Redesigned 2017 Honda Ridgeline: I don't want to like it, but...

[Torn Mind]

I understand the point, I truly do, but that doesn't answer the question of why one company is using a CVT and is perfectly comfortable recommending its customers tow 3000lbs with it, and another one doesn't recommend towing at all when it previously did. What's the difference? Is Subaru comfortable putting the transmission at risk? Are they just using better transmissions? If that's the case then it's not the CVT itself that's the problem, it's the quality of the transmission in general which has always been a factor.

So I still stand behind what I've said. There's no reason they couldn't use a CVT and keep the same tow rating, but for whatever reason they did. They may have decided to use a CVT that wasn't capable of it. However that's not a fault of CVT technology itself, but only because they chose to use one that had less capabilities.

Perhaps it is indeed engineered better. However, whether or not even it can last past 130-150K remains a question mark that awaits more data points.

 

[Kaido]

I find it strange that Kaido wants to stick with an American car after getting thoroughly burned by Jeep. Of course there is the fact that Jeep is among the least reliable American made cars.

My Renegade is a first-year product made by Jeep & Fiat...given the reputation of both of those brands, plus being a new design, I knew I was taking a risk. My loaner Renegade has had no issues, and I know several people with them with no issues. Mine, OTOH, currently stalls going into reverse (on an automatic, no less) I just drew the short straw & got a lemon, and I know that my car is in the minority.

But in the past, I've had no problems with Fords & other American-made cars. In fact, I would consider getting another Renegade...if it was a second-year model & had a stick-shift transmission, and I'd probably also skip the Uconnect head unit too haha...I think those three things would make it a great car. I don't care for their 8/9-speed transmissions at all, not on the Renegade, Cherokee, or 200 that I've driven with them. Even with ample power in the engine, I don't like the tranny...Subaru's CVT is sooooo much better.

Top of the list right now is an AWD Sienna. Also thinking about a 2017 Acadia, but I've learned my lesson on buying first-year designs/redesigns lol. Downside is the bigger SUV's & vans are a lot more expensive than a Renegade

 

[Kaido]

Would you consider a used truck? They seem to have huge depreciation. and didn't we all warn you about the renegade in another thread?

Yes & yes, I humbly admit my mistake

 

[Kaido]

I understand the point, I truly do, but that doesn't answer the question of why one company is using a CVT and is perfectly comfortable recommending its customers tow 3000lbs with it, and another one doesn't recommend towing at all when it previously did. What's the difference? Is Subaru comfortable putting the transmission at risk? Are they just using better transmissions? If that's the case then it's not the CVT itself that's the problem, it's the quality of the transmission in general which has always been a factor.

So I still stand behind what I've said. There's no reason they couldn't use a CVT and keep the same tow rating, but for whatever reason they did. They may have decided to use a CVT that wasn't capable of it. However that's not a fault of CVT technology itself, but only because they chose to use one that had less capabilities.

My wife's Subaru has the best CVT I've driven, feels plenty torquey. Nissan comes in a close second. Didn't like Honda's CVT at all (granted, only tested it on the HR-V). I think it really depends on the manufacturer. Already put 20k miles on our Forester without any hiccups, absolutely loving that thing!

 

[Meghan54]

So in other words most trucks being sold today aren't real trucks? I see lots of HD crew cabs out there with 6' beds.....

6 1/2' beds are what are considered the "standard" length box/bed. Drop the tailgate and you have an 8' flat floor, something the Honda never will. There really are no 6' beds, at least in full sized American pickups.

 

[Meghan54]

I understand the point, I truly do, but that doesn't answer the question of why one company is using a CVT and is perfectly comfortable recommending its customers tow 3000lbs with it, and another one doesn't recommend towing at all when it previously did. What's the difference? Is Subaru comfortable putting the transmission at risk? Are they just using better transmissions? If that's the case then it's not the CVT itself that's the problem, it's the quality of the transmission in general which has always been a factor.

