2008 Honda Ridgeline Safety Review
Based on analysis of 51 Ridgeline reviews and test drives.
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Honda Ridgeline does very well in federal government crash tests. Reviewers like the Detroit News "can't think of anything they didn't put on the Ridgeline in terms of safety features," but are equally concerned with the truck's poor over-the-shoulder visibility.
The last model year tested by the federal government, the 2007 Ridgeline, earned 5 out of 5 stars for both driver and front passenger protection in front impact crashes. In side crashes, the 2007 Ridgeline also earned 5 stars for front seat and backseat occupant protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not rated the Ridgeline's crash safety.
Accident Avoidance
The 2008 Ridgeline has anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist. The truck also has a vehicle stability assist function with traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system standard for all four trims. One standard feature the Chicago Tribune enjoys for accident prevention is its windshield wipers "that automatically heat without pushing a button or turning a dial to melt the ice and free the blades so they can work when the temperature is 20 degrees or colder."
What reviews note as a glaring oversight is the lack of a back-up assist system, as several reviewers complain of significant blind spots. Car and Driver suggests that "side mirrors needed to be bigger to illuminate the substantial blind spots created by the flying buttress C-pillars." Newsday agrees, noting that "the high walls of the cargo bed slightly hamper the driver's vision in left to right lane changes."
Crash Protection
The Ridgeline's crash protection equipment includes dual-stage, dual-threshold front air bags, front side air bags and side curtain air bags with a rollover sensor. All seat belts are three-point with the front seat having adjustable belt anchors and automatic tensioners, and the rear seats have the lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system.
