Honestly the reason all these super big trucks exist now, instead of the small ones, is corporations getting around the spirit of the law, by following the letter of the law. When they tightened emissions controls around trucks, the way to get looser emissions was a larger truck. So they super-sized them and here we are today, with these stupid monstrosities.

I have a ridgeline. I’m no way do I think I’m hot shit? I’m fact, I get shit for it not being a “real” truck. Odysseys have been on back order for years. You literally can’t buy one (this may have changed recently but that was a big part of why I ended up getting the ridgeline last year). I don’t understand your statement about how it’s not useful as a truck. I regularly have to move 4x8 sheet goods and it works just fine. When I was looking at cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs you’d be surprised at how many can’t do that. It’ll tow our family tent trailer, but not much else. It moves our family of 4 and dog. I don’t need all the seats a van provided. It has a little v6, not a hybrid like the mini van. Of course it won’t get the same fuel economy. Getting more than 20 mpg is pretty good for all the utility it provides. Also the top of the line “black” edition is 50k. I think starting msrp is 38k.

The ridgeline is a step in the right direction. It is the least amount a truck that a truck can be. Every ridgeline sold is an f150 that isn’t. You picked a weird thing to be mad at.

As a Subaru Baja owner, I disagree with your opinion. I've been able to safely haul 100 lbs propane tanks, as I feel much safer placing the tanks in the small bed than keeping it in the enclosed cabin of an Outback (or Odyssey). Upgraded the rear strut assemblies to mitigate the sag while carrying 20 bags of 40 lbs of wood pellets. The small bed lets me throw down a tarp and carry a reasonable amount of compost/manure without smelling up the cabin.

It also goes like a raped ape in snow. I find myself having a "snickers craving" during a winter snowstorm, just for the excuse to go driving to the grocery store (if they're still open), hopefully finding someone to pull out of the ditch along the way.

I much prefer the boxer engine in the Subaru over the setup in the Honda (or Hyundai), but to each their own.

I bought one and while I with they had a version that was compact sized instead of midsized, your hot take is terrible.

It is expensive, but my cars prior to it were a used 1992 Civic si I owned from 2001 till 2014, then I drove our 2005 Camry from 2014 till Dec 2022.

When buying a new car I wanted two primary things: a decent AWD ride and a bed I could put nasty stuff in and hose out after, like mulch and dirt. Something that did not work with enclosed spaces. I tried a few light trucks and they handled poorly or seemed cheaply made. The Tacoma has apparently needed to continue growing and is almost a full size now, too tall. The Ridgeline was the smallest one that seemed well made, had a decent ride, and has a bed I could hose out.

It sits lower than other trucks, so I generally feel small compared to other trucks. No idea why you think it is huge. Don't think I am hot shit, just someone who couldn't find a well made light truck and settled for the closest thing.

On a side note, it works perfectly fine as a truck and nobody buys trucks to seat 8 people.

My favorite part is that the Odyssey can store larger items because of the removable back seats. If you need to move a fridge, don't call the guy who owns a truck, call the guy who owns an Odyssey.

The best thing I can say about it is that I’ve seen worse.

Doesn't look any stupider than all the supercabs out there, kept spotless and without a scratch on their beds by shrivel-dicked truckbros who wear ball caps and wraparound sunglasses regardless of the time or weather.

All the old guys here are salivating for these and buying them up so fast. It's fucked. You're 70. You drive 20kms an hour under the speed limit and can't lift over 10lbs. What the fuck do you need this ugly thing for?

Why is this thread full of carbrained douchebags rationalizing their planet-killers?

Ehh. Not very happy with the look but my 2010 ridgeline has been tried tested and true. Great trucks. But they do feel small.

Looked through the comments and was surprised to see nobody brought up the ford maverick - starts at 25k, 40 mpg for the hybrid version.

This would probably sell in Australia, where the two most popular cars are the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.

They account for about 25% of the cars on the road and they get nothing but contempt when I'm driving around them.

I used to drive a Pontiac Vibe, which is a resticker of the Toyota Matrix.

With all the seats folded down I could comfortably transport 8 foot long 2x4s in it.

I wonder how many of these ridiculous crew-cabs can't say the same?

It’s a different set of compromises. It’s actually pretty funny reading this because the Ridgeline is the odd-duck in pickup land with plenty of “not a real truck!! lol minivan!” derision.

Yea it’s not a body-on-frame, tow anything, crawl anywhere vehicle. But it’s a vehicle with an open bed for those with use for it and better fuel efficiency, interior space, comfort than its midsize competitors. It’s the truck most folks can likely do just fine with. Maybe someone wants AWD rather than part-time 4WD, a less trucky ride, etc.

Ignoring HyunKia engine quality and EZ theft, my Sorento can be considered a shit car since it’s not as good off-road as a 4Runner, not as nimble as an Accord, has less space than a Pacifica, uses more fuel than a Prius, cost more than a Mirage and tows less than a Frontier.

But on the flip side, it’s also better off-road than the Accord, seats more than the Frontier, uses less fuel and is smaller than both the 4Runner and Pacifica (gas) and tows more than the Prius. All about the point of comparison and compromises picked, maybe the Ridgeline will make more sense compared to a Tacoma - plenty of potential uses cases out there too that an open bed would be handy for, if you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it’s objectively dumb. (but not me at this time, except maybe a bed would be neat for my bike or trash.)

I think the styling is fine too, it’s just a basic pickup shape, no need to be so dramatic. Have you seen the first gen, or an Avalanche, Santa Cruz, Baja? I prefer this to the Silverado’s base front end too.

HA, I looked it up and this thing can tow 5000 lbs vs the Odyssey's 3500 lbs.