Just remember that the 1957 Mercury only got 7 MPG if you were lucky.
The 1960 Cadillac got about 10 mpg 12 on the highway.
the 1964 Ford Mustang with the 200 CID (smaller than the 220 CID 3.5L Ridgeline engine) got about 14 MPG and weighs half of what the Ridgeline does.
I suspect most of the MPG gains of the next generation Ridgeline will be from the more aerodynamic front end that 2016 Pilot has. The Brick like front end of the 2005-2014 Ridgeline costs about 3-4 MPG at 70 MPH.
I prefer to get better MPG from aerodynamics over unproven 9 and 10 speed technology. More little parts mean less reliable and shorter life.
I got 300,000 miles on my 1991 Accord before it was totaled with no transmission issues, the 1994 Accord has 220,000 miles now and still runs like new ( some rust where doors have been smacked against the body and where shopping carts rolled into the vehicle.
Also both the 1991 and 1994 seat have better material after 20 plus years than the Ridgeline after 30 days. WTF Honda - go back the the material supplier you got that seats from back then.