The Ridgeline has always been the truck for people who want truck utility without the truck compromise. It hauls, it tows, it fits in a normal parking garage, and it drives like an SUV. The 2026 model is largely a carryover year, but Honda added a few appearance updates worth knowing about before you shop. At MotoPickers, we’ve broken down everything from the in-bed trunk to the TrailSport’s off-road setup so you can decide if this is the right pickup for your life.
MotoPickers Rating
The Ridgeline’s biggest strength is how livable it is every single day. The ride is smooth, the cabin is quiet, the bed has a lockable trunk built into the floor, and the dual-action tailgate is one of those features you’ll use constantly without thinking about it. It’s a truck that doesn’t make you feel like you’re driving a truck.
Where it falls short is on the traditional truck scorecard. The towing ceiling of 5,000 lbs is lower than most body-on-frame rivals, and the 21 MPG combined on most trims isn’t impressive for the segment. The infotainment system also lags behind what you’d expect at this price point, with a 9-inch screen across all trims when competitors are pushing larger displays.
This truck is built for the buyer who wants to haul mulch on Saturday, drive comfortably to the office Monday, and occasionally tow a small boat or utility trailer. If you need to tow a large camper or regularly work a job site, the Ridgeline will feel like it’s working harder than it should.
| Category | Score (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Performance | 6.3 |
| Comfort | 6.7 |
| Technology | 5.8 |
| Value | 7.0 |
| Fuel Efficiency | 6.7 |
What’s New / Updates Over Previous Version
The 2026 Ridgeline is essentially a carryover model. The powertrain, chassis, and core feature set are unchanged from the prior year, so if you’re cross-shopping a leftover 2025, you’re not missing a mechanical update.
What Honda did add is worth noting for appearance shoppers. The Black Edition gains an available black roof treatment, and the TrailSport gets an exclusive Ash Green Metallic paint color that suits its outdoor personality well. Two new trims also join the lineup: the TrailSport+HPD Wheels and the Black Edition Two-Tone, both covered in detail in the Trim Guide below.
No new driver-assist features, no powertrain changes, and no interior overhaul. If you were hoping for a larger infotainment screen or updated tech, that hasn’t arrived yet. See the Power and Performance section for what the engine delivers and the Trim Guide for how the new trims stack up on price.
Competitors
The Toyota Tacoma is the top-selling midsize pickup and offers more capable off-road variants plus body-on-frame construction for buyers who need a harder-working truck. The Ford Ranger brings a more traditional truck frame with higher towing capacity and available off-road packages. The Chevrolet Colorado covers similar ground with multiple powertrain choices, higher payload and tow ratings, and dedicated off-road trims. The Nissan Frontier comes in at a lower price point with a simpler feature set and the capable Pro-4X off-road model. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the closest alternative in the unibody truck space, with a smaller bed, more carlike driving manners, and an available turbocharged engine.
Exterior Spotlight
The Ridgeline has a cleaner, more SUV-forward look than most midsize pickups. The cab-forward stance and smooth body lines make it look less like a work truck and more like something you’d park at a trailhead or a school pickup line. It’s not a polarizing design, but it’s not forgettable either.
Color Options
Honda offers a wide range of colors for the Ridgeline, including Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Diffused Sky Blue Pearl, Canyon River Blue Metallic, Sonic Gray Pearl, and Ash Green Metallic. The Ash Green Metallic is exclusive to the TrailSport and looks sharp against the trim’s darker exterior accents. The Black Edition adds a Crystal Black Pearl with contrasting black roof option that gives the truck a more aggressive, blacked-out look. The blues and greens suit the Ridgeline’s rounded body well.
Wheel Options
All trims run 18-inch wheels, but the type changes depending on the trim. The Sport, RTL, Black Edition, and Black Edition Two-Tone get standard 18-inch alloys. The TrailSport steps up to 18-inch all-terrain tires, which add grip on dirt and gravel but introduce a bit more road noise on the highway. The TrailSport+HPD Wheels trim swaps those for HPD black alloy wheels with HPD center caps, giving the truck a more aggressive look without changing the tire spec.
Interior Analysis
The Ridgeline’s cabin feels more like a well-equipped SUV than a work truck. Materials are solid, the layout is logical, and there’s enough room for five adults without anyone feeling squeezed. It’s not a luxury interior, but it’s a comfortable one.
