I like to think of the Honda Ridgeline as a great “honey do” truck. This midsize pickup is excellent for various chores from maintenance to yard work, and is more efficient and easier to drive for those who don’t need the capability of a full-size pickup.
Base Price: $45,995
As Tested: $47,945
Horsepower: 280
Mileage: 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway/20 mpg combined
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is offered exclusively as a four-door Crew Cab with a bed that’s 5-feet-4-inches. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating. While some rivals offer two-wheel drive, an extended cab, or a longer bed configuration, Honda keeps it simple with the Ridgeline.
It comes in four trims: Sport, RTL, TrailSport, and Black Edition. Starting prices range from $40,795 to $47,895. Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system is standard on all trims.
Every trim is powered by a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 that makes 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a nine-speed automatic.
One of the Ridgeline’s strengths is how it drives. Unlike full-size and other midsize pickups that have traditional body-on-frame construction, the Ridgeline has the same unibody platform used on the Honda Pilot. The result is a pickup that prioritizes ride comfort and everyday usability with crossover-like handling.
Acceleration is smooth and competitive for the segment, with plenty of power for merging and passing on the highway. Steering is precise, the Ridgeline corners well with little body lean, and the nine-speed shifts smoothly and quickly. The ride is very smooth with the suspension doing a good job of absorbing bumps and road imperfections. All these qualities make the Ridgeline very comfortable as a daily driver and for long road trips.
Fuel economy is decent for a midsize pickup. EPA ratings for my TrailSport test vehicle are 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined. I got 21 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. All of the other trims do slightly better at 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined.
When properly equipped, the 2026 Ridgeline can tow up to 5,000 pounds and has a payload capacity of 1,583 pounds in the Sport trim and 1,509 in the upper trims. Some competitors can tow 7,000 pounds or more, so those who need heavier towing capacity may need to look at offerings from Chevrolet, Ford or Toyota.
The cabin feels more like a crossover than a traditional pickup. It’s spacious and thoughtfully designed. Materials look and feel nice, especially in the upper trims. Front and rear passengers enjoy good leg- and headroom with plenty of space for adults in the second row.
All trims come standard with a seven-inch digital gauge cluster and an infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and wireless device charging are also standard. The infotainment system has a rather old-school look with its relatively small display. But the system is user-friendly with logically arranged menus, and icons are easy to see and reach. Physical controls make it easy to adjust audio and climate settings, and there’s also a row of virtual buttons on the bottom of the touchscreen for navigation, phone and audio settings.
The Ridgeline has some useful features for hauling stuff. The second row is a 60/40 split-folding bench which provides flexibility in hauling people and cargo. The dual-action tailgate can open traditionally or swing sideways for easier bed access. Beneath the bed floor is Honda’s Bed Trunk, a lockable, weather-resistant storage compartment that’s unique in the pickup segment. It’s useful for tools, camping equipment, tailgating, and everyday hauling needs. The bed is wide enough to accommodate items that won’t fit in competing midsize pickups. This is very handy for those “honey-do” home improvement projects!
Here are the trims of the 2026 Honda Ridgeline:
Sport – MSRP $40,795. The base Sport trim comes well-equipped with many standard features.
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Proximity keyless entry
- Push-button start
- Remote start
- Tri-zone climate control
- Cloth upholstery
- Manually adjustable front seats
- Seven-inch digital gauge cluster
- Seven-speaker audio system
- Infotainment system with nine-inch touchscreen
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Bluetooth
- Wireless device charging
- LED headlights
- Class III trailer hitch
- Honda Sensing safety tech
RTL – MSRP $43,595. This trim adds comfort and luxury features.
- Heated mirrors
- Automatic dimming rearview mirror
- Leather seating
- Heated front seats
- Power-adjustable front seats
- Memory settings for driver’s seat
- Satellite radio
- Universal garage door opener
- Power-sliding rear window
- Moonroof
TrailSport – MSRP $45,995 or $47,195 with HPD wheels. This trim is ready for light off-roading but isn’t suitable for more challenging terrain.
- All-terrain tires
- Off-road tuned suspension
- Underbody skid plates
- Power-folding side mirrors
- Leather seating with orange contrast stitching
- Heated steering wheel
- Navigation
- HD Radio
- TrailSport badging
- TrailSport all-season floor mats
Black Edition – MSRP $47,395 or $47,895 for Black Edition Two-Tone. The top trim adds more comfort and luxury features as well as exclusive styling details.
- Black wheels
- Black exterior accents
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated rear outboard seats
- Eight-speaker premium audio system
- In-bed Led lights
- In-bed household-style power outlet
Standard driver assistance technologies include
- Rearview camera
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Automatic high-beam headlights
Available driver assistance technologies include
- Front and rear parking sensors
The good:
Powerful engine
Excellent ride quality
Long list of standard and available features and tech
Roomy, comfortable cabin
User-friendly infotainment system
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Unique cargo features
The not-so-good:
Only available in one body configuration
Less towing capacity as some rivals
TrailSport model not suitable for serious off-roading
Pricing info:
My 2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport test vehicle starts at $45,995. The Ash Green Metallic paint is $455. The destination charge is $1,495, bringing the grand total to $47,945.
Bottom line:
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is a strong option in the midsize pickup segment for its comfort, handling, and practicality. Yes, some rivals can tow more and are better suited for off-roading, but the Ridgeline is tough to beat for its daily driving experience and thoughtful utility features. Drivers who want a midsize pickup that handles like an SUV but still has truck functionality will find the Ridgeline to be an excellent choice.
