The Honda Ridgeline, redesigned in 2017 after a brief market absence, has consistently undergone rigorous safety evaluations. For those considering the 2020 Honda Ridgeline, understanding its safety performance is crucial. This article delves into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test ratings for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline, providing a comprehensive overview of its safety strengths and areas for potential improvement based on various crash scenarios.
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side Evaluation
The driver-side small overlap front test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end on the driver’s side impacts an object, like a tree or pole. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline performed admirably in this challenging test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The ratings indicate a “Good” performance across all criteria for the driver in a small overlap front crash. This signifies that the 2020 Honda Ridgeline is designed to protect the driver effectively in this type of severe frontal impact.
Action image from the IIHS driver-side small overlap crash test of a 2020 Honda Ridgeline, demonstrating vehicle impact.
The structural integrity of the 2020 Honda Ridgeline held up well during the test. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion confirmed minimal deformation, maintaining crucial survival space for the driver.
| Measurement | Value (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 4 |
| Footrest | 7 |
| Left Toepan | 6 |
| Brake Pedal | 4 |
| Parking Brake | 11 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 0 |
| Steering Column | 0 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 3 |
| Upper Dash | 3 |
| Lower Instrument Panel | 4 |
These technical measurements highlight the limited intrusion into the driver’s space, contributing to the “Good” rating.
Driver’s survival space in the 2020 Honda Ridgeline after a driver-side small overlap crash, showing well-maintained cabin integrity.
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline‘s restraint systems, including airbags, functioned effectively. Dummy kinematics data shows that the driver’s head, neck, chest, hip, thigh, and lower leg/foot all experienced low injury risk in this test scenario.
Frontal and side curtain airbags deployed effectively in the 2020 Honda Ridgeline driver-side small overlap test, providing crucial head protection.
Detailed injury measures further support the “Good” ratings, with low forces and accelerations recorded on the crash test dummy.
| Injury Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 222 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.2 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 8 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.29 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 24 |
| Left Femur Force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Right Femur Force (kN) | 0.1 |
| Left Knee Displacement (mm) | 0 |
| Right Knee Displacement (mm) | 2 |
| Left Tibia Index | 0.36 |
| Right Tibia Index | 0.54 |
| Left Tibia Axial Force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Right Tibia Axial Force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Left Foot Acceleration (g) | 104 |
| Right Foot Acceleration (g) | 86 |
Leg and foot protection in the 2020 Honda Ridgeline driver-side small overlap crash test, indicating a low risk of lower extremity injuries.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side Evaluation
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but assesses protection for the front passenger. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline achieved an “Acceptable” overall rating in this evaluation.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Acceptable (A) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/Thigh | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | Marginal (M) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Marginal (M) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
While structural performance remained “Good,” passenger-specific injury measures and restraint performance were rated “Marginal.”
Action shot of the 2020 Honda Ridgeline passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test, capturing the moment of impact.
Occupant compartment intrusion measurements indicate slightly more deformation on the passenger side compared to the driver side.
| Measurement | Value (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 10 |
| Footrest | 13 |
| Right Toepan | 8 |
| Center Toepan | 3 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 3 |
| Center Dash | 6 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 7 |
| Upper Dash | 9 |
| Right Lower Dash | 7 |
Passenger survival space after the 2020 Honda Ridgeline passenger-side small overlap crash, showing cabin space maintenance.
The “Marginal” rating for passenger restraints and kinematics stems from the dummy’s head sliding off the frontal airbag and contacting the dashboard, indicating a potential weakness in passenger head protection in this specific crash scenario.
Passenger dummy head movement in the 2020 Honda Ridgeline passenger-side small overlap test, showing head contact with the dashboard.
Injury measures for the passenger reflect the “Marginal” lower leg/foot rating, with higher forces recorded on the right knee and lower leg, suggesting a potential injury risk to these areas.
Forces on the passenger’s lower extremities in the 2020 Honda Ridgeline passenger-side small overlap crash test, indicating potential injury risks.
| Passenger Injury Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 352 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 65 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 9 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.18 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 16 |
| Left Femur Force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Right Femur Force (kN) | 3.5 |
| Left Knee Displacement (mm) | 8 |
| Right Knee Displacement (mm) | 16 |
| Left Tibia Index | 0.50 |
| Right Tibia Index | 0.91 |
| Left Tibia Axial Force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Right Tibia Axial Force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Left Foot Acceleration (g) | 116 |
| Right Foot Acceleration (g) | 23 |
Driver-side injury measures in the passenger-side test remained “Good,” indicating consistent driver protection across both small overlap scenarios.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front impacts a deformable barrier. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline achieved a “Good” rating in this more common frontal crash scenario.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Left | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Right | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The “Good” ratings across the board in the moderate overlap test demonstrate the 2020 Honda Ridgeline‘s robust frontal crash protection for occupants.
