Criswell Honda Awards 2025: Excellence in Germantown, MD

Honda Warning Lights: Your Car Is Trying to Tell You Something Honda warning lights aren't there for decoration. They're the vehicle's way of telling you that a system needs attention, and sometimes they're telling you to do something about it right now. The trick is knowing the difference. Some dashboard lights point to routine maintenance or a condition you can check yourself. Others can indicate a problem serious enough to stop driving. For Honda owners around Germantown, MD, understanding a few of the most common symbols can make that decision considerably easier. The Check Engine Light Covers a Lot of Ground Few Honda warning lights are as familiar—or as vague—as the check engine light. It can illuminate for several reasons, ranging from a loose fuel cap to a problem involving an engine sensor or emissions component. Because the light itself doesn't identify the failed component, proper diagnosis is important. If it stays illuminated, schedule an inspection instead of replacing parts based on a guess. A flashing check engine light can indicate a more serious condition, so reduce driving and have the vehicle inspected promptly. Low Oil Pressure Deserves Immediate Attention The oil-can symbol is one warning you don't want to test your luck with. An illuminated oil pressure warning light can indicate that the engine isn't maintaining sufficient oil pressure for proper lubrication. If it appears while driving, find a safe place to stop, shut off the engine, and consult your owner's manual or contact a service professional. Continuing to run an engine without adequate oil pressure can cause significant internal damage, turning one dashboard light into a considerably larger repair. A Battery Light Isn't Just About the Battery The battery-shaped warning light points to the vehicle's charging system, which means the battery itself isn't necessarily the culprit. An alternator problem, electrical connection, drive belt issue, or another charging-system fault may be responsible. The vehicle can continue operating for a limited period using stored battery power, but once that charge is depleted, you're going nowhere. If the battery warning appears while you're driving, minimize unnecessary electrical loads and arrange for the charging system to be inspected. TPMS Is Asking You to Check the Tires Honda's Tire Pressure Monitoring System can alert you when tire pressure drops below the appropriate level. Low pressure can affect handling, tire wear, and fuel economy, so the TPMS light deserves more than a glance. Check all tires when they're cold and inflate them according to the pressure listed on the vehicle's tire-information label, commonly located inside the driver's door jamb. If one tire repeatedly loses pressure, have your tires inspected for a puncture, valve problem, or other source of air loss. Maintenance Minder Keeps Routine Service on the Radar Not every light means something has gone wrong. Honda Maintenance Minder is designed to help owners keep track of routine service based on vehicle operating conditions. It can indicate when services such as an oil change, tire rotation, or other maintenance are approaching. Following those reminders and the recommendations for your specific Honda helps address normal wear before neglected maintenance creates additional problems. Red and Amber Lights Don't Tell the Same Story Color can provide a quick indication of urgency, but your owner's manual should always be the reference for the specific symbol in your Honda. A red warning generally deserves immediate attention and may mean the vehicle should be stopped as soon as it can be done safely. Amber or yellow indicators commonly identify a system that needs inspection without necessarily requiring an immediate stop. If you don't recognize a symbol, don't rely on a guess. Check the manual and arrange professional Honda service when needed. Put a Name to That Dashboard Light at Criswell Honda Knowing what Honda warning lights mean takes some of the mystery out of that illuminated dashboard. The check engine, oil pressure, charging-system, TPMS, and Maintenance Minder indicators all communicate different things, and responding appropriately can help protect the vehicle from additional damage. Drivers around Germantown, MD, can visit Criswell Honda for diagnostic service, routine maintenance, and help identifying the cause behind a warning indicator. Schedule a service appointment online when your Honda starts asking for attention.

