[chuckaly]

Have had a few hiccups with my '08 Ridgeline getting its airbags replaced, but overall am very pleased with how they took care of me.

While at the dealership Saturday for the service, I did a walk around of the new RL. And my fears after seeing the photos/marketing are confirmed. The driver and passenger seats seem lower, the connected console feels car-like and the styling is also car-like. The back seat is smaller no matter what the salesman tells me and the in-bed trunk is substantially smaller. In short, the Ridgeline is no longer a truck. It is a small SUV with a bed tacked on. Emphasis on small. Only thing I can think is that their research pointed them to a new and different market for the RL and they were willing to leave the old customers behind. When I finally roll out of my 08 RL, it'll be F-150 or maybe one of the Toyotas. Sigh.

 

[IanRTL]

That's sort of what I'm feeling, too. The new one, although having some familiar features, is a vast departure from the first generation. Yes, I do believe it's better in its power, efficiency, tech gadgets and safety, but the overall feeling the 1st gen had is all but gone. The styling is growing on me (with the exception of the front end), but my initial walk-around of it wasn't favorable. Still haven't driven one, but I'm not a buyer now anyways.

 

[kuno3x16]

I went in for recall also and looked at the new Ridgeline... it looks ok, It just needs to look more aggressive! Trucks are supposed to look aggressive! The new ridgeline should be called CR-V Truck Edition.

 

[zroger73]

Have had a few hiccups with my '08 Ridgeline getting its airbags replaced, but overall am very pleased with how they took care of me.

While at the dealership Saturday for the service, I did a walk around of the new RL. And my fears after seeing the photos/marketing are confirmed. The driver and passenger seats seem lower, the connected console feels car-like and the styling is also car-like. The back seat is smaller no matter what the salesman tells me and the in-bed trunk is substantially smaller. In short, the Ridgeline is no longer a truck. It is a small SUV with a bed tacked on. Emphasis on small. Only thing I can think is that their research pointed them to a new and different market for the RL and they were willing to leave the old customers behind. When I finally roll out of my 08 RL, it'll be F-150 or maybe one of the Toyotas. Sigh.

But, did you drive it?

That's what tipped the scales for me.

 

[IanRTL]

I went in for recall also and looked at the new Ridgeline... it looks ok, It just needs to look more aggressive! Trucks are supposed to look aggressive! The new ridgeline should be called CR-V Truck Edition.

Agreed whole-heartedly. The rear and the profile view of the truck is fine in my eyes. The front end is decidedly too "Pilot" and way too rounded. I know the design is functional for aerodynamics, but it needs a more masculine design in general. I really hope Honda does this for a refresh within the next few years.

 

[FTM1]

I like the appearance of the 2nd Gen Ridgeline still waiting to see one out and about. Only seen the three on dealers lot when they first came out.
But not so worried about overall looks. Now the new GMC Acadia looks like the GMC Canyon pick-up. I think that is the best looking pick-up taking it's frontal looks from Sierra.

 

[eurban]

Have had a few hiccups with my '08 Ridgeline getting its airbags replaced, but overall am very pleased with how they took care of me.

While at the dealership Saturday for the service, I did a walk around of the new RL. And my fears after seeing the photos/marketing are confirmed. The driver and passenger seats seem lower, the connected console feels car-like and the styling is also car-like. The back seat is smaller no matter what the salesman tells me and the in-bed trunk is substantially smaller. In short, the Ridgeline is no longer a truck. It is a small SUV with a bed tacked on. Emphasis on small. Only thing I can think is that their research pointed them to a new and different market for the RL and they were willing to leave the old customers behind. When I finally roll out of my 08 RL, it'll be F-150 or maybe one of the Toyotas. Sigh.

I agree with much of what you said.

I really can't fathom why Honda would reduce the size of the in bed trunk. Its one of the Ridgeline's signature features and it adds a lot of complexity and cost to the truck. You go to the trouble of keeping this feature yet you make it noticeably smaller??

Rear door access seems to be a similarly confounding issue. Rear passenger access is more difficult than the GenI and even though you have nearly as much space (as the GenI) in the back with the seats folded up, you can't make full use of it. How much engineering, added cost, added complexity did it take to have the transforming rear seat area? How much more would it have taken to have the doors open up properly???

All this said, you comment about size is off. The difference in interior space between the 2 gens is minimal at most. The rear seat area may be a bit tighter (which is most certainly the wrong direction) but interior room is essentially unchanged. The GenII is about the same width as the GenI and a few inches longer. . . . While the GenII might FEEL more like a small SUV it most certainly is not. It is in fact a good bit bigger that the other Midsize trucks (short bed configs).

 

[zroger73]

Let's not forget that a second generation Ridgeline almost never was. If not for a few internal people and a relatively small group of external people practically begging Honda, we might not even have what we have. As such, the second generation Ridgeline was developed on a shoestring budget. The only way to make it happen was to take an existing Honda product (the Pilot) and put a bed on it with a few minor modifications to the suspension. This is anything but a high-volume vehicle that makes a whole lot of difference to Honda's bottom line - in fact, the Ridgeline means almost nothing to Honda as a company. It's a way to fill gaps in their production line and to keep a few loyal Honda buyers who may be in the market for a light duty pickup from leaving the Honda family. Don't overestimate the importance of the Ridgeline. The Ridgeline is almost certainly more important to us than it is to Honda. If they never sold another one, they'd be just fine. I promise. If you like the Ridgeline as it is, buy one and enjoy it. If not, go buy a Toyota, Nissan, or Chevrolet. Either way, don't expect Honda to make any major changes to the Ridgeline in terms of styling, capacity, capability, or performance while it remains in production. That's highly unlikely to happen unless the demand for the Ridgeline becomes so great for a significant enough amount of time that prompts Honda to make major and expensive changes to accommodate production. Otherwise, the Ridgeline will continue mostly as-is.

