Honda Ridgeline

Honda Ridgeline at a glance

Why a unibody pickup

Most mid-size pickups put a separate body on a steel ladder frame. Honda chose the opposite route and gave the Ridgeline a self-supporting body, the same principle used by its SUVs. Engineers at Honda R&D Americas, led by Gary Flint, started work in 2001 with a test mule built from a stretched first-generation Acura MDX that carried another maker's pickup bed.

The result rides and handles better than body-on-frame trucks and keeps the cabin quieter. The trade-off is a lower towing rating than the strongest rivals, which reach far beyond its 2,268 kg. For buyers who tow a small boat or carry bikes and garden supplies, the trade is usually a good one. One industry study found that 84 percent of truck buyers tow 5,000 lb or less.

First generation (2006–2014 model years)

A Sport Utility Truck concept appeared at the Detroit motor show in January 2004, and the Ridgeline name was announced at the SEMA show later that year. The production truck was unveiled in Detroit in January 2005 and went on sale in March 2005 as a 2006 model. Honda said only 7 percent of its parts were shared with other Honda models.

The engine was a 3.5-litre J35A9 V6 with 184 kW (247 hp) and 332 Nm. Power went through a five-speed automatic, with no manual option. The VTM-4 system drove the front wheels on dry roads, could direct as much as 70 percent of its torque rearwards and could be locked electronically at low speed.

Key measurements:

• wheelbase 3,099 mm, length about 5,253 mm, width 1,976 mm;
• kerb weight about 2,037–2,075 kg depending on year and trim;
• payload 669–707 kg, and a lockable in-bed trunk of 241 litres.

2009 and 2012 updates

The 2009 model year brought more than 50 changes. The new J35Z5 engine gave 186 kW (250 hp), and its torque rose to 335 Nm by Wikipedia EN's figure, while Wikipedia DE gives 342 Nm. Honda lowered the third and fourth gear ratios by about 5 percent and fitted seven-pin trailer wiring to the RTS and RTL. The 2012 update brought a Sport trim, a new grille and less internal engine friction, which saved about 1 mpg in the EPA tests.

Sales were strongest at the start: 50,193 trucks in the US in 2006. After that they fell to 9,759 in 2011, and production stopped in early 2015.

Second generation (since the 2017 model year)

After a one-year break, the Ridgeline returned in June 2016. It now used Honda's global light-truck platform, and about 73 percent of its parts were common with the third-generation Honda Pilot. Honda reinforced the front structure by 17 percent and the rear by 31 percent. Torsional rigidity rose by 28 percent, and the truck still weighed about 35 kg less on average than before.

The engine kept 3.5 litres but gained power: 209 kW (280 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 355 Nm at 4,700 rpm. A six-speed automatic came first. For the first time a front-wheel-drive version was offered, with all-wheel drive as an option. The in-bed trunk shrank slightly to 206 litres.

2021 facelift and TrailSport

An updated Ridgeline was shown in October 2020. It received a squarer nose, a wider front track by 10 mm and a nine-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive was dropped, so every truck now came with i-VTM4, a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system with Mud and Sand modes. An HPD styling package followed, and the TrailSport version joined the range for 2024.

A 2024 TrailSport AWD weighs about 2,039 kg (4,495 lb) and rides on a 3,175 mm wheelbase. Its EPA ratings are 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. Its US list price was US$44,980 (about €41,600) for the 2024 model year.

Engines and versions

In the second generation, power grew by 23 kW, or about 12 percent, over the 2009 engine, while kerb weight hardly changed. A quick unit check for these figures is available in our power converter.

Safety and awards

The Ridgeline was the first four-door pickup to earn a five-star NHTSA rating. In 2017 it became the first pickup to win the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. It was also the only pickup with a Top Safety Pick in 2018 and 2019.

Both generations won the North American Truck of the Year title, in 2006 and 2017. MotorTrend named the first one its Truck of the Year in 2006. In off-road racing, Ridgelines won their classes at the SCORE Baja events in 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

Sales and production

The second generation sells better than the first did in its later years: the US total has stayed above 30,000 every year since 2017. On 23 July 2026 Honda confirmed a third generation for 2028, with a more rugged design and a new platform. Production of the current truck in Alabama is due to pause for about 18 months during the changeover.