The Honda Ridgeline 2019 stands out in the pickup truck segment with its unique blend of car-like comfort and truck utility. For prospective buyers, safety is paramount, and the Ridgeline doesn’t disappoint. This comprehensive guide dives into the safety ratings and crash test performance of the 2019 Honda Ridgeline, providing you with a detailed analysis to make an informed decision. We’ll explore results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a leading authority on vehicle safety, to understand how the Ridgeline holds up in various crash scenarios.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end, specifically the driver or passenger side corner, impacts with another vehicle or a rigid object. This is a particularly challenging test as it bypasses the main energy-absorbing structures of the vehicle.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Front
The 2017 Honda Ridgeline, which shares the same design with the 2019 Honda Ridgeline, underwent the driver-side small overlap front test and achieved a Good rating, the highest possible.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
This “Good” rating signifies robust protection for the driver in this type of severe frontal crash. Key observations from the test include:
- Structure and Safety Cage: The Ridgeline’s structure held up exceptionally well, maintaining the driver’s survival space.
- Driver Injury Measures: All injury measures for the head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot were rated “Good,” indicating a low risk of significant injuries to the driver.
- Restraints and Kinematics: The airbags and safety belt worked effectively to control the dummy’s movement, preventing excessive forces and contact with the vehicle structure.
Action shot from the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test of the Honda Ridgeline 2019, demonstrating vehicle deformation and airbag deployment.
Post-crash test view of the driver dummy in the Honda Ridgeline 2019, illustrating the maintained survival space and effective restraint system.
Close-up of the airbags deployed in the Honda Ridgeline 2019 driver-side small overlap test, showing proper head protection.
Footwell area of the Honda Ridgeline 2019 after the driver-side small overlap test, indicating minimal intrusion and low risk of leg and foot injuries.
The technical measurements further support the “Good” rating, showing minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment and low injury metrics for the driver dummy.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front
In the passenger-side small overlap test, the 2019 Honda Ridgeline RTL crew cab 2wd model was tested. The overall rating for this test was Acceptable, slightly lower than the driver-side.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | A |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | M |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | M |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
While the structure and safety cage still earned a “Good” rating, indicating the vehicle’s structural integrity remained strong, there were some areas of concern:
- Passenger Restraints and Kinematics: The passenger dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off, allowing it to hit the dashboard. This resulted in a “Marginal” rating for passenger restraints and dummy kinematics. However, the side curtain airbag did deploy effectively, providing head protection from side structures.
- Passenger Lower Leg/Foot: Measures indicated a “Marginal” risk of injury to the passenger’s lower leg/foot.
Action shot from the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test of the 2019 Honda Ridgeline, highlighting the vehicle’s response to impact.
Dummy positioning in the Honda Ridgeline 2019 after the passenger-side small overlap test, showing the passenger survival space.
Close-up view of airbag performance in the Honda Ridgeline 2019 passenger-side small overlap test, showing head contact with the dashboard.
Footwell area of the Honda Ridgeline 2019 following the passenger-side small overlap test, indicating potential lower leg injury risks.
Despite the “Acceptable” overall rating due to passenger-side issues, the driver side performance remained “Good”, and the structural integrity of the vehicle was maintained.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test
The moderate overlap front test involves 40% of the vehicle’s front width impacting a deformable barrier at 40 mph. This test is less severe than the small overlap test and assesses how well the vehicle’s front structure and restraint systems manage crash energy. The 2017-2025 Honda Ridgeline models received a Good rating in this test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The Ridgeline demonstrated excellent performance:
- Overall Evaluation, Structure, and Safety Cage: All rated “Good”, indicating comprehensive protection in a moderate frontal impact.
- Driver Injury Measures: All injury measures for head/neck, chest, and legs/feet were “Good”, signifying low injury risk.
- Occupant Compartment Intrusion: Measurements showed minimal intrusion into the driver’s footwell and occupant space.