 

[14v6]

I think the RL looks ok, never liked the look of the Pilot. Most Honda designs grow on me over time, but not the Pilot. That unpainted rear bumper reminds me of an Accord DX of the 1980's. The RL would look a lot better with an improved stance. Fill out the wheel wells a bit and move the wheels outward especially the front.

 

[FTM1]

I think the RL looks ok, never liked the look of the Pilot. Most Honda designs grow on me over time, but not the Pilot. That unpainted rear bumper reminds me of an Accord DX of the 1980's. The RL would look a lot better with an improved stance. Fill out the wheel wells a bit and move the wheels outward especially the front.

Until 2016 Honda Pilot I never liked any of them as for as looks. The last Generation looks like a big box or my 1994 GE Profile refrigerator I have always liked every MDX as far as looks. The 2017 Ridgeline looks better than Pilot.

 

[wrenrj1]

While I like the exterior looks, I think the compromises they made will not make me want to trade my Gen I in anytime soon. One of the major factors is, that the Subaru Forester has more ground clearance than than the Gen 2 RL. Glad to know our purchase of 2016 Subaru Forester was a great choice.

 

[davedad]

I too am highly disappointed in the gen 2, I don't like and never did like the styling of the gen 2, call me strange but I liked the buttress on the gen 1. I don't like the dividing mldg. between the cab and the box(don't try to be something your not. The in bed trunk is smaller, I don't like donut spares and am disappointed in the fact that you can not store a full size spare in the trunk, I hate the front end. I do like the elevated backseat, the ride and it having more power. All in all I think Honda missed the boat but that my opinion. I have been looking for a new vehicle and it definitely will not be a Honda, I have two Subarus in the house now and both seem superior to Honda so I might add a 3rd however Subaru does not have a P/U, if I end up with another P/U it will probably be a Ram thanks to Honda.

 

[RocknRob]

I also own 2012 Subaru cross trek and the interior quality is cheap and does not compare to Honda's. All Subaru's have the same looking cheap interior even there high priced STI. The CVT is horrible.

 

[Im Buz]

Let's not forget that a second generation Ridgeline almost never was. If not for a few internal people and a relatively small group of external people practically begging Honda, we might not even have what we have. As such, the second generation Ridgeline was developed on a shoestring budget. The only way to make it happen was to take an existing Honda product (the Pilot) and put a bed on it with a few minor modifications to the suspension. This is anything but a high-volume vehicle that makes a whole lot of difference to Honda's bottom line - in fact, the Ridgeline means almost nothing to Honda as a company. It's a way to fill gaps in their production line and to keep a few loyal Honda buyers who may be in the market for a light duty pickup from leaving the Honda family. Don't overestimate the importance of the Ridgeline. The Ridgeline is almost certainly more important to us than it is to Honda. If they never sold another one, they'd be just fine. I promise. If you like the Ridgeline as it is, buy one and enjoy it. If not, go buy a Toyota, Nissan, or Chevrolet. Either way, don't expect Honda to make any major changes to the Ridgeline in terms of styling, capacity, capability, or performance while it remains in production. That's highly unlikely to happen unless the demand for the Ridgeline becomes so great for a significant enough amount of time that prompts Honda to make major and expensive changes to accommodate production. Otherwise, the Ridgeline will continue mostly as-is.

+1 on this post

 

[wrenrj1]

I also own 2012 Subaru cross trek and the interior quality is cheap and does not compare to Honda's. All Subaru's have the same looking cheap interior even there high priced STI. The CVT is horrible.

Hmm. Just curious why you bought it. Our 2016 Forester has a great interior, while not for me, it's the wife's car.

 

[DeuceRon]

I saw a Black Edition in person and gotta say, it's really nice. Don't know if I'd pay that price for it, but it's a nice looking truck, inside and out.

 

[Junopapa]

Agreed whole-heartedly. The rear and the profile view of the truck is fine in my eyes. The front end is decidedly too "Pilot" and way too rounded. I know the design is functional for aerodynamics, but it needs a more masculine design in general. I really hope Honda does this for a refresh within the next few years.

Nope. Don't ruin the G2 like Toyota did with the Pre-Runner.

 

[Klh]

I saw a Black Edition in person and gotta say, it's really nice. Don't know if I'd pay that price for it, but it's a nice looking truck, inside and out.

Just to show the effects of time, I agreed with this enough to buy G2 BE. I never liked the looks of the G1.

 

[GreginJaxFL]

I like the new front End on my 2021!

 

[Ray S]

Interesting revival of an old thread. I own a G1 like many of the prior posters and I agree with some of their comments. It is disappointing they shrunk the trunk, but the interior design, feature, and amenities are far nicer on the G2. I didn’t take a tape measure to the new one i drove, but the interior volume seems about the same to me (as my G1).

I really like the new front end and I’ll probably purchase a ‘21.