Features
The infotainment setup centers on a 9-inch touchscreen across all trims, which is responsive enough for most tasks but starts to feel small when you’re running navigation and audio controls simultaneously. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work reliably, holding a connection without the dropouts that plagued earlier Honda systems — and because you don’t need to plug in to get started, that matters when you’re loading gear with your phone already in your pocket.
Audio quality varies by trim. The base Sport comes with a 7-speaker system that handles daily listening fine but won’t impress anyone, while the RTL and above step up to an 8-speaker setup. On the Black Edition and Black Edition Two-Tone, that becomes a premium 8-speaker Bose configuration that sounds noticeably better on a highway cruise.
Connectivity up front consists of two USB ports — one USB-A and one USB-C, along with a wireless charging pad on the Black Edition trims. Rear passengers get two USB ports as well, so back-seat riders on a road trip can keep their devices charged without fighting over a cable. Rounding out the power options is a 120-volt household outlet, which is genuinely useful for job site tools or a road trip cooler.
The gauge cluster pairs a 7-inch digital display with analog main gauges, presenting trip data, AWD status, and drive mode information clearly. No trim in the lineup offers a head-up display.
Comfort
Front seat comfort is one of the Ridgeline’s quiet strengths, with wide, supportive seats that keep you settled on a two-hour highway stretch without hunting for a better position. Stepping up to the RTL and Black Edition trims adds leather-trimmed seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat, making it easier to dial in your position quickly, while heated front seats come standard across all trims.
Rear legroom checks in at 34.0 inches, enough to keep kids and average-height adults comfortable, though taller passengers will start to notice the limited knee clearance on longer three-hour drives. Headroom is more generous at 38.8 inches, so at least no one will be ducking to climb in.
Ride quality is where the Ridgeline most clearly separates itself from body-on-frame competitors. The front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link suspension absorbs road imperfections in a way that feels closer to a crossover than a truck, smoothing out highway expansion joints and soaking up city potholes without jarring the cabin.
On the RTL and above, an available one-touch power moonroof opens things up nicely on good-weather days. One limitation worth noting is that there’s no dual-zone climate control in the specs, meaning front and rear passengers share the same temperature setting.
Cargo
The Ridgeline’s bed is a short bed, typical for the segment, which is shorter than most midsize truck beds. It won’t swallow full 4x8 sheets of plywood flat, but it handles mulch bags, furniture, and weekend gear without issue. The payload capacity is up to 1,544 lbs, so you can load it down without worrying about the suspension bottoming out.
The real trick is the in-bed trunk. It’s a lockable, weatherproof storage compartment built into the bed floor. It holds roughly the equivalent of two large duffel bags or a set of jumper cables, tools, and a rain jacket, all out of sight and protected from the elements. If you’ve ever had gear stolen from an open truck bed, this feature alone is worth the price of admission.
Behind the second row, the Ridgeline offers 34.0 cubic feet of cargo space in the cab. That’s enough for a large dog crate, a couple of carry-on bags, or a week’s worth of groceries. The floor is flat, which makes loading and unloading easier than trucks with a raised wheel well intrusion.
The dual-action tailgate is one of the most practical features on the truck. It swings open like a traditional tailgate or opens side-hinged like a door, which is useful when you’re loading items from the side rather than the back. There’s no hands-free liftgate, so you’ll need a free hand to operate it.
Power and Performance
The Ridgeline runs one engine across all trims: a 3.5L V-6 paired with a 9-speed automatic. There’s no four-cylinder option, no hybrid, and no diesel. What you get is a smooth, refined powertrain that feels consistent and predictable.
Engine Specs
The 3.5L V-6 produces 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. For a midsize truck, that’s a solid output that keeps the Ridgeline feeling unhurried in most situations. Pulling away from a stop, the engine responds without hesitation. It doesn’t feel sluggish at low speeds the way some smaller turbocharged four-cylinders can when they’re waiting for boost to build.
The 9-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly in Normal mode and holds gears longer in Sport mode when you want more response. Downshifts when passing on a two-lane highway are quick and don’t require a lot of pedal travel to trigger. The transmission rarely hunts between gears on the highway, which is a common annoyance in some competitors.
