How To Update Firmware 2006 Honda Ridgeline

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Long Term Verdict: 2006 Honda Ridgeline

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Honda Ridgeline Full Overview

When the Honda Ridgeline won our 2006 Truck of the Year competition, we fully expected the hard-cores to be outraged. "It'southward a modified minivan!" they screamed, claiming it didn't qualify equally a truck considering of its unibodychassis and transverse-mounted engine-and because it looks funny. Others, yet, saw the Ridgeline as a cleversolution for those who didn't want the typical pickup trade-offs: stiff ride, horrible fuel economy, and miserablehandling. Now, later a twelvemonth and 24,000 miles in our long-term armada, the Ridgeline has ultimately made a few converts among our machine-loving staff, some of whom would never consider themselves fans of anything with a pickup bed.

We put this vehicle through its paces, as evidenced by its ending odometer reading of 24,219-only about double the average number of miles by and large put on a long-term truck-with several trips to Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, including stints as a chase vehicle for video and photography crews on multicar road trips into the mountains and deserts of California. At no time did our vehicle have any service issues, and it gave the states a best existent-world fuel-economy at 19.six mpg during flat highway driving betwixt 65 and 68 mph. Most of the combined city/highway fuel economy numbers hovered effectually 17.iii, with the worst hitting fourteen.0 mpg when the truck was loaded with camping gear and four adults slogging through the desert with the A/C at max. On the highway, the Ridgeline averaged 350 to 370 miles on a tank before the "low fuel" light came on.

We ordered our Ridgeline in top-level RTL trim (Honda-speak for everything except a navigation system), simply we needed the nav arrangement, as well, knowing this vehicle would exist pop for the more outdoorsy staffers. Campers, fisherman, and motorcyclists used every foursquare inch of storage and bed space in this Honda, specifically citing the rear-bed storage torso as a huge asset for storing coolers, the catch of the day, and sweaty leather jackets. That Honda's first truck in the U.S. market is clever and well congenital is no surprise, but we did find a few quirks. The first oddity was when the service lights started to flash at the 5000-mile mark. Like all conscientious enthusiasts, nosotros took information technology into the dealership right away and were told the oil shouldn't be changed until the 7500-mile marking. Turns out Honda puts special burglary oil in new vehicles that needs to bond with the metals for a set corporeality of fourth dimension.The "break-in" oil really leaves backside slippery agents that reduce subsequent wear and use.

Notwithstanding, there seems to be some confusion between the oil-life sensor on the vehicle and what a Honda dealer may be recommending. Subsequently, when nosotros did have information technology in for its first service, all went smoothly, as did the ii later services (at 6000-mile intervals) too. Two of our three services cost under $fifty, with our second (at 12,000 miles) costing $95 due to a more than detailed inspection. Also, several door-handle clips were replaced under warranty, as requested by a Product Update letter we received in the mail.

Interior gripes from editors were minimal, with the exception of the gearshift lever, which tends to obscure some important A/C and radio controls, depending on the gear you're in. Additionally, you can almost forget about manual shifting due to the awkward detent mechanism. Nosotros would've preferred the necktie-downwardly hooks higher in the bed, instead of near the bed floor. And, finally, although the Ridgeline feels nimble and agile when driven empty, when loaded, peculiarly near its 1500-pound chapters, it drives similar a slug-barrel drooping, wheels splayed, rear coils mashed. It fabricated one editor note it seems to be a truck that wants to exist treated like a car.

What struck us nigh nigh the Ridgeline was how well information technology adapts to a given driver, be it car or truck guy. While in that location's nothing that'll be all things to all people, we appreciate how Honda's experiment is pushing some boundaries. Who knows what'll happen next?

We're non sure how long it'll be before we put 24,000 miles on another 1 of our long-term vehicles in a 12-month menses, but, whatever the vehicle, it's likely not to exist as versatile as the Ridgeline. We'll miss this urban, suburban, and mountain Swiss Army knife for certain.

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From the logbook
"The more than I drive this truck, the more I appreciate it. It's very forgiving, especially if y'all're non a tree-torso-pulling truck guy (I'thousand not). It doesn't ride crude, and there are storage holes all over the place." - Danny King
"The truck reinvented? You bet! It's like a Leatherman tool on wheels: bits and pieces that fold, open, and flip in all sorts of means. Will requite a lot of guys a chance to bear witness off: "Hey, come here and look at this." Seems like the perfect urban tool." - Brian Vance
"In-bed storage is crawly. Like nothing else to come out in a dozen years; credit Honda with reinventing an entire form of vehicles. Clever packaging will make it piece of work for families who don't desire the shortcomings of other full-size trucks." - John Kiewicz
"What'due south most obvious to me virtually the Honda Ridgeline is how carlike it drives. Only reason you wouldn't want this truck is if you had to tow. I'm non actually a truck guy, but this is the one I'd consider owning." - Kim Reynolds

2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL
Powertrain/Chasis
Drivetrain layout	Front engine, AWD
Engine type	60-deg V-6, aluminum block/heads
Valvetrain	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
Displacement	211.8 cu in/3471cc
Compression ratio	10.0:1
Power (SAE cyberspace)	247 hp @ 5750 rpm
Torque (SAE net)	245 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Redline	6300 rpm
Weight to ability	xviii.4 lb/hp
Manual	5-speed automatic
Axle/terminal ratios	4.53:1/two.41:i
Break, front; rear	Struts, coil springs, anti-ringlet bar; multilink, whorl springs, anti-gyre bar
Steering ratio	18.5:1
Turns lock-to-lock	3.4
Brakes, f;r	12.half-dozen-in vented disc; 13.i-inch disc, ABS
Wheels	17 x 7.5 in, aluminum
Tires	245/65R17 Michelin LTX One thousand/South
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122.0 in
Track, f/r	67.ane/66.9 in
Length x width x height	206.8 x 76.3 x 71.2 in
Turning circumvolve	42.half dozen ft
Adjourn weight	4540 lb
Weight dist, f/r	58/42%
Payload capacity	1510 lb
Towing chapters	5000 lb
Seating capacity	v
Headroom, f/r	38.7/39.0 in
Legroom, f/r	xl.8/36.four in
Shoulder room, f/r	57.6/57.2 in
Pickup box, Fifty 10 W x H	60.0 x 53.0 x xx.vii
Width bet/ wheelhouses	45.9 in
Examination Data
Dispatch to mph
0-xxx	2.8 sec
0-40	4.ii
0-50	half-dozen.three
0-sixty	8.5
0-seventy	xi.3
0-80	15.6
0-90	20.five
Quarter mile	16.five sec @ 82.1 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph	140 ft
600-ft slalom	58.viii mph avg
Lateral dispatch	0.78 one thousand avg
MT figure eight	28.three sec @ 0.59 one thousand avg
Acme gear revs @ sixty mph	1750 rpm
Consumer Info
Stability/traction control	Yeah/yes
Airbags	Dual front end, front side, f/r pall
Bones warranty	3 yrs/36,000 miles
Powertrain warranty	5 yrs/60,000 miles
Roadside assistance	None
Fuel capacity	22.0 gal
EPA city/hwy econ	16/21 mpg
MT fuel economy	17.3 mpg
Recommended fuel	Regular unleaded