I’ve now carried out so many baggage exams, in three totally different areas in two states, that you’re going to forgive me if I generally overlook which vehicles I’ve examined and which of them I have not. I already retested the Subaru Ascent with out realizing it and I simply did it once more. So in the event you’re questioning what number of of my luggage suits within the nifty under-bed trunk of the Honda Ridgeline, I hereby refer you to myself again in Might of 2021.
Now, though such duplicated outcomes would depart me with nothing to report this week, that is fortunately a 2024 Honda Ridgeline we’re speaking about. And I used to be nonetheless in a position to take full benefit of its distinctive and distinctive abilities.
As you may see above, the under-bed trunk has fairly useful once I found the native gardening heart was promoting the precise tree I used to be in search of at half value. Serendipity! There is no manner a tree like that would slot in a big SUV, and if I put it within the mattress of the truck, it could be blown round considerably. That is unhealthy information for the tree and its needles, however I would additionally should safe it with ropes or bungies or one thing utilizing the mattress hooks. However the Ridgeline? Nope, I might simply pop the trunk lid, plop the tree down into the 7.9-cubic-foot cavity, and have it’s joined by a smaller tree buddy. The Ridgeline saved warning me that the trunk was open, as if I used to be in an Accord, but it surely was hardly “put your seatbelt on!” ranges of warning.
Accessing the trunk is absolutely solely attainable due to the Ridgeline’s distinctive Twin Motion tailgate that swings out and drops down. There is no manner you could possibly attain all the best way down into the trunk or entry the spare tire with out utilizing the swing-out performance. However, swinging it out additionally makes it simpler to entry the mattress whereas leaning in, together with making it attainable to make use of the license plate bumper lower out as a step to climb aboard.
Or, , when loading up the mattress with 12 luggage of mulch. There’s numerous sliding and plastic bag scraping I did not should do since I might stand so near the mattress whereas loading.
Here is one tailgate draw back, although: these luggage function a reasonably good illustration of how shallow the mattress is. The partitions simply aren’t that tall, that means midsize vehicles with comparably lengthy 5-plus-foot beds might be extra useful. Alternatively, the shallow depth and low mattress sides did make it simple to carry luggage up and over the perimeters.
Here is one other draw back: the normal downward tailgate operate shouldn’t be damped. It simply slams abruptly down. I am guessing it isn’t attainable to sandwich a shock on the left facet along with the swing-out hinge?
Initially, I used to be perplexed that the Ridgeline’s tailgate couldn’t be locked. Not with a key and never with truck’s central energy lock performance. The trunk was clearly tied into central locking, along with having an old style key gap, however the tailgate was not. That may’t be proper.
Seems, it wasn’t. After consulting with the guide I discovered the above display that allows you to disable locking of the tailgate. Why would you do that? I don’t know.
Above proper, you may see the glovebox change that allows power-locking of the trunk. Why is the tailgate lock within the touchscreen whereas the trunk lock is a change? James shrugs.
Whereas solely three of my baggage check luggage might match within the trunk, the remaining three have been in a position to match contained in the cab because of the flip-up seat backside and flat flooring. The seat backside trick is a typical truck function, however the flat flooring is usually one thing you’d discover in full-size crew cabs. Mid-size vehicles have plastic bins and different helps beneath the seat making loading like what you see above unattainable.
Additionally, not like the Ford Ranger that has a single-piece seat backside, the Ridgeline’s is cut up 60/40. Which means you should use one half to carry stuff whereas nonetheless having use of a seat. Or without having to take away a toddler seat, as you may see above.
The flip-up seat and flat flooring additionally makes it attainable for giant, cozy canine beds! I often favor to strap my canine in utilizing particularly designed automotive harnesses, however when they are often cozy like this down on the ground, I make an exception.
This whole check encompasses why the Ridgeline wouldn’t solely be the right truck for me, however a reasonably preferrred household automobile, too. I am much more seemingly to make use of the mattress for varied dwelling tasks than the third row of some giant SUV, whereas the trunk (and a mattress cowl if I owned the factor) makes it higher for SUV-like jobs like hauling groceries or street journey baggage carrying than a conventional truck. If push got here to shove, I might see myself shopping for a Ridgeline.