Intrusion measurements in the driver’s side footwell and minimal steering column movement further support the structural integrity and occupant protection in a moderate overlap frontal crash.
| Measurement | Value (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footrest Intrusion | 2 |
| Left Footwell Intrusion | 3 |
| Center Footwell Intrusion | 4 |
| Right Footwell Intrusion | 8 |
| Brake Pedal Intrusion | 11 |
| Left Instrument Panel Rearward Movement | 0 |
| Right Instrument Panel Rearward Movement | 0 |
| Steering Column Upward Movement | 2 |
| Steering Column Rearward Movement | -4 |
| A-pillar Rearward Movement | 0 |
Driver injury measures were low, reinforcing the “Good” ratings for injury prevention in this type of crash.
| Injury Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 258 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.2 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 29 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.33 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 26 |
| Left Femur Force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Right Femur Force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Left Knee Displacement (mm) | 0 |
| Right Knee Displacement (mm) | 0 |
| Left Tibia Index | 0.43 |
| Right Tibia Index | 0.56 |
| Left Tibia Axial Force (kN) | 1.9 |
| Right Tibia Axial Force (kN) | 2.6 |
| Left Foot Acceleration (g) | 62 |
| Right Foot Acceleration (g) | 139 |
Side Impact: Original and Updated Tests
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline has undergone both original and updated side impact tests. Both tests resulted in “Good” overall ratings, demonstrating strong side-impact protection.
Side: Original Test (Applies to 2017-23 models)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | Good (G) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
Side: Updated Test (Applies to 2017-25 models)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Acceptable (A) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis | Marginal (M) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
While the updated test showed a slight downgrade in “Structure and Safety Cage” to “Acceptable” and a “Marginal” rating for driver pelvis injury, the overall side impact protection remains strong for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline.
Roof Strength
The roof strength test assesses the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover scenario. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline achieved a “Good” rating, indicating robust roof crush resistance.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Curb weight | 4,216 lbs |
| Peak force | 23,697 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.62 |
A strength-to-weight ratio of 5.62 signifies that the 2020 Honda Ridgeline‘s roof can withstand over five times its own weight.
Head Restraints & Seats
Evaluations of head restraints and seats focus on whiplash protection in rear-end collisions. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline received a “Good” rating in this category.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Dynamic rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good (G) |
The “Good” dynamic and geometric ratings indicate effective head restraint design for whiplash mitigation in the 2020 Honda Ridgeline.
Headlights
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline‘s headlight ratings vary by trim level.
RTL-E and Black Edition Trims:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | Good (G) |
These trims with LED projector low beams and Halogen reflector high beams, along with high-beam assist, achieve a “Good” headlight rating.
RTL and SPORT Trims:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | Poor (P) |
RTL and SPORT trims with Halogen projector low and high beams received a “Poor” rating, highlighting a significant difference in headlight performance based on trim level for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are evaluated for their ability to mitigate or prevent vehicle-to-vehicle frontal collisions. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline‘s standard Collision Mitigation Braking System earned a “Superior” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The “Superior” rating indicates that the 2020 Honda Ridgeline‘s front crash prevention system effectively avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph IIHS tests and meets forward collision warning requirements.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is assessed for LATCH systems. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline received an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH system usability.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Acceptable (A) |
While rated “Acceptable,” the LATCH system in the 2020 Honda Ridgeline has tether anchors that are considered hard-to-find and lower anchors that are deep in the seat.
Conclusion
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline demonstrates strong crashworthiness overall, achieving mostly “Good” ratings in IIHS evaluations. Key strengths include driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength, and head restraint performance. Areas for potential improvement include passenger-side small overlap protection and headlight performance on lower trims. The “Superior” rating for front crash prevention is a notable safety feature. Prospective buyers of a 2020 Honda Ridgeline should consider these safety ratings in their decision-making process, particularly noting the variations in headlight performance across trim levels and the “Acceptable” rating in the passenger-side small overlap test.
