We all agree that the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is a damn good utility pickup, but is it a real truck now?
Recently, Tommy and Roman drove a 2021 Honda Ridgeline HPD from California to Boulder, Colorado while towing a side-by-side. They both were extremely impressed with the Honda. Both agreed that, for the money, it is one of the most comfortable, utilitarian vehicles in its class.
You can read about that review (here).
Now, it’s time for our truck-meister Andre to get behind the wheel. This 2021 Honda Ridgeline comes with a 280 horsepower V6 that makes 262 lbs-feet of torque. It’s hooked up to a (push-button) 9-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped, the Ridgeline can tow up to 5,000 lbs, and it has a maximum payload of 1,583 lbs.
Andre is a hard sell when it comes to the Ridgeline. He knows that other midsize pickup trucks it competes against can pull over 2,000 lbs more. On top of that, unlike all the current competitors, the Honda Ridgeline is a unibody vehicle with an integrated subframe. It has a four-wheel independent suspension, which is not set up for serious off-roading.
He knows that the 2021 Honda Ridgeline HPD in this trim runs just shy of $40,000. It’s a $36,490 base vehicle with the $2,800 HPD trim package. Basically, that’s the same price for a 2021 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4×4 – and other, very capable pickup trucks.
The thing is: as a utility vehicle, the Honda is actually better than its competitors. It is a veritable Swiss-Army-Knife of cargo and storage management. The bed has a huge cargo trunk underneath. It has a multi-configurable tailgate and a bed that’s low enough to easily reach inside. The interior is the most comfortable and has unique cargo setups as well.
All in all, it’s a damn good ride – but what will truck-fanboy Andre think?
In this video, Andre gives us a detailed tour of the Honda and gives you his opinion about whether or not its a truck.
