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Is the 2017 Honda Ridgeline Competition for Chevy Colorado?

6857 Views 30 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  RollyPollieBenito
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We don't know a lot about this truck just yet, but it looks a lot smaller than a full size truck, so is it going to compete with the Colorado, Canyon, Tacoma, Frontier, etc. in the mid-sized truck market? The previous generation of Ridgeline never really picked up a lot of momentum as it didn't really fit into any category. That, coupled with it's Avalanche-esque styling was really polarizing.

It looks like it will get the 3.5L V-6 that comes in the Pilot, so it should have decent power, so long as it doesn't weigh as much as a barge hauling bricks. The bed has a composite floor featuring an in-bed trunk where the full size spare normally goes in most trucks. The donut spare is accessed via this trunk. The bed also had 4 feet of floor space allowing owners to haul drywall and plywood sheets flat.

It certainly has a huge bed, but I wonder how the unibody will cope with loads and how the suspension will deal with towing. Perhaps if buyers want the comfort of a car, but need to haul loads every now and again the Ridgeline will be for them.

What do you guys think about this truck?
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Unibody and fwd platform not for me.
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5000lbs.towing capacity, doesn't seem like much competition.
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I love sponsored posts, it's a pilot with a bed basically
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Looks like an El Camino, AWD and no towing. Has a trunk inside the truck bed, perfect for suburban dad who wants to check the block of being a guy but can't commit to being a man. The colorado can be viewed in the same respect but 1 thing separates the colorado and honda to me which DIESEL CHEVROLET. Finally a diesel midsized truck! Thanks America!!
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Guys, i just traded my 2013 ridgeline for a 2016 Colorado diesel. Colorado is way better alternative. My honda was plagued with Knock sensor , check engine problems. suspension is a joke. it's independent suspension with springs and shock absorber at each wheel. No leaf springs like a normal truck has, like the Colorado.
If you want a Sedan that cosmetically only looks somewhat like a truck go with Honda. If you want a real truck, go with Chevy. Plus mileage you will get in the honda is 20mpg at best on higway, with the colorado i get 32mpg and sometimes 34. average 24mpg from the day i bought to 3500 miles that it has now. plus all the Onstar app features. the honda won't come even close.
Plus Honda will sneak out even if they sold you a lemon and won't abide by the lemon laws and will do every sneaky **** possible to not honor their end. So my advice. RUN AWAY FROM THE RIDGELINE. RUN, RUN.
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No diesel so I would say it can’t compete as far as I’m concerned.
That's a freakin' car folks! There's a comparison video on the net about it, just Google it which I'm sure some of you have. Happy viewing!o_O
In a general product class sense the answer is 'yes', the Ridgeline is in the same competitive class - after that features and usage preferences dictate choice.

I wanted a 4x4 diesel with light towing capability in the mid-size truck and price class of the Colorado and GM had the only offering which is I why I got it - had ANY other company offered up a diesel such as Toyota in their Tacoma, or Nissan's Frontier, even the Honda Ridgeline, I would have jumped on theirs in a heartbeat as GM's habit of not standing behind their products is probably the worst in the industry. (E.g. right now I have a smoky film build up on the inside of my headlight lenses they say is *normal* from condensation build up and drying - but normal is NO film or condensation and they are not replacing the lenses - which is an odd liability to accept because the Colorado has the worst rating for headlights to begin with).
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To answer the question in the title of this thread definitively... Absolutely not.

The ridgeline is NOT a pickup truck. It's a novelty niche vehicle like a Subaru Baja. The ridgeline is a front wheel drive (awd optional) unibody vehicle. It doesn't have a full size spare or a frame. It is less of a pickup truck than an elCamino was.

Worst "pickup truck" experience ever was when I had to use my moms ridgeline for work one day since my work truck was dead. Got a flat and had to empty the entire bed out on the side of the road to get to the (donut) spare underneath the novelty bed trunk lid.

Ridgelines have market share and they sell, they're comfortable and smooth to drive. They have novelty features that (some) people like. People also like odysseys and Siennas. It's just not a pickup truck.
My neighbor just bought one a few weeks ago. It look nice. He doesn't tow, he doesn't go offroad like me. He does home repair like me. The Ridgeline does fine. It is not for me but it work for him.

He let my dad drove it and my dad is in love. It have a lower entry, which allow my dad to slide in and out without stressing his back. It rides like my dad's Honda Accord. So we went to the Honda Dealer after Church so my dad can get one. It all ride on how much they will give him for his Accord. Mom is onboard too.

