The mid-sized truck market has made a comeback, but Honda has been ahead of the curve in offering their unibody truck since 2004. There have not been so many options in the midsized truck market for a while, and even with plenty of accolades, hardcore truck guys still always throw shade at the this 2022 Honda Ridgeline HPD.
The Honda Ridgeline HPD is all about looking tough. It is a limited edition package that channels the spirit of Honda Performance Development from Baja racing. The package adds a set of unique 18-inch bronze alloy wheels with a rugged design for a muscular and bold look. Blacked out fender flares above the arches protect the paint during off road adventures.
A bold new grille design gives the Ridgeline a much more aggressive presence. HPD decals put the finishing touches to denote the racing pedigree and this HPD package transforms the Ridgeline into a truck that appears ready to forge any path you wish; much sportier and rugged that the standard exterior. It should help draw the interest of many that found the Ridgeline a bit tame.
The interior of the HPD Ridgeline does not get any special treatment, but rather the standard brilliant interior. It’s shared with the Pilot and gets the same level of refinement for excellent daily livability. Leather wrapped seating surfaces ensure no sacrifices in comfort. The Touring trim has all the tech you would expect. An eight-inch touchscreen controls the 540-watt audio system, and a truck bed audio system is included for when you are working around the truck.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included for easy integration of your wireless device to make sure your work is not distracting your drive. Wireless charging is available to ensure you always have enough juice in your phone. Parking sensors make maneuvering the Ridgeline easy even in the tightest spots.
Even though rear legroom is less than in the Pilot the Ridgeline shares its platform with, the smart 60/40 split fold-up rear seats add tons of storage for items you can store in the open bed. A lockable In-Bed trunk is another ingenious use of space to keep any items out of sight and the elements with a capacity of 207-liters. A dual action tailgate gives you the option to swing open horizontally or lay it down flat maximizing flexibility for the most convenient loading. Cargo bed dimensions of 1625mm long, 1270mm wide and 425mm deep along with a payload capacity of 674-kilograms gives drivers plenty of room. Towing capacity of 5000-pounds should be enough for most recreational uses.
The Ridgeline HPD does not get any performance gains over the standard model. It’s powered by a 3.5-liter direct injected VTEC V6 engine producing 280 horsepower at 6,000RPM and 262 lb-ft. at 4,700, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Variable Cylinder Management with ECO assist system help the Ridgeline manage respectable fuel economy. It’s rated at 12.8L/100km city, 9.9L/100km highway for a combined 11.5L/100km. Our week of real world testing averaged 12.4L/100km, which is very reasonable.
The Ridgeline’s on-road manners are most likely another reason why buyers would gravitate towards it. Its unibody construction means it drives much more closely an SUV rather than a full-frame truck. We found the Ridgeline very easy to navigate in all conditions with a composed ride at speed. Living with a full size truck can be difficult at times and the Ridgeline bridges this gap brilliantly. Even though the HPD package does not bless the Ridgeline with fancy shock absorbers or suspension tuning, it still handles with poise. Being equipped with the excellent ATM 4 all-wheel-drive system also means the Ridgeline is winter-ready.
Our tester is the Ridgeline Touring with the HPD package. The Touring starts at $53,640, and our tester adds $300 in premium paint as well as the $3,500 HPD package for an as-tested $57,440. This is a tough price to swallow considering the Ford Ranger Lariat starts at $33,805, and a similar Toyota Tacoma with the TRD package is priced at $48,440. Both competitors mentioned are body on frame trucks, but they are more capable and come in substantially cheaper. For reference, the Ridgeline starts at over $45,000 for the base trim.
The Ridgeline is an excellent beginner’s truck with many unique features that make getting used to truck life a much easier transition. It gives those who does not want a full-frame truck most of the convenience with significantly better driving dynamics. The 2022 Honda Ridgeline HPD is an excellent package but priced a bit too high considering the level of competition available today.
