How Does the 2021 Honda Ridgeline Handle Towing a Trailer?
We loaded up a 2021 Honda Talon UTV and headed for the Grapevine to find out!
Late in 2020, Honda announced that it would be giving the Ridgeline a slight refresh for the 2021 model year. Becausethe Ridgeline is one of our favorite midsize pickups, this made us quite happy. What came with the refresh was revised sheetmetal at the front and rear, which was intended to give the Ridgeline a more muscular style more in line with traditional pickups than the SUV it shares its platform with. Interestingly, the model shown was Sport with the company's new HPD (Honda Performance Development) accessory package on it.
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When we finally got our hands on one to test, we were even more excited because it was that same base Sport trim with the HPD package (unique wheels, tires, fender flares, and grille). Aside from the fact that manufacturers rarely offer these more basic models, we were excited to see what the public thought about the HPD package. The truck drew tons of attention and loads of comments, most of which were very complimentary (people loved the bronze wheels). However, there was still one thing that we wanted to do with the Ridgeline that we get asked about all the time, and that is to tow with it.
We reached out to Honda and asked to borrow another 2021 Ridgeline, this time a top-spec RTL-E. We also asked if they could deliver it to us with one of the company's new 2021 Talon UTVs in tow. Happily, Honda obliged.
Ridgeline's towing capacity has always been at the bottom of the midsize class with a maximum rating of just 5,000 pounds. That said, 5,000 pounds is a lot of weight for this size of pickup, and if anything, we've always been a bit leery of midsize claims of towing capacities that rival half-ton trucks. Together, the two-seat 2021 Honda Talon and single-axle all-steel trailer tipped the scales at about 3,000 pounds. This means that a slightly longer trailer and four-seat Talon would max out the Ridgeline's 5,000-pound capacity.
Not wanting to baby the Ridgeline, we pointed the truck toward one of the toughest grades on the West Coast, the infamous Tejon Pass, better known as "the Grapevine" to locals. The first thing we noticed was that the Ridgeline's 3.5L V-6 engine, which produces 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, had no issues getting up to speed, merging into traffic, or even passing slower vehicles. We had our doubts as the Ridgeline's 262 lb-ft of torque doesn't peak until 4,700 rpm, which is quite high in the powerband. All those thoughts vanished, however, as soon as we set off.
Stability was also a concern of ours, as the Ridgeline isn't particularly heavy with a curb weight of just 4,510 pounds. Add in the fact that single-axle trailers aren't known for their straight-line stability, either, and we figured this could be a recipe for major tail wag. Again, all worries were quickly dispatched as the Ridgeline held straight and true as the trailer tried its very best to sway the truck. We also noted no negative handling effects from the trailer's tongue weight and the truck's independent rear suspension.
