2014 Honda Ridgeline Adds New Special Edition Model

The versatile Honda Ridgeline returns for 2014 with a new Special Edition model. Joining the lineup in December, the Special Edition model features model-exclusive 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with black-trimmed spokes, “Special Edition” badging, leather trimmed seating surfaces, heated front seats including power driver’s seat and the popular black trim package from the Ridgeline Sport. The rest of the 2014 Ridgeline lineup goes on-sale today with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price¹ (MSRP) starting at $34,990.

"Honda's commitment to the truck segment is underscored by the new special edition model of the 2014 Honda Ridgeline," said Dave Gardner, vice president of sales and marketing, Honda Canada Inc. “The increased customer interest in Ridgeline this year demonstrates the important role Ridgeline will continue to play in the Honda lineup."

The 2014 Honda Ridgeline features a closed-box, unit-body structure and independent front and rear suspension to deliver a unique combination of truck capability, a spacious five-passenger cabin and car-like ride and handling. The Ridgeline also delivers a maximum tow rating of 2,268 kg and a payload rating of 707 kg, all while offering innovative and unique features that include the large In-Bed Trunk® and dual-action tailgate for easy access. Providing more confidence in reverse gear, Ridgeline remains the only pickup truck in its segment on sale in Canada to feature a standard rearview camera.

Four distinctive Ridgeline models are available now: the Ridgeline DX, Ridgeline Sport, Ridgeline Special Edition and Ridgeline Touring, which is available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™. 

Ridgeline DX features include:

Unique 17-inch steel wheels, integrated trailer hitch, wiring for 7-pin trailer hook up and trailer brake controller, keyless entry, power windows and door locks, heated exterior mirrors, power sliding rear window, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, trip computer with instantaneous and average fuel economy, 6-speaker 100-watt audio system with CD player and MP3/WMA playback capability, rearview camera, all-weather floor mats and 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage.

Ridgeline Sport features include (adds to Ridgeline DX):

Exclusive black 18-inch aluminum wheels, body-coloured painted door handles and heated exterior mirrors, black honeycomb grille with black surround and exclusive sport emblem, black headlight and taillight housings, fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, auxiliary audio input jack and rear privacy glass.

Ridgeline Special Edition features include (adds to Ridgeline Sport):  

Exclusive 18-inch aluminum wheels, Special Edition badging on the tailgate, leather-trimmed seating surfaces, heated front seats and driver’s seat with 10-way power adjustment including power-adjustable lumbar support,

Ridgeline Touring features include (adds to Ridgeline Special Edition):

Exclusive 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, power moonroof, HomeLink® remote system, ambient console lighting, 115-volt power outlet and carpeted floor mats. The Ridgeline Touring also comes standard with  Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™² with Voice Recognition and Zagat Survey® restaurant information. It includes XM® Radio, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® and a multi-information display. The navigation system includes a rearview camera display, thus eliminating this display in the rearview mirror.

Powertrain

The Ridgeline’s all-aluminum, 60-degree, SOHC 3.5-litre+ VTEC V-6 engine produces 250 horsepower and 247 lb-ft. of torque. Variable valve timing enhances low-rpm torque while extending high-rpm horsepower for a broad power band. The 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission features Grade Logic Control to help maintain the most appropriate gear when going uphill or downhill to avoid gear “hunting.”

A fully automatic Variable Torque Management® 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4®) provides confident operation in rain, snow, ice, sand and mud, while also improving on-road and towing performance by distributing torque to all four wheels as needed. The system operates predominately in front-wheel-drive mode during dry-pavement cruising conditions and continuously proportions torque to the rear wheels during acceleration and low traction situations. The VTM-4 lock button located on the instrument panel allows the driver to temporarily hold engagement of both rear wheels to aid traction in the first two gears at speeds of up to 29 km/h.

Standard towing equipment includes an integrated tow hitch, transmission and oil coolers, heavy duty brakes, dual radiator fans and a wiring harness for a 7-pin trailer hook up

Body

The unit-body architecture is designed for vastly superior rigidity compared to traditional body-on-frame designs and provides the foundation for the Ridgeline’s spacious interior cabin and bed, safety performance and class-leading ride and handling performance. Its modern and athletic design incorporates a solid, one-piece appearance with no separation between the bed and the cab. The windshield wipers have a heated wiper zone to enhance wiper performance in winter driving conditions and minimize ice buildup, while large side mirrors enhance rear vision while towing.

A 1,524 mm long composite cargo bed with eight tie-down locations provides a payload rating of 707 kg (Sport and Special Edition), while four cargo area lights illuminate both the bed and the in-bed trunk. A dual-action tailgate opens down for traditional access to the cargo area or to the side for ease-of-access to the 241 L In-Bed Trunk®. The Ridgeline is available with a wide variety of accessories and can conveniently accommodate motorcycles or ATVs. The cargo area measures 1,257 mm wide between the wheel wells, 526 mm deep and 1,524 mm long (2,007 mm with the load-supporting tailgate in the down position).

Chassis

A MacPherson strut front suspension and fully independent multi-link rear suspension with trailing arms provide a smooth ride and responsive handling. A heavy-duty braking system includes 12.6-inch front and 13.1-inch rear 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. The Ridgeline DX has 17×7.5-inch steel wheels and P245/65 R17 all-season tires, while the Ridgeline Sport, Special Edition and Touring are equipped with 18×7.5-inch aluminum wheels and all-season P245/60 R18 tires. The Special Edition model features exclusive 18x7.5-inch aluminum alloy wheels with black-trimmed spokes and all-season P245/60 R18 tires.

Interior

The interior takes advantage of Honda’s unit-body packaging efficiency to deliver full-size interior space dimensions while maintaining garage-friendly, mid-size exterior dimensions. The driving position provides ergonomically comfortable access to large and easy-to-use controls.

Between the front seats, a large multi-function console features a sliding armrest and sliding lower tray – each with a hidden storage area. Other console storage areas accommodate large and small items like mobile phones, beverage holders, compact discs and portable digital music players.

The 60/40 lift-up rear seats feature a storage area underneath that is large enough to accommodate a golf bag. Plus, the rear seating area can quickly convert for cargo duty by lifting the seats up to create enough room for a full-size mountain bike with the front wheel removed. The rear seat incorporates three LATCH positions for compatible child safety seats.

Safety

All Ridgelines are equipped with standard safety features including dual-stage, multiple-threshold driver’s and front passenger’s SRS airbags, side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, front-seat active head restraints, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), a tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights.

About Honda

Honda Canada Inc. was founded in 1969. It has produced more than 6 million cars and trucks since 1986 at its two manufacturing facilities and builds engines at a third manufacturing plant in Alliston, Ontario.  Both manufacturing facilities are extremely flexible and currently build Honda Civic and CR-V models.  Honda Canada has invested more than $2.6 billion in Canada and each year it sources nearly $1.1 billion in goods and services from Canadian suppliers. Honda Canada has sold more than 3.7 million Honda and Acura passenger cars and light-duty trucks in Canada.

Consumer information is available at www.honda.ca. To join the Honda community on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/hondacanada. Additional media information including detailed features and high-resolution photography of the 2014 Honda Ridgeline is available at www.hondanews.ca.