The way I see it is, its for people who love the ride of their full size car, but need a bed for extra large cargos.
I like the Colorado diesel but gotta say that the latest Ridgeline is better in just about every respect besides towing and torque (heck, it even has a higher rated bed weight capacity). If the Colorado did not have the diesel option than by no means would it stand much of a chance vs the Ridgeline! If it were not for the diesel option most of us here would not have bought the Colorado/Canyon, right? And if the 4 AWD Ridgeline was rated with an extra 2 to 3 thousand lbs towing than it would have been that much easier for us to choose it over the Colorado/Canyon diesel, I think. Not to mention Honda has better customer service and quality reputation than Chevy/GMC. But I am glad GMC took a chance and introduced the 2.8L LWN powerplant, that is the only reason the Colorado/Canyon can even compete vs the Ridgeline :D. Sure the Ridgeline is a few inches lower to the ground and its body structure is different than the typical pickup truck frame setup that's been around for generations and that it can't tow as much, but it still accomplishes the basics that defines a pickup. That is, to be able to tow a reasonable load, have at least rear wheel drive, have an open bed, and be able to handle rough dirt roads (I'm not talking about trails with foot high bolder protruding and ridiculous inclines, since most dirt roads that lead somewhere worthwhile are not going to be that bad).

I just hope the baby Duramax diesel and its transmission turns out to be reliably engineered&manufactured, else I'm going to be called out for it down the road and my reputation for advice will hit rock bottom :(

Having said all that, I ended up recommending the Colorado Diesel to my dad, not the Ridgeline, because of two things: better towing (essential for what he will be doing) and torque (diesel perk)...And guess witch one he opted for? Yup the diesel Colorado ! ! !


Mike Finker
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If there was a diesel in the Tacoma when I bought my Canyon, even the Denali package wouldn't have persuaded me. And everybody that know me, know I hate Toyota with a passion after having to deal with Toyota dealership and corporate.

Toyota Corp only see dollar signs. People mean nothing to them.
I like the Colorado diesel but gotta say that the latest Ridgeline is better in just about every respect besides towing and torque (heck, it even has a higher rated bed weight capacity). If the Colorado did not have the diesel option than by no means would it stand much of a chance vs the Ridgeline! If it were not for the diesel option most of us here would not have bought the Colorado/Canyon, right?


Mike Finker
If they had not come out with the diesel in the Canyon/ Colorado, I would not have went with one, and I would have also not went with a Toyota, Nissan, Honda or other brand, even if they did have a diesel (which btw the Nissan Titan has a 5.0 Cummins). I don't care for the looks of them. Or RAM for that matter. No, I would have went with my first love, a full size Duramax. We were originally looking at getting a 2006 to 2010 2500HD GMC or Chevy. Then we started looking at these more and we fell in love with the looks of the Canyon. It has a much bolder look, more full size truck looking, than the Colorado I think.

Which leads me to my next point. IF Toyota or Honda (not Nissan as again, they already have a diesel but I don't care for the looks of that truck at all) came out with a diesel in either of their little trucks, and I would not trade my truck. I just don't like the look and feel of it too much.
Just saw this. AND it might have a diesel in it too. Anyone like Hyundai? I don't, I just thought it was interesting.

https://gearheads.org/hyundai-truck-north-america/
Just saw this. AND it might have a diesel in it too. Anyone like Hyundai? I don't, I just thought it was interesting.

https://gearheads.org/hyundai-truck-north-america/
The only thing I like about Hyundai/Kia is that they are made here in Georgia and the other is right across the line in Alabama. They seem like decent cars, just don't please my eye
Just saw this. AND it might have a diesel in it too. Anyone like Hyundai? I don't, I just thought it was interesting.

https://gearheads.org/hyundai-truck-north-america/
The Hyundai/Kia stuff is pretty awesome and reliable for the price and they've been talking for a few years now about a truck but I would hope for a little more substance than something that looks like a kegger courier. As-is the Colorado Z71 Crew Cab with the "long" bed barely fit my requirements for what I consider the basic duties of a truck;
- haul an appliance, piece of furniture like a couch, substantially large dead critter, or my wrecked KLR 650 (I'd cry but the 3 cracked ribs, left fibula and ankle still hurt).
- allow me to camp and do things that rhyme with truck.
My commuter is a Hyundai Accent. Most reliable car i have ever own thus far. But that truck look like a Subaru brat. More like a trar than a truck.
The Hyundai/Kia stuff is pretty awesome and reliable for the price and they've been talking for a few years now about a truck but I would hope for a little more substance than something that looks like a kegger courier. As-is the Colorado Z71 Crew Cab with the "long" bed barely fit my requirements for what I consider the basic duties of a truck;
- haul an appliance, piece of furniture like a couch, substantially large dead critter, or my wrecked KLR 650 (I'd cry but the 3 cracked ribs, left fibula and ankle still hurt).
- allow me to camp and do things that rhyme with truck.
Cluck??

Did I win???:D:D
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