All Ridgelines come with Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system. It actively distributes torque between the rear wheels, which helps in corners and on slippery surfaces. It’s not a system you’ll think about often, but you’ll notice it when you’re pulling out of a muddy campsite or navigating a snow-covered on-ramp.
Towing is rated at up to 5,000 lbs. That covers a small boat, a loaded utility trailer, or a lightweight camper. It won’t pull a large fifth-wheel or a heavy travel trailer, so if that’s in your plans, the Ridgeline’s tow rating is a real limitation.
Performance Data (0-60)
The Ridgeline covers 0–60 mph in around 6.0 seconds, a respectable number for a truck weighing 4,480 lbs, and in practice that translates to highway on-ramps that feel easy. You can match highway speeds before the merge lane runs out without feeling like you’re asking the engine to work hard to get there.
The 280 horsepower figure is the anchor here, and it’s enough to make the Ridgeline feel confident when loaded with passengers and gear, not just when empty. Passing a slow-moving vehicle on a two-lane road at 55 mph takes a quick downshift and a few seconds rather than a long stretch of road and a prayer.
The 9-speed transmission is calibrated for smoothness over aggression, and while Sport mode brings faster shifts and sharper throttle response, this isn’t a truck that wants to be driven hard, it rewards steady, confident inputs more than aggressive ones. The AWD system reinforces that character by adding a layer of security in mixed conditions, keeping the truck planted on a wet highway and tracking straight on a gravel road without requiring constant steering correction.
Fuel Economy
Most Ridgeline trims return around 18 MPG city and 24 MPG highway, for a combined estimate of about 21 MPG. The TrailSport trims, with their all-terrain tires, drop slightly to around 20 MPG combined. With a 19.5-gallon tank, you’re looking at roughly 390–470 miles between fill-ups depending on how much highway driving you do.
That’s not impressive for the segment. Driving style makes a noticeable difference. Highway cruising at steady speeds will push you toward the higher end of that range, while city stop-and-go or towing will pull you toward the lower end.
Suspension, Braking, and Handling
The front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link suspension is tuned for comfort over sport, and it shows in everyday driving situations. Potholes that would crash through a body-on-frame truck are absorbed quietly in the Ridgeline, speed bumps at parking lot speeds don’t require a slow crawl, and highway expansion joints pass under the truck without sending a jolt through the seat. The TrailSport gets an off-road-tuned version of this setup built to handle uneven terrain, managing dirt roads and light trails without bottoming out. It’s not a rock crawler, but it handles the kind of off-road use most buyers actually encounter.
The braking system uses 12.6-inch ventilated front discs and 13.0-inch rear discs, with a pedal feel that is progressive and easy to modulate. In a hard stop from highway speed, the truck slows in a straight line without pulling to one side. It doesn’t have the abrupt, grabby feel of some performance-oriented vehicles, but it inspires confidence in emergency situations.
The Ridgeline’s 43.4-foot turning radius is noticeable in tight U-turns and parking lots, though at highway speeds the truck feels stable and tracks well through sweeping curves. The steering is light and doesn’t give much road feel back to the driver, so if you want a truck that communicates what the front tires are doing, the Ridgeline isn’t it.
Tech Overview
The Ridgeline’s tech setup covers the basics well, with wireless phone integration, a solid audio system on upper trims, and a full Honda Sensing safety suite all present. The infotainment hardware is functional but not cutting-edge for the price range.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The 8-inch touchscreen is responsive to touch inputs and the menu structure is straightforward. It’s not as fast as some newer systems, but it doesn’t lag in a way that becomes frustrating. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect quickly and stay connected reliably. The 7-inch digital gauge cluster shows useful information including AWD torque distribution and current drive mode, though the analog speedometer takes up most of the cluster real estate. There’s no head-up display on any trim.
Features / Drive Modes
The Ridgeline offers six drive modes: Normal, Sport, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Tow. Normal handles most daily driving without any fuss. Sport sharpens throttle response and holds gears longer, which is useful on winding roads but doesn’t transform the driving character. Snow mode reduces throttle sensitivity and manages AWD distribution for slippery conditions. Sand and Mud modes adjust torque delivery for loose surfaces.
