When I started my truck hunt it was let's go buy a Colorado but let's try everything else first before we actually buy it. We knew we wanted a compact truck, not a full size truck. So I went out to look around. We first tried a Colorado, it was nice, had interesting features and was comfortable. We like the leather seats in that better because of the added power seat features. And we were pretty much sold, it was during Employee Pricing month so it was a significant reduction in price without the need to haggle my way there. We then went to a Nissan dealership, and still the Colorado was well in advance. I really didn't like the Frontier at all, it wasn't very comfortable, and the sales guy was a gnat (which means he talked about what he wanted to at the annoyance of myself and my wife) and he only let us take maybe a 2 mile test drive so he was useless, when I asked how does it handle on the highway, instead of suggesting I take it 1/2 mile away to the highway to try out, he said fine. So he lost even a chance of Nissan getting a sale. We then drove down the street to the Toyota dealership, the guy was nice and the car had interesting features. The Tacoma has the ability to have the nice outlet in the bed, the composite bed was nice, and the truck rode okay. The problem was that it was hard to get into, and the rear seat room was the least of the three trucks we had tried to that moment. I am not sure how Toyota says they have more leg room than they do. When the driver has his seat back in place there is no room. I was able to fit somewhat comfortably behind the driver's seat in every other truck with the driver's seat set so I could drive. But when I tried to get behind the driver in the Tacoma it just didn't work, I could sit there, but maybe only for 10 to 15 minutes before I would have to get out. I looked at the Dodge but had no interest in it at all, I can't even explain why, I didn't even take a test drive. The Ranger is the same Ranger it was 5 to 10 years ago, it just isn't even current. I tried one before and didn't bother to try one this time out. Then we went to the Honda dealership to try out the Ridgeline. I had tried one before when I was out getting my wife's car serviced but I just took it for a quick drive. This time I tried sitting in the back, sitting in the front, and all that. Also the first time out I took an RTS for a ride. I really disliked leather before this. I have to say in the test drive with my wife she was impressed. In fact it is the first time I have ever gone shopping for a vehicle and my wife actively tried to convince me to buy the most expensive vehicle in the list.
I bought the Ridgeline because it was the best equiped by default without adding extra accessories, the most comfortable with 4 adults in the car (I have yet to find any vehicle I would put 5 adults in and call it comfortable), it was the smoothest driving vehicle, and had the most unique storage features. And probably the biggest reason, my wife seemed interested in all the stuff that went into buying this truck. And we have done 3 trips to Home Depot and gone canoeing already with it, something we haven't done for a while before getting the truck. So we are doing more now that we have the new toy, but it may just be the newness.
If the Ridgeline meets your needs you will not regret the purchase.
