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2009 Honda Ridgeline Safety Review

July 4, 2009

SAFETY | 10 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Good, frontal offset impact; Good, side impact; Top Safety Pick
IIHS

Five stars, front impacts; five stars, side impacts
NHTSA

New front seat active head restraints
Motor Trend

Honda continues its tradition of exceptionally safe vehicles with the 2009 Honda Ridgeline, a pickup that earns perfect crash-test scores and a 2009 Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS.

In the highly visible and easily comparable world of crash-test ratings, few vehicles manage to earn perfect scores in all categories from both of the major testing authorities. However, that is exactly what Honda manages to do with the 2009 Honda Ridgeline, which kicks things off with perfect five-star safety ratings in both of NHTSA's front impact tests, as well as both side impact categories. In the more demanding IIHS tests, the Honda Ridgeline once again earns the highest possible rating, Good, in both the frontal offset and side impact categories. In addition, this 2009 Honda pickup takes home a 2009 Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, which credits the Honda Ridgeline's "good performance in front, side, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control" as the primary reasons for the award.

Aside from its exemplary crash-test ratings, TheCarConnection.com's research reveals the 2009 Honda Ridgeline offers a lengthy list of safety features that lead Cars.com reviewers to christen the Honda Ridgeline as "extremely safety-conscious." Motor Trend notes that the 2009 Honda Ridgeline now offers a set of "new front seat active head restraints that will instantly snap forward to reduce excessive head recoil from a rearend collision." Meanwhile, Cars.com reviewers point out that "Honda's forward-thinking on safety technology is evident throughout the Ridgeline, and it's standard in all trim lines." Some of this 2009 Honda's standard safety features include "side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, electronic brake distribution," and an "electronic stability system with traction control," according to Cars.com.

The only serious safety criticism of the Honda Ridgeline concerns driver visibility, which is somewhat impeded in certain directions. ConsumerGuide reviewers report that "the rear-roof design hinders over-the-shoulder vision," while the "thick roof pillars are an obstruction to visibility all around, with [the] view directly aft especially compromised." Fortunately, the 2009 Honda Ridgeline can be equipped with a rearview camera to help mitigate some of those visibility problems.

Conclusion

The big, sturdy 2009 Honda Ridgeline delivers in nearly every regard on the safety front.

SAFETY | 10 out of 10Expert Quotes:Good, frontal offset impact; Good, side impact; Top Safety PickIIHSFive stars, front impacts; five stars, side impactsNHTSANew front seat active head restraintsMotor Trend Honda continues its tradition of exceptionally safe vehicles with the 2009 Honda Ridgeline, a pickup that earns perfect crash-test scores and a 2009 Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS. In the highly visible and easily comparable world of crash-test ratings, few vehicles manage to earn perfect scores in all categories from both of the major testing authorities. However, that is exactly what Honda manages to do with the 2009 Honda Ridgeline, which kicks things off with perfect five-star safety ratings in both of NHTSA's front impact tests, as well as both side impact categories. In the more demanding IIHS tests, the Honda Ridgeline once again earns the highest possible rating, Good, in both the frontal offset and side impact categories. In addition, this 2009 Honda pickup takes home a 2009 Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, which credits the Honda Ridgeline's "good performance in front, side, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control" as the primary reasons for the award. Aside from its exemplary crash-test ratings, TheCarConnection.com's research reveals the 2009 Honda Ridgeline offers a lengthy list of safety features that lead Cars.com reviewers to christen the Honda Ridgeline as "extremely safety-conscious." Motor Trend notes that the 2009 Honda Ridgeline now offers a set of "new front seat active head restraints that will instantly snap forward to reduce excessive head recoil from a rearend collision." Meanwhile, Cars.com reviewers point out that "Honda's forward-thinking on safety technology is evident throughout the Ridgeline, and it's standard in all trim lines." Some of this 2009 Honda's standard safety features include "side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, electronic brake distribution," and an "electronic stability system with traction control," according to Cars.com. The only serious safety criticism of the Honda Ridgeline concerns driver visibility, which is somewhat impeded in certain directions. ConsumerGuide reviewers report that "the rear-roof design hinders over-the-shoulder vision," while the "thick roof pillars are an obstruction to visibility all around, with [the] view directly aft especially compromised." Fortunately, the 2009 Honda Ridgeline can be equipped with a rearview camera to help mitigate some of those visibility problems. ConclusionThe big, sturdy 2009 Honda Ridgeline delivers in nearly every regard on the safety front. 2009 HONDA RIDGELINE STYLING | [5 out of 10] Automobile Magazine: "It'll attract crossover owners who hanker for a cargo bed" Cars.com: "There are some problems with the Ridgeline's styling and design" Motor Trend: "Some slight changes to the gauge shaping and to the choices of type ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Honda Ridgeline competes with a wide range of compact and mid-size trucks, most of which have more traditional layouts with burly frames and unforgiving leaf-spring rear suspensions. The Explorer Sport Trac is the closest in concept to the Ridgeline; it has a shorter bed, but there's an optional V-8 that outdoes the Ridgeline, at least for low-speed hauling. Even though the design is dated, it's still quite attractive. The Nissan Frontier is another possibility; it's especially rugged in look and feel and comes in a variety of trims, including an off-road-focused model. Those considering the Frontier should also take a look at the Equator, which is mechanically identical to the Frontier but with styling that many would judge more attractive. The Equator also has a better warranty. The Toyota Tacoma is another possibility; it's the choice for the frugal, thanks to its strong resale value and decent performance with the economical standard 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. Another possibility is the Dodge Dakota, but the mid-size Dakota handles and maneuvers like a larger truck. Although the 2009 Ridgeline is priced higher than many of these models, all the heavy-duty towing components come standard; otherwise you'll have option boxes to check.

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See the Honda Ridgeline in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

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