides as stiff as an 1880's buckboard with no springs and it has all the NVH that one might expect from a diesel engine. But of the three it is still my favorite and the only that I can't do without -- because the other two cannot do what I need the Dodge to do.

TL;DR: Different strokes for different folks.

EDIT: Lame humor at the end removed, my sense of humor has always been like an anvil dropped on a cow patty... :crying: >:)
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His sarcasm was on point! People say that nobody really needs F150 and they can do away with Ridgeline, and he's was saying you don't really need Ridgeline, you can do away with Odyssey.
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NSIDER said:
You do realize both trucks scored "Good" in that test, yes? I will beat this dead horse one last time: THE RATING IS BASED ON CRASH TEST DUMMY DATA, NOT HOW THE VEHICLE LOOKS. *sigh*
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I am perfectly aware that both trucks received the same rating of "good". IIHS using very coarse rating scales. Couldn't it be entirely possible that each crash dummy experienced different levels of force, but still fell within the "good" spectrum? I'm simply trying to point out how much more extensive the damage was to the F150 under identical crash conditions. I made my purchase decision on many factors, including the crash video. IMO, the Ridgeline appears to be a safer vehicle. I was shocked how the F150 rear glass exploded on a frontal impact and how the empty bed crumpled. Now, if you can, imagine your children in a rear facing child seat getting sprayed with shattered glass. I also wonder how well the Ford could contain potential loads in the bed. If I was hauling a load of 2x4's would they end up penetrating the cab? Obviously, I don't know that answer, but the 2 videos lead me to the question.

Additionally, the video says a lot about the survival/salvage of the vehicle itself. While both crashes are very violent and the damage is significant, one vehicle might be salvageable and the other is clearly not.
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AG87BlkLX
Uncle Festus said:
ABSOLUTELY LMAO :laugh:

For those who don't "get" my previous post, it's pretty simple. Go back and re-read any of the million threads on this forum where Ridgeline owners preen their feathers at how much smarter / sophisticated they are than the foolish little-weenied scum who buy other brands / models of pickup, then read my post again. I was merely pointing out that the same logic used to condemn F-150 owners can be used by non-truck owners to condemn Ridgeline owners.
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I've said the same thing. It's funny watching Ridgeline guy explain how he's smarter than Full Size truck guy & Full Size truck guy make fun of Ridgeline guy for not buying a real truck.

Meanwhile Prius guys rides around laughing at both...while saying, "I'm saving the world."
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ISO Truck said:
Now hold on there. Saying a mini-van "with AWD cannot have seats that fold into the floor" and saying "that middle seats cannot fold into the floor" are two very different propositions.

As gbusuk noted, the Sienna is available in AWD (and has been for over a dozen years) and rear seats fold right down flat into the floor. The middle row tumbles forward and leaves a flat cargo surface area that is larger than what the Ridgeline offers in the bed, plus the seats can then be easly removed enlarging the cargo space even further.

Last I checked (admittedly it's been a while), only the Chrysler-based mini-vans have fold-flat middle rows. They use the space that others use for the fuel tank. That is the exception in vans. So your father missed a good opportunity to buy a nicely engineered AWD mini-van. If he didn't like the tumble forward arrangement, he could have removed the seats and still had a 5-passenger AWD Sienna, and just quickly droppe din a middle row seat when/if he ever needed it (very easy to do.)

Definitely not saying a mini-van is a substitute for a Ridgeline or pick-up, but they are unquestionably very capable and versatile vehicles.
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I agree that they are very capable and versatile. But my point still stands, you cannot purchase an AWD mini-van in which all of the seats fold into the floor. That is the point I was making. Your response is, "Well, some of the seats can, just not all." That is great if it works for you, but that is not what I was talking about.

