The 2014 model year will be the final year for the current-generation Ridgeline ->ke261, Honda will put it to rest and focus on developing the next-generation Ridgeline that is set to arrive in 2016.

As expected, Honda ->ke34 decided to make this final run of Ridgelines special, and it did so by adding a new, top-of-the-line Special Edition model. This new version will hit showrooms in November, while the rest of the lineup is already on sale.

Honda unveiled the current Ridgeline in 2006, and the only updates it received arrived in 2009 when Honda added a few extra features and in 2011 when Honda added the Ridgeline Sport version.

For the 2014 model year, the Ridgeline will come in five trim levels: RT, Sport, RTS, RTL and Special Edition, with prices starting from $29,575 and going up to $37,505 for the new Special Edition model.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Honda Ridgeline.

honda-ridgeline

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: honda-ridgeline
Pros
Cons

2014 Honda Ridgeline

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Honda Ridgeline
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 250 @ 5700
  • Torque: 253 @ 4800
  • Transmission: 5-speed electronically controlled automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The 2014 Ridgeline is built on a unit-body architecture that ensures vastly superior rigidity compared to traditional body-on-frame designs. As with the previous years, the model offers a one-piece appearance with no separation between the bed and the cab. Increased comfort and visibility during winter driving conditions is ensured by heated windshield wipers, while an improved rearward view is provided by large side mirrors. On the rear the Ridgeline features a 5-foot-long composite cargo bed that, and the Ridgeline can haul up to 1,100 pounds of payload.

For the 2014 model year, Honda added a new Special Edition that offers black headlight and brake light housings, black tailgate and black honeycomb grille with black surround and exclusive 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with black-trimmed spokes.

Standard Exterior Features -- 2014 Honda Ridgeline

Honda Ridgeline RT:

-Dual-Action Tailgate

-In-Bed Trunk

-Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers with Automatic Heated Wiper Zone

-Black Folding Power Side Mirrors

-Heavy-Duty Tow Hooks (Front and Rear)

-Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off

-Body-Colored Door Handles

-17-inch steel wheels

Honda Ridgeline Sport:

-Dual-Action Tailgate

-In-Bed Trunk

-Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers with Automatic Heated Wiper Zone

-Black Folding Power Side Mirrors

-Privacy Glass

-Heavy-Duty Tow Hooks (Front and Rear)

-Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off

-Fog Lights

-Body-Colored Door Handles

-Black Mesh Grille with Sport Emblem

- Exclusive black 18-inch aluminum wheels

Honda Ridgeline RTS:

-Dual-Action Tailgate

-In-Bed Trunk

-Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers with Automatic Heated Wiper Zone

-Body-colored Folding Power Side Mirrors

-Privacy Glass

-Heavy-Duty Tow Hooks (Front and Rear)

-Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off

-Heat-Rejecting Green-Tinted Glass

-Body-Colored Door Handles

- Exclusive 17-inch aluminum wheels

Honda Ridgeline RTL:

-Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature

-Dual-Action Tailgate

-In-Bed Trunk

-Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers with Automatic Heated Wiper Zone

-Body-colored Folding Power Side Mirrors

-Privacy Glass

-Heavy-Duty Tow Hooks (Front and Rear)

-Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off

-Heat-Rejecting Green-Tinted Glass

-Body-Colored Door Handles

- Exclusive 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels

Dimensions

Wheelbase (in)

109.2

Length (in)

191.4

Height (in)

71.0

Width (in)

78.5

Track (in, front/rear)

67.7 / 67.5

Ground Clearance (in, unladen)

7.97


Interior

For the interior, Honda offers a large, multi-function console placed between the front seats, while other console storage areas accommodate large and small items, like mobile phones, beverage holders, compact discs and portable digital music players.

The front seats offer a 60/40 lift-up capacity, offering the possibility to store items up to a golf bag. The rear seats fold, expanding the cargo space to create room for a full-size mountain bike.

