Anonymous

Reviewed a 2025 Honda Ridgeline on Oct 31, 2025

I started my truck search looking at full-size trucks, but honestly didn’t want the exterior size to be that big. Just on a side, have you noticed how a lot of the worst drivers on the road are driving the big full-size trucks? I didn’t know the purpose of having a Hemi to actually run people off the road. You know what I mean? That dude is barreling down the interstate doing about 87mph pulling a big @$$ box trailer and he’s like fish tailing all over the place? Back to the review. I drove a Jeep Gladiator, a Tacoma, a Colorado and the Nissan Frontier. The Gladiator was almost scary on the highway. Lots of wind noise and blowing me all over the place even at the lower highway speeds around 55-60mpg. For that reason, it didn’t make sense to me as a daily driver on paved roads. While the new Colorado and Tacoma have that brawny stance, neither of them have a V6. What’s the deal with the 4 banger turbo thing? It’s like Arnold Schwarzenegger in that old Christmas movie, “Jingle All The Way.” “I have to get the “Turbo Man!!” What they are not telling you about the 4 cylinder turbo stuff is that even if a 4 cylinder engine has the power of Ivan Drago in Rocky 4, it is working harder to produce that power compared to the naturally aspirated V6. Multiple mechanics I know personally have said the same thing. Inside, both Tac and Colorado were small and cramped. At first glance, you think they are going to be bigger inside then they are. This was disappointing and strange given how the outside is larger than their prior generations. An odd tech. thing about the Colorado was that you actually turn the headlights on using the touch screen. I also thought that the inside materials in the Colorado felt cheap. That glossy plastic stuff if you know what I mean. I liked the tow rating, but decided to keep shopping. The Frontier was actually my second favorite truck behind the Ridgeline. The naturally aspirated V6 instead of the turbo was already setting it above the other trucks. Then, I drove the Ridgeline and it was like Wow!! This thing rocks!! Honda’s proven reliable V6, smooth driving, yet flexible enough on the dirt or gravel roads, I can fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood flat in the bed because there’s no stupid wheel well hump. I absolutely love the tailgate swing out! It gets my body closer to whatever goods I am lifting out of the back instead of having to lean forward. Honda nailed it with this feature! Plus, let me just say that Ridgeline’s interior almost feels like a full size truck. I have tall teenage boys and the first thing they said when they got in the Ridgeline was “Wow dad!! This is nice and big inside!” Plus, as roomy as it is, I like that Ridgeline fits in a standard garage space too! If you get heavy rains, or it happens to snow, it’s nice to be covered when you want to be. You’ve got drive settings for different terrain and that suits my needs. Another reviewer said the Ridgeline meets the needs of 80% of people driving trucks and he nailed it with that statement. it’s absolutely true. A lot of people are driving big trucks and Jeeps and they never actually use them for the purpose they are intended for. You have those folks that don’t actually need 4 wheel drive. If you’re like me, you want a truck that gives you the utility you need, want to grab some landcape supplies, sheet goods, farm or garden stuff, and rides awesome on both paved and gravel or dirt roads, this is the truck for you. Don’t you love these guys with Jeep fantasies that make stupid videos criticizing Honda trying to create skepticism like…. “Can it do any serious off roading?” You can’t criticize it for something it’s not designed for. If you want a rock crawler you get a Jeep or something similar (locking differential, higher ground clearance, a lift, bigger rubber etc,).