Honda Ridgeline

Overview: Is the Honda Ridgeline a good midsize pickup truck?

The Honda Ridgeline is a good choice for customers seeking a midsize pickup truck that serves as a daily driver with a spacious cabin. As a midsize pickup truck, Ridgeline counts the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado as its main rivals. However, the Ridgeline seems lacking in terms of hauling, towing, and off-road performance compared to its rivals.

The Honda Ridgeline takes pride in offering a more refined drive than other midsize trucks. It’s a highly functional midsize truck that offers plenty of storage as well as several standard driver assist features.

Note: equipment, features, and trims can vary by model year. Always confirm these details when looking for a used Honda Ridgeline for sale.

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Related: Honda Ridgeline Pros and Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision

Key Features

The Honda Ridgeline offers

• A 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivering 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque
• A nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive as standard.
• A weather-tight in-bed trunk located below the bed's floor
• A new TrailSport trim level for 2024 model year
• The Honda Performance Development (HPD) package
• A rear-seat cabin and fold-down armrests on both front seats

Trims

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is available in four trims: Ridgeline Sport; Ridgeline RTL; Ridgeline TrailSport; and Ridgeline Black Edition. The base Ridgeline Sport offers 5,000-lb towing capacity when properly equipped, along with a Lockable In-Bed Trunk and Dual-Action Tailgate. Each trim builds on each other, with the TrailSport trim loaded with all-terrain tires, a revised suspension, a protective underbody skid plate, and a different grille design.

Comfort, Technology & Cargo

The Ridgeline Honda has created is known to be driver- and passenger-friendly. Even used Honda Ridgeline truck still offer comfortable driving position, as well as lots of legroom.

Honda’s Ridgeline may not have a display as large as it rivals, but its nine-inch touchscreen is user-friendly, and comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Honda has endowed with sufficient driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and lane keeping assistance.

Meanwhile, the Honda Ridgeline towing capacity may not be as massive as its rivals. However, customers who need huge towing and payload capacity may just go for full-sized pickups instead of midsize ones. Max towing capacity is at 5,000 lbs while payload capacity is at 1,583 lbs.

How It Drives

Thanks to its car-like unibody design, the Honda Ridgeline doesn’t drive like a truck, but like a small passenger vehicle. It offers stable steering and handling during maneuvers. Its V6 engine and automatic transmission work great together to deliver a smooth acceleration on the road.

Finding a Honda Ridgeline lifted like its rivals is nearly impossible, as the truck lacks the underbody clearance and wheel articulation for high-level off-road journeys.

Safety

The second generation of the Honda Ridgeline has been in the market since 2017. This model has earned mixed ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) during testing. In most areas, the Ridgeline received good or acceptable rating. Exceptions were its headlights, which received marginal ratings.

Reviews

Honda Ridgeline reviews compiled by Edmunds.com show customers mostly satisfied with their pickup trucks. The Ridgeline scored 4.4 stars out of five, with around 70% of the reviews giving the pickup trick a five-star rating. Reviews point to the quality of the interior and the driving comfort the Ridgeline brings. There were no mention of Honda Ridgeline accessories, but the availability of them may have helped push the ratings up.

Only around 5% of consumer reviews gave the Ridgeline the lowest one-star rating. Overall, Edmunds.com scored the midsize pickup truck with an 8.o rating. When choosing a used Honda Ridgeline, customers might need to be aware of the years that should be avoided. On the other hand, customers might be surprised with the resale values of the Honda Ridgelines.

Learn more: How Long Do Honda Ridgelines Last? The Scoop on Vehicle Lifespan

FAQs

Which one is better, the Honda Ridgeline or the Tacoma?

While the Tacoma is more off-road capable than the Ridgeline with its greater ground clearance, a low-range four-wheel-drive system, and a locking rear differential, the latter offers higher levels of comfort, and fuel economy. This is expected since the Ridgeline is based on a car-like unibody design.

What is the most common problem with a Honda Ridgeline?

According to repairpal.com, the most common issues with a Honda Ridgeline are connected to its transmission system, tailgate system, and engine problems.

Is the Honda Ridgeline a 4x4?

The current generation of the Honda Ridgeline is available either as an all-whee-drive truck, or a front-wheel drive pickup.

Check out a used Honda Ridgeline for sale.