So I still stand behind what I've said. There's no reason they couldn't use a CVT and keep the same tow rating, but for whatever reason they did. They may have decided to use a CVT that wasn't capable of it. However that's not a fault of CVT technology itself, but only because they chose to use one that had less capabilities.

Very true. CVT's can be designed and built to tow huge loads or put up with huge loads. Heck, the one in the Murano did quite fine towing a 2800# boat/trailer combo from Wisconsin to Cape Cod, even in the snowstorm that I drove through around Rochester, NY.

 

[styrafoam]

Man that Jalopnik article is a mess. Trucks are frivolous and unnecessary, but the public would be crazy not to buy this thing. The public should recognize that what they really need is a minivan based crossover with a bunch of pointless, weird features. People who want a truck will get a truck, because truck reasons. People who want a car will get a car, because they know they don't want or "need" a truck.

Also, Chevy Avalanche was and still remains discontinued. It wasn't a FWD 6cyl though, so this deserves a fair shake. Because those are qualities everyone is looking for.

 

[rancherlee]

I'd have to agree with some posters here, this Ridgeline is all the truck than 75% of current truck owners need. Hell, 1/2 the Diesel truck owners I know never tow a trailer over 3000#. I "downgraded" to an F150 because I never tow more than 7500#, smaller Skidsteer on a trailer, and don't miss my Old 7.3 Powerstroke one bit. If all I had to tow was my 4 place snowmobile/atv trailer I strongly consider the Ridgeline.

 

[deathBOB]

Also, Chevy Avalanche was and still remains discontinued. It wasn't a FWD 6cyl though, so this deserves a fair shake. Because those are qualities everyone is looking for.

Of course. The Avalanche shared all the problems of a full sized truck while adding additional compromises. There's no reason for it to exist alongside modern crew cab trucks.

The Ridgeline is completely different.

 

[Midwayman]

I actually agree with Jalopnik. It looks like a great practical car that most truck buyers will never consider because it isn't enough of a penis extension. Same deal with SUVs vs minivans. I don't think it'll really be a failure, but it'll probably poach from the SUV market rather than the truck market.

 

[Kaido]

The 2018 model is finally out:

https://automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline

Quick overview:

http://blog.caranddriver.com/2018-honda-ridgeline-sees-fewer-choices-higher-prices/

&

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2018-honda-ridgeline-pares-down-trims-bumps-up-price/

Available in FWD or AWD (no RWD and no 4WD available). My test-drive review of the 2017 Ridgeline is here:

http://www.portvapes.co.uk/?id=Latest-exam-1Z0-876-Dumps&exid=threads/new-jeep-renegade-yay-nay.2454030/page-15#post-38461941

My biggest complaint at the time was the crappy armrests, but there are aftermarket ones available now, including I believe a center console armrest. My second biggest complaint was that it wasn't peppy to drive...steering was super fun, but the engine wasn't zippy. Solid, but not...fun, as far as the acceleration goes. But at least it has a standard 6-speed automatic transmission instead of the awful 9-speed auto I've been driving in my Renegade.

Overall though, I really liked it...plenty of room, felt compact for a truck, drove nice, etc. Biggest downside is the good configuration with TACC is like $42k. I can think of a lot of other (more sporty) vehicles I'd rather be driving for that price than a pickup truck. Plus the Chevy ZR2 is a new competitor & looks pretty awesome (although no TACC)...I don't ever really go off-roading (no legal public trails in CT & I'm smack-dab in the middle of the state), so the aggressive styling & tires would pretty much just be for looks. Anyway, I've been keeping an eye on the local Honda dealerships to see if they have any used 2nd-gen Ridgelines for sale, hopefully defect-free, although they've only been out for a year or so, so it's still pretty early.

My Renegade is coming up for trade-in next month (KBB/depreciation crossover point) & this is high on my list of vehicles to trade in for. I am hoping to get something I can keep for 10 or 15 years that will be fairly hassle-free; my previous Fit & Civic were both super low-maintenance. Jeep has made some progress in fixing my Renegade's issues (it hasn't completely died in a few months now, yay), and even though I haven't really found anything else I like as much as the spacious interior width of the Renegade (combined with the small exterior footprint), I am not interested in picking up another one since they still have the 9-speed on it, which I don't really care for.

