2012 Honda Ridgeline Review

Overview

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline is a versatile four-door five-passenger half ton pickup truck offering a comfortable ride, precise handling and impressive performance. The 2012 Honda Ridgeline receives styling upgrades and improved highway fuel economy for 2012, along with a new Ridgeline Sport model that provides high-value features targeted at the entry four-wheel-drive truck segment. The 2012 Ridgeline is now available in four models, including the Ridgeline RT, new Ridgeline Sport, Ridgeline RTS and Ridgeline RTL.

Power and performance

Under the hood is a 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC VTEC V-6 engine that pumps out 250-hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. The engine is teamed with an advanced, electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission and fully automatic 4-wheel-drive system. The Ridgeline tows up to 5000 lbs. Its advanced 4-wheel independent suspension and chassis have been designed for towing, hauling and occasional off-road use. Its total payload capacity is 1546 lbs (RTS- 1497 / 1486 lbs with Navigation). It can tow up to 5000 lbs. *The 2012 Honda Ridgeline returns with a new EPA fuel rating of 15/21/17 city/highway/combined mpg, up 1 mpg in the highway rating.

Body and styling

The Ridgeline is a five-passenger truck designed on an integrated closed-box frame with unit-body construction and a steel-reinforced composite (SRC) cargo bed. It features industry first in-bed trunk that contributes to its distinguishing features with good ground clearance and exceptional off-road capabilities. Upgrades on all models for 2012 include a refreshed grille design, aerodynamic improvements and friction reduction measures in the engine. The new Ridgeline Sport model adds the following features to the Ridgeline RT: exclusive black 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels ( 1 inch from RT steel wheels); exclusive black honeycomb grille with black surround; leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; auxiliary audio input jack; fog lights; rear privacy glass; all weather floor mats and black headlight and brake light housings. A double-action tailgate, in-bed trunk, variable intermittent windshield wipers with automatic heated wiper zone, chrome grille surround, integrated class III trailer hitch and multi-reflector halogen headlights with auto-off feature are the standard exterior features. A power moonroof is standard on the RTL. Ridgeline gets a user-friendly interior cabin. Significant among interiors is a large multi-functional storage console, easy-to-access controls, air conditioning with air-filtration system (RT), dual-zone automatic climate control with air-filtration system (RTS and RTL), power windows, power door locks, cruise control, steering wheel mounted controls, leather wrapped steering wheel (RTL), MP3/Windows Media Audio (WMA) playback capable 100-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 6 Speakers (RT) and 160-Watt AM/FM/6-disc In-Dash CD Audio System with 7 speakers including subwoofer (RTS and RTL) are key interior features. A Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition and rearview camera is optional.

Safety Features

All 2012 Honda Ridgelines are equipped with these standard safety features: advanced dual-state, multiple-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); two-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; front-seat active head restraints; a tire pressure monitoring system; and daytime running lights. Vehicle Stability Assist, commonly referred to as electronic stability control, can apply braking force to a wheel with low traction and direct driving force to the wheel with more traction.