Tow mode manages transmission shift points and engine braking to keep the truck stable when pulling a trailer. Adaptive cruise control is included in the Honda Sensing suite and works smoothly in highway stop-and-go, maintaining a set following distance and bringing the truck to a full stop when traffic halts.
Safety Capabilities
The Ridgeline earned strong safety ratings and comes with Honda Sensing as standard equipment across the lineup. For a truck that families will use as a daily driver, that baseline coverage matters.
Safety Ratings
The 2026 Ridgeline holds an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating and a 5-star overall NHTSA rating. Those are the top scores from both major testing organizations, which means the truck performed well in frontal, side, and rollover crash scenarios. For buyers putting family members in this truck regularly, those ratings reflect a structure that holds up in the worst-case scenarios the tests simulate.
Safety Features
The Ridgeline comes with six airbags covering front, side, and curtain positions. That means occupants in both rows have overhead curtain protection in a side impact or rollover, not just the front seats. ABS and electronic stability control are standard. The three LATCH anchor positions make installing car seats straightforward, with accessible anchor points that don’t require digging behind seat cushions. Traction control is standard across all trims.
Driver Assists
Honda Sensing comes standard on every Ridgeline trim and covers the core ADAS functions buyers use daily. Adaptive cruise control maintains your set speed and following distance on the highway, and it handles stop-and-go traffic smoothly without the jerky braking behavior found in some systems. Automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning activate when the system detects a vehicle or obstacle ahead faster than your current reaction time would handle. Lane keeping assist applies gentle steering correction when you drift toward a lane line, and lane departure warning gives you a visual and audible alert before the correction kicks in. Traffic sign recognition reads posted speed limits and displays them in the gauge cluster. The driver attention monitor watches for signs of drowsiness and prompts you to take a break.
Additional Safety Features
Blind-spot monitoring is available on select trims and uses side mirror indicators to flag vehicles in your blind zone. It’s particularly useful in the Ridgeline because the truck’s wide body makes lane changes on the highway feel like a bigger commitment than in a sedan. Rear cross-traffic alert activates when you’re backing out of a parking space and cross traffic approaches from either side. Front and rear parking sensors give audible distance feedback in tight spots. There’s no surround-view camera system, so the rearview camera handles all reverse visibility on its own. Automatic high beams adjust between high and low beam based on oncoming traffic.
Trim Guide
Six trims cover the 2026 Ridgeline lineup, ranging from the work-ready Sport to the blacked-out Black Edition Two-Tone. The differences between them are mostly about comfort, appearance, and a few convenience features rather than mechanical changes.
Trim and Price
The Sport starts at $40,795 and covers the core utility well at its price point, pairing cloth seats with heated fronts, a 7-inch touchscreen, Honda Sensing, and the Ridgeline’s signature dual-action tailgate and in-bed trunk. Wireless charging isn’t included, but little else feels missing at this level.
The RTL at $43,595 represents a $2,800 step up that buys a noticeably more comfortable daily driver, adding leather-trimmed seats, a power moonroof, a power-sliding rear window, and an upgraded 8-speaker audio system without climbing further up the ladder.
At $45,995, the TrailSport takes a different direction, trading leather for leatherette in exchange for an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, and increased underbody protection. Fuel economy dips to around 20 MPG combined, but the functional upgrades are genuine, and the exclusive Ash Green Metallic paint is only available at this trim. If you use dirt roads or light trails regularly, this is the one to get.
The TrailSport+HPD Wheels at $47,195 is mechanically identical to the TrailSport, with the $1,200 premium buying HPD 18-inch black alloy wheels and nothing else, worth skipping if the look doesn’t matter to you.
Our recommended pick for daily drivers, the Black Edition at $47,395, is the first trim to include wireless charging and rounds out its feature set with dark exterior trim, leather seats, a moonroof, and premium audio. A new-for-2026 black roof option gives it a sharp, cohesive appearance. The Black Edition Two-Tone at $47,895 simply makes that black roof standard rather than optional, making the $500 difference a straightforward appearance call.
Warranty and Maintenance Information
The 2026 Ridgeline comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, complemented by one year or 12,000 miles of complimentary maintenance covering routine service visits in the first year of ownership. No roadside assistance coverage is listed in the available data, though Honda Care plans are available for purchase separately for buyers seeking extended coverage.