Honda has developed a capable and comfortable lifestyle pickup, with unique features, plenty of capability and a better interior package in the form of the Ridgeline pickup, a next generation effort that is much better aligned with truck consumers, as Honda learned and applied lessons from the first generation. The new truck arrives in June 2016, and will further drive life into the mid-size pickup segment. Does it suggest a wider change in consumer truck-buying behavior? It is not certain, but a growing consumer acceptance of unibody trucks cannot be ruled out.

The all-new Ridgeline’s unibody construction is again derived from the Honda Pilot crossover utility vehicle, leading to virtues like an extremely roomy and comfortable passenger cabin with more interior space for people and stuff than the competition offers; a wider truck bed, for hauling those pesky drywall boards; and an improved version of Honda’s in-bed trunk. The dual-action tailgate provides easy access to the bed and trunk and there is a clever in-bed audio system. Ridgeline is a lifestyle pickup truck, with useful features that should resonate with consumers, several I was able to experience during a recent ride and drive hosted by Honda.

The truck will not tow quite as much as its body-on-frame competition and does not have heavy off-road, rock-crawling capability. Ridgeline is designed to do what Honda says 94 percent of mid-size truck buyers need, particularly in the towing category. The second-generation has a traditional truck silhouette as well, addressing the largest pain point of the first generation. Honda amplified the elements its owners appreciated from the first effort and improved the issues they didn’t. The truck will easily tow a small boat and is very well-suited to haul motorcycles and ATVs. There are buyers for whom the Ridgeline’s capabilities will fit like a glove.

Fuel economy is now best-in-class (for gasoline engines), though the difference against competitors is marginal. The relationship to the Pilot helps ensure the latest driver assistance systems are available, giving it a safety advantage. Honda also added front-drive versions, to appeal to drivers in fair-weather states. The front-drive option reduces towing and payload significantly and offers a lower price point, but doesn’t deliver much fuel economy improvement.

The all-new Ridgeline is much more compelling than the first generation. But will this translate into higher, sustained volume? It may not, and for several reasons. While IHS IHS -0.51% forecasts it will bring volume of nearly 55,000 units to Honda in its first full year (2017), several factors may limit the product’s volume upside longer term.

The Ridgeline’s advantages include a smaller footprint, more comfortable drive and better fuel economy than the competition—but The overall price ladder for the Ridgeline is competitive, but the relatively high base price of the Ridgeline can create a marketing disadvantage, particularly in initial shopping phases.

E don fine small for front

See d back like vw amarok


Ridgeline has always been unibody....dunno why its now we wld be asking if it wld be d way to go in future

You should have given Forbes their due credits for this.
Meanwhile, this post should have been created 10 years ago, cox Ridgeline is not a new product.