How would Honda’s Ridgeline double cab fare if it was sold locally?
It’s tough competition as far as the eye can see in the South African bakkie segment.
Duking it out for podium position in South Africa’s bakkie segment has been Ford, Toyota and Isuzu, but would Honda’s Ridgeline be a competitor if it was sold locally?
Let’s first look at the Ridgeline’s specs before comparing it to the local litter.
The 2023 Honda Ridgeline is a pickup truck available in four trims for the North American market: Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. It is powered by a V6 engine with a displacement of 3 471cc, delivering 208kW and 355N.m. The truck comes with a nine-speed automatic transmission and features Honda’s Intelligent Variable Torque Management AWD system.
We may not have the Ridgeline available in South Africa, but the CARmag platform has new and used Hondas listed here.
In terms of dimensions, the Ridgeline has a wheelbase of 125.2 inches (3 180mm) and measures 5.3m in length, almost two metres in width, and 1.7m in height. The Ridgeline has a payload capacity ranging from 685kg to 718kg, depending on the trim. It also has a towing capacity of up to 2 268kg.
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The 2023 Ridgeline is equipped with a range of safety and driver-assistive technologies, including Honda Sensing, which provides features such as collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. It also features an ACE body structure, an advanced airbag system, and a multi-angle rearview camera. The bakkie offers various convenience features like LED headlights, fog lights, and a versatile in-bed trunk. Higher trims come with additional features such as a navigation system and blind-spot information system.
It has the makings of a competent double cab, but how does it fair against the local bunch?
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It stands nearly shoulder to shoulder with the likes of the Raptor when looking at each bakkie’s dimensions. In terms of power, it comes second only to the Raptor and stands above the entirety of the Hilux line-up and Ranger range. Overseas the bakkie MSRPs at roughly R860 000 for the range-topping Black Edition model, while the entry-level ‘Sport’ model is accompanied by a R717 000 price tag. It is worth noting that production is done in the Alabama Auto Plant, USA in right-hand drive configuration only.
If the Ridgeline was sold locally, would it thrust Honda into the bakkie fight and bolster their sales?
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