Here is the Sienna seat configuration from the time my father was looking for a van:


He went with a Dodge because the seats did this:


If there was an option that had AWD, and did that, he would have bought it.
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Uncle Festus said:
I read these threads, and I always end up wondering why so many truck haters bought a Ridgeline instead of an eminently more practical minivan that would fit their needs better. After all, you can haul 99% of the stuff in a minivan that you can in a Ridgeline, all you have to do is pull out the easily-removable seats or fold them flat. A minivan is more efficient, more practical, safer, more maneuverable in town, provides a better ride and handling, has similar ground clearance, seats more people, blah blah blah blah.

I see Ridgelines all over the place here in Texas, and I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever seen anybody towing or hauling anything with one. The vast majority of the ones I see have only one person in the truck and the bed is empty - what a complete obscene waste of resources.

NOBODY really needs a Ridgeline instead of a minivan. Anybody that buys one is just foolish, trying to intimidate other drivers, or compensating for a small weenie. They should have bought a minivan.
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I love the sarcasm that others missed on here... but I ask, why drive a minivan if most drive solo? I mean, that's 7 wasted seats and unused cargo area, 99% of the time, is it not?!?!

>:) :wink: :grin:
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Uncle Festus
NOVARIDGE said:
I love the sarcasm that others missed on here... but I ask, why drive a minivan if most drive solo? I mean, that's 7 wasted seats and unused cargo area, 99% of the time, is it not?!?!

>:) :wink: :grin:
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Absolutely correct! >:) They should be driving a Segway!
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Uncle Festus said:
Absolutely correct! >:) They should be driving a Segway!
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LMAO! Or at the very least, a bicycle!

:laugh:
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Funny joke about that what Ridgeline owners really need is a minivan. I suppose all those silly f 150s with 4 doors and empty tiny truck beds really want a Ridgeline... Not a real work truck. For how they use it, a Ridgeline would work much better. Heck I guess they can, like many people, get a used 10k work truck and drive a new sports sedan daily, but apparently they get a new 40-60k truck and drive that instead. Who's the poser?

I'll admit I did NOT buy a Ridgeline to have a huge truck that tows the neighbor's house or does speed runs over rough terrain (plenty of funny YouTube vids of ford raptors completely destroying their trucks trying btw). I bought it as a comfortable utility vehicle to occasionally use as a truck and this the mindset most have unless they're determined to achieve a specific task (move horses, etc). I think it's fair to say I wanted a crossover (SUV, car, truck) and NOT a big hunker work truck. What's funny is how capable it is as a truck while still being more comfortable/ better handling than a car and that it's more than most people need 90% of the time. I'm sure plenty of Ridgeline owners will admit that their vehicle isn't a work truck or rock crawler, nor did they buy it for this...problem is an f 150 owner gets blindsided by these attributes and don't pay attention to everything else.

So no...a minivan and Ridgeline are completely different vehicles for different purposes and to look at it otherwise is like buying an f 150 because it was the biggest truck for the money even though you don't need the capability and perhaps could trade it off to get a better overall vehicle.

I've driven plenty of sports cars and can safely say that THE WORST handling vehicle to drive daily on pavement is a lifted front engine/front heavy rear wheel drive truck with a solid rear axle, leaf springs, unused 4x4 transfer case, and empty truck bed. It's great for doing work...hauling or towing, but that's it...and no you don't need a huge work truck to haul 10 bags of mulch or even 20 pieces of plywood. The person who buys it when there is a 'more car like truck' available to achieve the same work is the fool. At the same time, even a sports car is a poor choice for a daily driver (for reasons I'm not going to rant about here).

The bottom line is you get the right tool for the right job and while many do need an f 250 or similar big work truck, the vast majority don't and the Ridgeline is more than enough truck that sacrifices far less of being a car. Hence the mid/compact truck market niche.

To call it a Honda Accord with 4 wheel drive and a truck bed is accurate. And that's a good thing, especially for a practical daily driver utility vehicle. It's the top of the line Honda more or less, while the Ford 150 is a budget Ford work truck.
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