Honda Ridgeline The GM Truck Of The Future?

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by WishIhadatruck

The GMC Denali XT concept or whatever it was called seemed like a waste to me. The payload and tow ratings were so low you might as well buy a 4cyl Colorado! They need to figure out how to make a pickup on the Lamda platform which should get even better fuel economy with DI which already gets better fuel economy than the Pilot/Ridgeline and increase the tow rating over the 4500 lb of the current Lambda's. Even 5k or 5500 would be ok for many people.

Yea thats even a better idea because the payload/tow ratings were low. Just keep the Denali XT exterior styling.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

The Fridgeline only gets 1 mpg better than the 5.3L Silverado.

Yeah. I think the Ridgeline has a lot of redeeming qualities and the ugliness doesn't bother me. But I'm astonished at the fuel economy.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if a six speed automatic with proper gearing, a more aerodynamic front, and an engine tuned for better low end torque could do better. (No matter who makes it, GM, Honda, or someone else.)

[E. Haskell]

GM should always make big trucks with power and the ability to tow 10k+. The market will likely keep going down, but I bet there will always be 200k+ people every year that need a larger truck.

[E. Haskell]

Originally Posted by Michael_S

Yeah. I think the Ridgeline has a lot of redeeming qualities and the ugliness doesn't bother me. But I'm astonished at the fuel economy.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if a six speed automatic with proper gearing, a more aerodynamic front, and an engine tuned for better low end torque could do better. (No matter who makes it, GM, Honda, or someone else.)

Maybe it has something to do with the design of trucks.

Tacoma 4WD = 16/20
Silverado AWD (5.3L) = 14/19
Ridgeline AWD = 15/20

I bet the G8 ST will beat all of those, but it is shaped more like a car.

[eurohazard]

E Haskel is onto something. I used to have an Acura MDX...basically a Honda Ridgeline with out a bed......same 3.5 V6 and 5-speed AT. I used to get 16-17 mpg in the city, and 21-22 mpg on the freeway. But I drove it hard, and I was always the fastest person that everyone one else was pacing. I got 26 mpg on a tank, but it was a lot of 55 mph driving in construction zones.

A little 3.5 V6 is way more affected by poor aerodynamics than a 5.3 V8. The fuel economy doesn't surprise me. The Lambdas have marginally better MPG, but they also have an extra forward gear, which helps a lot.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by Michael_S

Yeah. I think the Ridgeline has a lot of redeeming qualities and the ugliness doesn't bother me. But I'm astonished at the fuel economy.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if a six speed automatic with proper gearing, a more aerodynamic front, and an engine tuned for better low end torque could do better. (No matter who makes it, GM, Honda, or someone else.)

The Ridgeline is a great truck for a normal person who doesn't need to carry 3 tons in the bed while towing a 10k trailer. Plus it can be had fully loaded for only $35k. The only issue with the Ridgeline is it gets poor fuel economy. GM is good at making trucks, suv's, and crossovers. If GM made a Ridgeline competitor it would get at least 25 MPG. I truly hope GM makes such a vehicle, they would make a killing on it like they are doing with the Lambda's.

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

I bet the G8 ST will beat all of those, but it is shaped more like a car.

The G8 ST is just a G8 with a flat bed, its way too low to the ground to be even a light pick up like the Ridgeline is. Plus it has no crew cab, and no 4WD/AWD system.

[chevydlrmn]

Originally Posted by Aprime

Got a problem with AWD for trucks?

no, but like the rear drive based awd. For a car I am fine with front wheel drive.

[E. Haskell]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

The G8 ST is just a G8 with a flat bed, its way too low to the ground to be even a light pick up like the Ridgeline is. Plus it has no crew cab, and no 4WD/AWD system.

That's what I'm saying. There probably isn't a way to dramatically improve the fuel economy of trucks without taking away what makes them trucks.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

GM should always make big trucks with power and the ability to tow 10k+. The market will likely keep going down, but I bet there will always be 200k+ people every year that need a larger truck.

Wow..that's ONE line in ONE plant.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

That's what I'm saying. There probably isn't a way to dramatically improve the fuel economy of trucks without taking away what makes them trucks.

I didn't even think about that, makes sense since the most fuel efficient cars are so low to the ground. I need to learn more about aerodynamics.

[Robert Ryan]

How funny ... this is just what I suggested a year ago, after deciding NOT to replace my family's '04 Silverado with a GMT-900 based truck. What I really needed was a FWD or AWD light truck that could tow 3000 pounds of pontoon boat or watercraft. FWD would be great in the snow and at the boat ramp.

I even did a cheezy mock-up using Windows Paint.

In other words a Silverado becomes a Sports Ute. Seeing a lot of people carried /towed considerably less in the US than they do here in Australia ,the idea of a Sports Ute to replace the base Silverado makes sense.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

The Ridgeline is a great truck for a normal person who doesn't need to carry 3 tons in the bed while towing a 10k trailer. Plus it can be had fully loaded for only $35k. The only issue with the Ridgeline is it gets poor fuel economy. GM is good at making trucks, suv's, and crossovers. If GM made a Ridgeline competitor it would get at least 25 MPG. I truly hope GM makes such a vehicle, they would make a killing on it like they are doing with the Lambda's.

Yes. It's interesting that the AWD Lambdas are rated for better fuel economy than the AWD Ridgeline despite being 300 pounds heavier, having 20-odd more peak horsepower and slightly more peak torque about 1000 RPMs lower,

I checked the numbers, and the Ridgelines second through fifth gears are slightly taller than the second through fifth gears in the Lambda AWDs too. So it's not taller gearing helping the Lambdas in the city either.

The Lambdas are slightly wider, 4 inches or so shorter in length, 0.8 inches shorter in ground clearance but over 2 inches taller overall.

[johnstarnes]

I just hope that GMC put into production that awesome recent concept based on a ute...I forget the name but it looked awesome, had a full length bed yet was car-based.....it looked very production ready.

[E. Haskell]

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Originally Posted by PhishPhood

Wow..that's ONE line in ONE plant.

Yeah, nothing compared to the past, but at 200k, still very profitable and worthy of keeping around, imo. When I say 200k, I'm just talking about full-size trucks with a bed...not counting Tahoe/Suburan/Yukon. It might take 10 years, but if gas keeps going up, only people that REALLY need a truck will buy them.

[drew630]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

In other words a Silverado becomes a Sports Ute. Seeing a lot of people carried /towed considerably less in the US than they do here in Australia ,the idea of a Sports Ute to replace the base Silverado makes sense.

Just curious, but where did you get that from?