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2018 Honda Ridgeline – Overview
The 2018 Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup truck that's available in front- or all-wheel-drive configurations. The midsize truck features a unibody, and given its not body-on-frame construction, it rides and drives more like an SUV. The interior of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline is roomy and well-appointed; however, it has a lower towing capacity.
Features
The best year Honda Ridgeline is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 rated engine with 280 horsepower and 262 lb/ft of torque. The vehicle has a six-speed automatic transmission, and the EPA fuel economy ratings are 19/26 mpg for the city or at the highway for front-drive models, whereas the fuel economy ratings are 18/25 mpg for all-wheel drive.
As mentioned earlier, the 2018 Honda Ridgeline has a lower towing capacity, but when it is equipped properly, the front-drive Ridgeline can tow up to 3,500 pounds, whereas the all-wheel-drive model can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Some of the other features of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline include:
- Keyless start
- In-bed trunk
- Dual-Action tailgate
- Cloth upholstery
- 60/40 split-folding rear seats
- Bluetooth connectivity
- 5.0-inch screen
- USB port, 1
- Rearview camera
- 8-inch alloy wheels
- 4.2-inch multi-information display in the instrument cluster
For the best year Honda Ridgeline, there are only nine trim levels, which is lower than 12 in 2017. The Sport trim is now available with two new exterior colors; lunar silver metallic and white diamond pearl.
The higher trims have all the features mentioned above along with navigation, three additional USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and interior ambient lighting. A Black Edition of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline includes all the features of the RTL-E trim, but it features a black exterior and interior accents along with red ambient lighting.
Safety
For the 2018 Honda Ridgeline, the NHTSA, the federal government agency for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, gave an overall five-star rating, the highest possible for any car. The IIHS, which is a U.S. nonprofit organization funded by auto insurance companies, also tested the 2018 Honda Ridgeline, and the model received a Good score on all crashworthiness tests and the headlights test (Good is the highest possible score followed by acceptable, marginal, and poor scores)
Is the 2018 Honda Ridgeline a Reliable Car?
Investing in a reliable car is critical as it ensures a safe ride along with lowering your annual spending on repair and maintenance. While Honda Ridgelines are excellent vehicles, the key concern is whether they make a reliable car or not.
Now that there is an insight into the features and specifications of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline let's find the answer of whether the best year Honda Ridgeline makes a reliable car.
According to J.D. Power, the 2018 Honda Ridgeline makes a reliable vehicle with a reliability score of 81 out of 100. The high-reliability score says it all as you can be rest assured that your vehicle will offer you a safe and comfortable ride.
Apart from the score by J.D. Power, the overall reliability score of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline is four out of five, which is a great reliability score.
What Year Honda Ridgeline Is the Most Reliable?
As we discuss the reliability of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline, it is important to discuss the years that offered the most reliable Honda Ridgeline so you know what year makes the best bet when it comes to Honda Ridgeline.
While the 2018 Honda Ridgeline offers great reliability, the most reliable years for the vehicle are between 2010 and 2014. They have the perfect reliability score of five, which is why these Ridgelines make the best pickup truck available on the market.
What is the Best Year Honda Ridgeline for Fuel Mileage?
Apart from reliability, another major consideration is gas mileage when getting a car. The 2018 Honda Ridgeline makes the perfect choice for you if you are searching for a car that is good on gas.
The 2018 Honda Ridgeline has an EPA fuel economy rating of 19/26 mpg for the city or at the highway for front-drive models, whereas the fuel economy ratings are 18/25 mpg for all-wheel drivefor city or at the highway.
Does 2018 Best Year Honda Ridgeline Hold Its Value?
When you invest in a vehicle, it is critical to know whether your new vehicle will hold its value if you want to sell it. The Honda Ridgeline may make an excellent vehicle to ride and may also offer reliability and comfort but does the car hold its value?
The answer is yes. The 2018 Honda Ridgeline makes an exceptional vehicle that can hold its value. You can expect the price of your 2018 Honda Ridgeline to drop by slightly over 50% during the first five years of owning the vehicle if the average annual mileage is 12,000 miles. Moreover, this drop in value is for vehicles that are regularly maintained and are accident-free.
If you plan to resell your vehicle in the next few years, make sure you take care of your vehicle by scheduling regular maintenance and keeping it accident-free for as long as possible.
What are the Potential Problems with the Best Year Honda Ridgeline?