I'm still confused as to why trucks are so expensive these days

 

[LikeLinus]

Wow, I haven't seen a single one of these on the road in the past year and half?!?! It looks like a CRV with it's rear chopped off and a bed added. It's pretty ugly. No, it's REALLY ugly.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

These things seem to hold their value crazy-well.

 

[Pulsar]

These things seem to hold their value crazy-well.

Well, they do fill a niche. Even if they are hideous. The Ford Flex is the same way. Ass-ugly car that fills a niche superbly. It'll always be mocked (the ridgeline) as a not-truck. But the people who buy it aren't buying to for it's truck-ness.

I can mock it and still appreciate its utility.

 

[Yuriman]

Wow, I haven't seen a single one of these on the road in the past year and half?!?! It looks like a CRV with it's rear chopped off and a bed added. It's pretty ugly. No, it's REALLY ugly.

Must be regional. I've seen a few of these around here. But then, outside of farms and contractors, I don't really see a lot of pickup trucks, and a disproportionate amount of practical, fuel efficient Japanese vehicles.

 

[Kaido]

Wow, I haven't seen a single one of these on the road in the past year and half?!?!

Really? They have sold a ton of them here in CT, I see them daily!

 

[zerocool84]

Wow, I haven't seen a single one of these on the road in the past year and half?!?! It looks like a CRV with it's rear chopped off and a bed added. It's pretty ugly. No, it's REALLY ugly.

But it's been selling well. Basically anything that is raised in up higher than a sedan is going to sell nowadays.

 

[Kaido]

But it's been selling well. Basically anything that is raised in up higher than a sedan is going to sell nowadays.

I used to be a car guy, but the Kia Soul converted me. You sit up higher, you sit up straight like you're in a chair instead of slouched back, and you slide right in instead of having to bend down. I think that's appealing to a lot of people, especially coupled with being able to fold down the back seats & stuff a fair amount of stuff in the back when needed.

Honda just took that market & added a bed to it. It's not a "manly" truck. It's a truck to take to Home Depot on the weekends or go camping with. It's...practical. lol

 

[PottedMeat]

Really? They have sold a ton of them here in CT, I see them daily!

Quite a few here in DFW, they do stick out among all the Chevy/Dodge/Ford/Toyota trucks. They're not towing trailers full of mowers or pipe but they're around.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Quite a few here in DFW, they do stick out among all the Chevy/Dodge/Ford/Toyota trucks. They're not towing trailers full of mowers or pipe but they're around.

If I remember right, the target market was "people who would rather not buy anything that isn't a Honda, but occasionally go to Home Depot."

 

[Ns1]

Wow, I haven't seen a single one of these on the road in the past year and half?!?! It looks like a CRV with it's rear chopped off and a bed added. It's pretty ugly. No, it's REALLY ugly.

I've only seen a handful in the wild, but the complete lack of offers and incentives tells me they're having no problem selling these...

 

[NutBucket]

But its a Honda. They hardly have incentives to begin with.

 

[Ns1]

But its a Honda. They hardly have incentives to begin with.

Maybe so, but if you click on their "offers" page everything has an offer except the Ridgeline. And every other manufacturer currently has what, 5-7k incentives on their trucks? I even saw lease deals on Tacomas and Tundras recently, but NOTHING for the Ridgeline.

 

[Kaido]

Maybe so, but if you click on their "offers" page everything has an offer except the Ridgeline. And every other manufacturer currently has what, 5-7k incentives on their trucks? I even saw lease deals on Tacomas and Tundras recently, but NOTHING for the Ridgeline.

When I went for a test-drive on the 2017 model, there was a 2-month wait on the Ridgelines. Drove by the dealership the other day & there were zero Ridgelines on the lot. Seems to be selling, in CT at least!

 

[NutBucket]

I bought one of slowest selling Hondas in recent years in the CR-Z. And yet still zero incentives.