2026 Honda Ridgeline: A Truck Built Around Getting Things Done The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup built by people who seem to understand that trucks spend a lot of time doing jobs that don't require a hard hat. It combines a 280 hp V6, standard i-VTM4® AWD, up to 5,000 lbs. of towing capacity, and seating for 5 with a fully independent suspension. For drivers around Germantown, MD, the Ridgeline backs up its comfortable road manners with legitimate hauling hardware and some of the smartest cargo solutions in the segment. The V6 Comes Ready to Work Every Ridgeline uses a direct-injected 3.5L i -VTEC® V6 producing 280 hp and 262 lbs. ft. of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Standard i-VTM4® AWD can distribute torque between the front and rear axles and between the rear wheels, while Intelligent Traction Management provides Normal, Snow, Sand, and Mud modes. All trims can tow up to 5,000 lbs., and payload capacity ranges from 1,509 to 1,583 lbs. depending on configuration. Those are the numbers that count when there's a trailer on the hitch or a bed full of supplies. The Bed Has More Tricks Than Most The composite bed provides 33.9 cubic feet of cargo volume and measures 64 inches long with the tailgate raised or 83 inches with it lowered. There's 50 inches between the wheel wells, enough for 4-foot-wide materials to lie flat. Beneath the bed is a lockable 7.3-cubic-foot In-Bed Trunk® with a drain plug, providing enclosed storage without sacrificing cab space. Honda's Dual-Action Tailgate can drop like a conventional tailgate or swing open from the side, making it easier to reach the trunk and items farther forward in the bed. The Cab Works for People, Too Every Ridgeline seats 5 and includes tri-zone automatic climate control, remote engine sta rt, wireless phone charging, and a 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under - seat storage. RTL adds perforated leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat with memory, power moonroof, and power sliding rear window. Black Edition adds ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, and red ambient LED lighting. It's a truck cabin capable of carrying work gear one day and passengers the next without demanding much compromise from either. Technology Starts with the Essentials A 9-inch touchscreen with HondaLink ®, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, Bluetooth® streaming audio, and a 215-watt 7-speaker audio system comes standard. Black Edition upgrades to a 540-watt 8-speaker premium audio system. Honda Sensing® also includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™, Road Departure Mitigation System, Lane Keeping Assist System, and Adaptive Cruise Control, while Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Monitor is standard. TrailSport Brings Hardware for Rougher Ground The lineup includes Sport, RTL, TrailSport, TrailSport + with HPD™ wheels, Black Edition, and Black Edition Two-Tone configurations. TrailSport builds from RTL with an off-road-tuned suspension, P245/60 R18 all-terrain tires, 18-inch Shark Gray wheels, an oil-pan skid plate, front and rear parking sensors, Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™, and orange interior accents. Black Edition focuses on cabin equipment, while Black Edition Two-Tone adds a contrasting black roof. Put the 2026 Ridgeline to Work at Criswell Honda Drivers around Germantown, MD, can visit Criswell Honda to compare Ridgeline configurations and explore available Honda truck inventory. Schedule a test drive online to experience its 280 hp V6, standard i-VTM4® AWD, independent suspension, and distinctive cargo system in person.

2027 Honda HR-V: Small Outside, Properly Grown Up Inside Compact SUVs tend to live or die by packaging, and the 2027 Honda HR-V makes rather good use of its 179.8-inch length. There is seating for 5, 37.7 inches of second-row legroom, and as much as 55.1 cubic feet of cargo space, figures that give this small Honda more room to work with than its footprint suggests. For Germantown, MD, drivers, that combination should prove handy in crowded parking lots without asking rear passengers to fold themselve s into the seats. Three Trims, Without Making Things Complicated Honda has kept the range commendably straightforward: LX, Sport, and EX-L. The LX already brings 17-inch Pewter Gray alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, wireless phone charging, and a 4-speaker 180-watt audio system. Sport earns its name mainly through appearance and equipment, adding 18-inch Gloss Black alloys, a Sport grille, gloss-black exterior trim, and a chrome exhaust finisher, while heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock®, remote engine start, and a 6-speaker 180-watt audio system improve the cabin. EX-L takes the comfort route with leather-trimmed seats, an 8-way power driver's seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-speaker 180-watt audio system, front and rear parking sensors, and a one-touch power moonroof. The Tape Measure Tells the Better Story The HR-V's dimensions are more interesting inside than outside. All 3 trims provide 24.4 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 55.1 cubic feet once the 60/40-split rear seat is folded. There is 41.9 inches of front legroom and 37.7 inches in the rear, so the second row has been treated as passenger space rather than somewhere adults merely tolerate. LX and Sport provide 98.7 cubic feet of passenger volume. The moonroof-equipped EX-L sacrifices a little of that, dropping to 97.3 cubic feet, but remains close enough that the difference is unlikely to transform how the cabin is used. One Engine, Two Driven-Wheel Choices There are no escalating engine outputs to decipher here. Every HR-V gets the same 158-hp 2.0L 4-cylinder and CVT, leaving drivetrain choice as the significant mechanical decision. Front-wheel drive is standard, while available Real Time AWD™ can distribute power where traction is needed. Econ, Normal, and Snow drive modes are standard, as is Hill Descent Control. Fuel economy changes modestly with AWD: FWD versions are EPA-rated at 26 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined, compared with 25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined for AWD models. For Germantown winters, that 1-mpg combined difference may be an acceptable exchange for drivers who want all 4 wheels involved. Honda Sensing® Starts at the LX Honda has not reserved its main driver-assistance suite for the expensive end of the range. Honda Sensing® is standard throughout, bringing the Collision Mitigation Braking System™, Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist System, Traffic Sign Recognition, Traffic Jam Assist, and Driver Attention Monitor. Sport and EX-L add the Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Monitor. EX-L goes further with Low-Speed Braking Control and front and rear parking sensors, giving the top trim additional assistance precisely where a compact SUV spends plenty of its time: maneuvering at low speeds. Choosing Your HR-V in Germantown The appeal of the 2027 HR-V lies less in spectacle than in getting the fundamentals into a compact body. LX covers an unexpectedly strong technology baseline, Sport adds comfort and a sharper visual treatment, and EX-L concentrates on cabin equipment and additional driver assistance. Drivers around Germantown, MD, can explore the new Honda inventory at Criswell Honda, compare all 3 HR-V trims, or schedule a test drive online now to see which version makes the strongest case.