The 2018 Honda Ridgeline makes a great vehicle; however, no car is perfect. The 2018 Honda Ridgeline may have been a reliable car with a durable engine, but since no car is perfect, there are a few problems with the 2018 Honda Ridgeline that you should look out for.
Some of the problems you might face when owning a 2018 Honda Ridgeline include.
Transmission Issues
Several transmission issues have been reported in the 2018 Honda Ridgeline. Moreover, several electrical issues range from horn problems to warning lights.
Fuel System Problems
The best year Honda Ridgeline has a reported problem related to the fuel system that can lead to erosion and cracking on the fuel pump. While the problem is easy to fix, it is always a good idea to schedule regular maintenance of your vehicle so you can avoid the fuel system problems associated with the 2018 Honda Ridgeline.
Issues with the Brake
The 2018 Honda Ridgeline also has a specific sound coming when using the breaks. Again it is one of the easily fixable problems, but it is a good idea to replace the rotors before your vehicle hits 50,000 miles.
Is the 2018 Honda Ridgeline a Good Used Truck?
Some people may have preferred to invest in a new 2018 Honda Ridgeline, but if you are someone who didn't, you must be wondering whether the 2018 Honda Ridgeline makes a good used truck.
The answer is yes. The best year Honda Ridgeline makes a good used truck. However, the Honda Ridgeline is not like most other compact pickup trucks. It makes an excellent truck for buyers who may not need a conventional workhorse but still want to enjoy decent utility while handling a car that rides like a smaller SUV.
And if you are still not convinced whether the 2018 Honda Ridgeline makes the best deal for you, here are some of the appealing strengths of the vehicle that will help you decide whether it makes a suitable car for you or not.
Some of the strengths of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline includes:
- Comfortable SUV-like ride
- Engaging handles
- Versatile bed, with unique features like an in-bed stereo
- Exceptional interior quality
- Ample leg space
- Sturdy engine
- High reliability and safety scores
However, like everything, the 2018 Honda Ridgeline also has a few cons that you should know about to make an informed decision about investing in this truck.
- Single engine option
- Cannot tow as much as other trucks
- It is an expensive investment with the highest 5-year ownership cost
- Poor depreciation rating
How Much Does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline Cost?
The average list price of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline is $33,700, which is well above average for the class. While this is the average price, you can find the prices for the 2018 Honda Ridgeline varying between $28,000 and $40,000 depending upon the vehicle’s mileage, features, and condition.
How Much Does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline Cost to Own?
Apart from the cost of the vehicle, the other important cost that might be of interest for anyone who wants to invest in the 2018 Honda Ridgeline is the cost to own the vehicle. Some of the costs that you may incur while holding the 2018 Honda Ridgeline include the costs for fuel, repair and maintenance, and insurance.
For the 2018 Honda Ridgeline, you can expect to pay an average of $27,300 for a 5-year period which is the highest cost to own for a compact pickup truck.
How Much Does It Cost to Insure a 2018 Honda Ridgeline?
Since insurance makes up an integral chunk of the cost to own the truck, you may be interested in knowing how much it cost to insure the 2018 Honda Ridgeline.
Several factors can affect the cost of insuring the 2018 Honda Ridgeline, including the level of coverage you want, your deductibles, and the type of insurance you choose. Moreover, your personal factors such as your age, location, gender, driving record, and credit score can also significantly impact your insurance rates.
Should I Go for a Used 2018 Honda Ridgeline or Invest in the Latest Model?
Another critical question that many potential Honda Ridgeline buyers may ask is whether to go for a used 2018 Honda Ridgeline or invest in the latest models that followed in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
In the models that followed the 2018 Honda Ridgeline, the company made minimal changes to the vehicle. With the exception of a few features, most of the features of the following models are pretty similar to the 2018 Honda Ridgeline. For most buyers, these updated features probably aren't worth the extra cost that they may have to incur to buy a new Honda Ridgeline. Hence, it seems viable to invest in a similar used 2018 Honda Ridgeline and save money.
What Year's Honda Ridgeline to Avoid?
Honda Ridgeline has had many successful years, and while we recommend 2018 Honda Ridgeline as the best year Honda Ridgeline, there are a few worst years that you should know about so you can make the most appropriate choice for yourself.
The 2017 Honda Ridgeline makes the worst year model, which had complaints about the vehicle's reliability, so that’s the model that you should avoid.
About The Author
Charles Redding
I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more.
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