The Ridgeline has always been Honda’s mid-size truck. First introduced for the 2006 model year, it shares much of its DNA with the Pilot SUV. In terms of generations, it is currently in the second. The second generation arrived in 2016 as the 2017 truck. And it has a lot to like about it. But who is this pickup truck actually for?
The Honda Ridgeline is a quirky truck
When the Ridgeline first hit the market, there really was nothing like it. It’s a unibody truck, smaller than something like the Ford F-150, and it comes with some legitimately cool features. Overall, the 2023 shares a lot of its components with the Pilot. But Honda had to make some modifications to get it to work.
It may not look like a big truck. Because of its one piece construction, you will lose your ability. At the same time, how many truck owners actually use their pickup trucks for trucking purposes? According to, the number is not that many.
This mid-size truck is very comfortable. When driving it, you can almost forget that you are behind the wheel of a pickup truck. And for everyday use, I feel like this is a good thing. The V6 engine makes 280 horsepower, and fuel economy is rated at 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
Where the Honda truck falls short is its capability. In terms of Honda Ridgeline generations, neither has been as capable as other midsize pickups. The 2023 Ridgeline can tow 5,000 pounds and tow up to about 1,600 pounds. This is certainly not as much as the competitors. Another problem is the lack of dedicated off-road trim.
Most new midsize trucks can come with off-road equipment. Think Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Nissan Frontier PRO-4X, and Ford Ranger FX4. Unfortunately for Ridgeline, she can’t really compete in this world.
Is Honda redesigning the Ridgeline?
Accordingly, the Honda Pilot is being redesigned for the 2023 model year. Shortly thereafter, the Ridgeline will likely enter the third generation. Since the Ridgeline is based on it, it will need to wait a bit before redesigning it.
And who knows, maybe the new Ridgeline will breathe some new life into this midsize truck. It was definitely a favorite with journalists, but that didn’t translate to consumers.