Side Impact Crash Test
Side impact crashes are particularly dangerous because vehicles have less structure to absorb crash energy compared to frontal impacts. The IIHS conducts two types of side impact tests: the original side test and an updated, more stringent side test.
Original Side Impact Test
The 2017-2023 Honda Ridgeline models achieved a Good rating in the original side impact test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
This “Good” rating reflects excellent protection for both the driver and rear passengers in a typical side impact scenario. All injury measures for both front and rear occupants were rated “Good”.
Updated Side Impact Test
The updated side impact test uses a heavier barrier and higher impact speed, making it a more demanding evaluation of side crash protection. The 2017-2025 Honda Ridgeline, tested in its 2021 model year configuration, still achieved a Good overall rating in this tougher test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis | M |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
While the overall rating remained “Good,” the “Structure and Safety Cage” received an “Acceptable” rating, and the “Driver Pelvis” injury measure was “Marginal.” This indicates that while still providing good overall protection, the Ridgeline’s side structure showed some weaknesses in this more severe test, and there was a slightly elevated risk of pelvic injury for the driver. However, rear passenger protection remained “Good” across all measures.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses a vehicle’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The 2017-2023 Honda Ridgeline received a Good rating in this evaluation.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.62, the Ridgeline’s roof demonstrated excellent resistance, exceeding the IIHS requirement and indicating strong protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions, and good head restraints are crucial for mitigating this risk. The Honda Ridgeline with manual cloth seats received a Good rating for head restraints and seats.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Both the dynamic performance and the geometry of the seat and head restraint were rated “Good,” indicating effective whiplash protection in rear impacts.
Headlights
Headlight performance is a critical safety feature, especially for nighttime driving. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. The 2017-2020 Honda Ridgeline models have two headlight variations:
LED Projector Headlights (RTL-E, Black Edition trims): Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | G |
These headlights, equipped on the higher trims, earned a “Good” overall rating, offering adequate visibility on straightaways and curves with minimal glare. High-beam assist further enhances visibility.
Halogen Projector Headlights (RT, SPORT, RTL, RTL-T trims): Poor
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | P |
The halogen projector headlights, found on lower trims, received a “Poor” rating. They demonstrated inadequate visibility on both straightaways and curves, although glare was not an issue. This is a significant consideration for potential buyers, especially those who frequently drive at night or in rural areas.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Forward collision prevention systems can significantly reduce or even prevent front-end collisions. The 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline, when equipped with the optional “Honda Sensing Package,” earned a Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests and meets the requirements for forward collision warning. This optional feature adds a significant layer of safety to the Ridgeline.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Ease of use of child seat anchors is important for ensuring proper child seat installation. The 2017-2025 Honda Ridgeline received an Acceptable rating for LATCH ease of use.
| Overall evaluation | A |
While rated “Acceptable,” the LATCH system was noted to have lower anchors that are deep in the seat, and tether anchors that are hard-to-find in all three rear seating positions. However, they are still functional and allow for secure child seat installation.
Conclusion
The 2019 Honda Ridgeline demonstrates strong safety performance across most IIHS crash tests, earning “Good” ratings in key areas like driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact (both original and updated tests), roof strength, and head restraints & seats. The passenger-side small overlap front test received an “Acceptable” rating, and the updated side test showed some structural weaknesses and driver pelvis injury concerns, though still maintaining an overall “Good” rating for side impact. Headlights are a notable area for consideration, with the LED projector headlights on higher trims achieving a “Good” rating, while the halogen projector headlights on lower trims rated “Poor.” The optional front crash prevention system is “Superior,” and child seat LATCH ease of use is “Acceptable.”
Overall, the Honda Ridgeline 2019 is a safe pickup truck, particularly when equipped with the Honda Sensing Package and higher trim level LED headlights. Prospective buyers should carefully consider the headlight options and passenger-side small overlap performance when making their purchase decision. For more detailed information on each test, refer to the “About the test” links provided in each section.
