Honda Ridgeline to Receive a Second Coming
Though Honda’s foray into Truck Mountain was met with slow sales, the automaker is standing behind the Ridgeline with plans for a second generation to make its ascent in two years’ time.
The new Ridgeline will be completely redeveloped from the wheels up in the United States, and is set to be assembled in Honda’s Lincoln, Ala. plant where the current generation is, until June 2014, still being screwed together. The automaker has given no word thus far on what all will go into the new truck — including whether or not it will continue to share its underpinnings with the Odyssey minivan — though they do believe that the second generation will fare better bolstered by growth in the small/medium truck sector over the next few years, due mainly to economic growth, lower gas prices, and more disposable income.
As for the outgoing generation, 16,160 units left the lot through November 2013, an increase of 29 percent over last year’s sales. Total sales since the Ridgeline’s debut in 2005 comes to 242,049 to date, with a special edition for the 2014 model year recently making the rounds in many a Honda showroom.
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My wife and I have a 2006, all stock with a few factory extras. At 106000 miles it has been trouble free other than the typical needs and wear and tear items. It handles more like a car and has great get up and go but it is a bit hard on fuel. We like it for the room, handling and trick storage in the bed. The few times that we have needed the bed of the truck it has performed well with yard waste or a load of goods from the lumber store. I have no complaints and off-road in the light stuff it has always done very well. I would buy another.
The Lincoln plant was opened in 2001, primarily to build the Odyssey. Right now they're putting together the Odyssey, the Ridgeline, the Pilot and the MDX. They first started building the Ridgeline at the Alliston facility, but completely switched production over to Lincoln in '09- I'm guessing exchange rates had a lot to do with this. Dropping the Ridgeline would leave a hole in the Lincoln facility that would have to be filled somehow: new product, increased production of existing product, or idled workers. Better to try again despite a disappointing first result than deal with questions of capacity. I find it revealing that they shifted V6 Accord production to Lincoln from '09-'10- spread the pain around, I guess.
It's fascinating for me, a Ridgeline owner since 2006, to read these comments. For me it's a great vehicle - I'm a suburban dad with just enough DIY projects and trips to the dump to make a pickup truck attractive. (One note: a commenter said the Ridgeline will carry a 4X8 sheet of plywood flat, with the tailgate closed. This simply ain't true.) I agree that the truck is ugly. But is it kinda-cool ugly, or just ugly-ugly? I find it to be the former. But then I think the same about the Juke, so maybe my eyes need testing. I have towed my race car with the Ridgeline. Between car, trailer and extra tires, that's 5000 pounds. I wouldn't want to tow so much with this truck on a regular basis, but it works just fine. My Ridgeline has nearly 160,000 miles on the odo with nothing but routine maintenance. I am thrilled to hear they're offering a second generation, and I can just about guarantee you I'll buy one during the second model year - mine will be at 200,000 miles by then.
You guys are going to laugh, but Consumer Reports named current generation Ridgeline a "best value in class". Saw the news today.