By james art 
The Honda Ridgeline skips the huge off-road truck trend and sticks to a practical, capable option in a more manageable size. Built on the same Unibody platform as the Pilot SUV and Odyssey Minivan, it’s only available as a four-door crew cab with a five-foot bed.
Under the hood, there’s just one powerplant—a V-6 engine with all-wheel drive—that delivers quick acceleration. The Ridgeline rides and handles more like an SUV than a truck, so it’s much more comfortable than most pickups. While it doesn’t have the rugged, macho vibe of its bodywork rivals, it’s super practical and easier to live with every day.
The 3.5-liter V-6 under the hood makes a 3.5-liter 280-hp. and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The engine is smooth and responsive, especially when you step on it for harder acceleration.
As pickup trucks go, the Ridgeline is decidedly unconventional and surprisingly impressive behind the wheel. It handles more like a family SUV than a typical truck, thanks to its independent coil-over rear suspension—as opposed to the non-adjustable leaf, solid axles you’ll find on competitors like the Chevy, GMC, Jeep and Ford. The result? A ride that’s comfortable and smooth, with minimal body roll in corners and hardly any over small bumps.
The electrically assisted steering feels precise and responsive. Even the Trailsport model, which comes with Graber Grabber All-Terrain tires, remains quiet and composed on the road. The Trailsport edition also gets custom-tuned, off-road suspension, all-seasons on the floor, intelligent traction control with pre-programmed settings to more confidently tackle sand, snow, mud and more. Special styling considerations for the Trailsport edition also abound.
Outside, in addition to those big chunky tires is a tile truck bed, bed, low pit LED headlights, dual action tailgate, Trailsport badging all around, integrated Class III tow and more. On the inside, an orange theme takes shape with orange stitching around the leather-trimmed seats and orange ambient lighting. There’s a power moonroof and a one-touch sliding rear window. The seats and steering wheel are also heated.
The 2025 model year. carries over without real changes from 2024. Ridgeline. Even without the changes, it still goes toe-to-toe with the Toyota Tacoma as a useful, every-day pickup that’s easy to drive around town and fully capable of handling the trails when we push it to hit our city bumps. For those looking for even more off-road capabilities, the Trailsport offers better suspension, tires and understated guards for it. A perfect balance of off-road utility and everyday practicality.
Starting MSRP: $45,380.00