2012 Honda ridgeline

The 2012 Honda ridgeline is the same style of 2011 Honda ridgeline. Readers are invited to comment on this ridge line of Honda and their expectations and experiences of older models 2012 Honda ridgeline. Nissan Path Finder also competes withe the Honda Ridgeline.

The Ridgeline Sport, which looks reminiscent of the Ridgeline Sport project truck shown at SEMA in 2005, adds the following to the base Ridgeline RT's standard features: exclusive black 18-inch alloy wheels (+1 inch from RT steel wheels), exclusive black honeycomb grille, standard fog lights, black headlight and brake light housings, and black side mirrors and door handles.

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline should be a virtual repeat of the 2011 Honda Ridgeline. Should you wait for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline or buy a 2011 Honda Ridgeline? Buy a 2011 Honda Ridgeline. Styling: Aside from a possible new color choice or two, the 2012 Honda Ridgeline styling will mirror that of the 2011 Ridgeline. Ridgeline comes only in four-door crew-cab form and nearly matches some full-size crew-cab pickups for usable passenger space. Traditional pickups are based on rear-wheel-drive designs augmented with available four-wheel drive (4wd). Ridgeline has roots in front-wheel drive engineering but is fortified with standard all-wheel-drive (AWD).

Features: The 2012 Ridgeline will continue bound by Honda’s practice of eschewing individual options for a set of features exclusive to each model. For the 2012 Ridgeline, Honda might expand the roster with a swan-song special edition that combines popular features from several models. Leather upholstery, power moonroof, heated front seats, and the navigation system are available, depending on model. All 2012 Ridgelines will also come with air conditioning; tilt steering wheel; power windows and locks; a power sliding rear window; cruise control; keyless entry; and a 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage. Prices for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline won’t be released until shortly before the pickup goes on sale, but don’t expect major deviations from 2011 Ridgeline prices. (Prices in this review include the manufacturer’s destination fee; Honda’s fee for the 2011 Ridgeline was $780.)

Given a model range narrowed to one upscale configuration, Honda justifiably considers Ridgeline a “premium” truck -- and prices it accordingly. Estimated price for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline RT is around $29,800. Expect the 2012 Honda Ridgeline RTS to be priced around $32,500. That the 2012 RTL model is expected to remain Ridgeline’s most popular trim level is clear evidence that Ridgeline buyers tend not to be the young bucks, off-road enthusiasts, budget buyers, and tradespeople that form compact-pickup core audience. Estimated price for the 2012 Ridgeline RTL is $35,500. Unless Honda commemorates the close of the first-generation Ridgeline with a new top-line model, the RTL with navigation will repeat as the most expensive 2012 Ridgeline.