Honda Ridgeline RT:

-Air Conditioning with Air-Filtration System

-Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls

-Column-Mounted Shifter

-Driver's and Front Passenger's Illuminated Vanity Mirrors

-60/40 Lift-Up Rear Seat with Underseat Storage

-100-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 6 Speakers

Honda Ridgeline Sport:

-Air Conditioning with Air-Filtration System

-Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls

-Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel

-Column-Mounted Shifter

-All-Weather Heavy-Duty Floor Mats

-Driver's and Front Passenger's Illuminated Vanity Mirrors

-60/40 Lift-Up Rear Seat with Underseat Storage

-Adjustable Front Seat-Belt Anchors

-100-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 6 Speakers

-MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack

Honda Ridgeline RTS:

-Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control with Air-Filtration System

-Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls

-Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel

-Column-Mounted Shifter

-All-Weather Heavy-Duty Floor Mats

-Driver's and Front Passenger's Illuminated Vanity Mirrors

-Driver's Seat with 10-Way Power Adjustment, including Power Lumbar Support

-60/40 Lift-Up Rear Seat with Underseat Storage

-Adjustable Front Seat-Belt Anchors

-160-Watt AM/FM/6-Disc In-Dash Audio System with 7 Speakers, including Subwoofer

-MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack

Honda Ridgeline RTL:

-Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control with Air-Filtration System

-Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls

-Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel

-Column-Mounted Shifter

-Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel

-All-Weather Heavy-Duty Floor Mats

-Driver's and Front Passenger's Illuminated Vanity Mirrors

-Driver's Seat with 10-Way Power Adjustment, including Power Lumbar Support

-HomeLink® Remote System

-Ambient Console Lighting

-Leather Trimmed Interior

-60/40 Lift-Up Rear Seat with Underseat Storage

-Adjustable Front Seat-Belt Anchors

-160-Watt AM/FM/6-Disc In-Dash Audio System with 7 Speakers, including Subwoofer

-MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack

-XM® Radio

Drivetrain

All five trim levels draw power from a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that delivers a total of 250 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. The engine mates to a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, and sends its power to all four wheels via a fully automatic Variable Torque Management four-wheel-drive system.

Model

LX

EX

EX-L

Touring

Engine Type

V6

V6

V6

V6

Engine Block/Cylinder Head

Aluminum-Alloy

Aluminum-Alloy

Aluminum-Alloy

Aluminum-Alloy

Displacement (cc)

3471

3471

3471

3471

Horsepower @ rpm (SAE net)

250 @ 5700

250 @ 5700

250 @ 5700

250 @ 5700

Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)

253 @ 4800

253 @ 4800

253 @ 4800

253 @ 4800

Redline (rpm)

6300

6300

6300

6300

Bore and Stroke (mm)

89 x 93

89 x 93

89 x 93

89 x 93

Compression Ratio

10.5:1

10.5:1

10.5:1

10.5:1


Suspension and Brakes

The 2014 Ridgeline offers a MacPherson strut front suspension and fully independent multi-link rear suspension with trailing arms. Depending on the model, customers can choose between 17- or 18-inch wheels. A heavy-duty, four-wheel disc braking system that features 12.6-inch front and 13.1-inch rear rotors, anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist handles the stopping duties.

Prices

Model

Model

Transmission

MSRP

EPA (City/Hwy/Combined MPG)

5-Speed Automatic

$29,575

15/21/17

Ridgeline RT

5-Speed Automatic

$30,720

15/21/17

Ridgeline Sport

5-Speed Automatic

$32,380

15/21/17

Ridgeline RTS

5-Speed Automatic

$35,155

15/21/17

Ridgeline RTL

5-Speed Automatic

$37,505

15/21/17

Ridgeline RTL w/ Navi

5-Speed Automatic

$37,505

15/21/17


Competition

Toyota Tacoma

The current-generation Tacoma hit the market in 2005. and since then the only update it received was offered for the 2012 model year.

The Tacoma has the advantage of being offered with a choice of two engines: a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder that produces 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, or a 4.0-liter, V-6 that provides 236 horsepower and 266 pound-feet.

Also, the Tacoma is considerable cheaper than the Ridgeline at a starting price $17,625.

Nissan Frontier

The current Frontier was unveiled in 2004 and since then the only revision was offered in 2009.

The Frontier is offered with a choice of two engines: a four-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 152 horsepower or a V-6 engine that delivers a total of 261 horsepower. The Frontier is also cheaper than the Ridgeline, with a starting price of $17,990.

Conclusion

Since the 2014 model year is the last year of production for the Ridgeline, Honda needed to mark this somehow and it did by adding a Special Edition to the lineup. It should be enough to keep customers interested until the new generation arrives in 2016.