“I love the appearance and the dependability of this vehicle, I love the internal lights and the way this vehicle handles.”
Honda Ridgeline: Trims, Generations & Buyer's Guide
Last updated August 4, 2026
The Honda Ridgeline is a midsize five-seat pickup known for its smooth ride, roomy cabin, and clever bed features. It favors everyday comfort and practical storage over the maximum towing and off-road capability of more traditional trucks.
Across both generations, the Ridgeline has followed the same basic idea: make a pickup easier to live with every day. Its dual-action tailgate and lockable in-bed trunk have remained signature features, while the roomy crew cab and smooth road manners make it well suited to family duty. The second generation sharpened that formula, and all-wheel drive became standard across the lineup in 2021.
Strengths
- Its smooth ride and easy road manners make it more relaxed in daily driving than a traditional pickup.
- The roomy five-seat crew cab works well for carrying family or friends.
- The dual-action tailgate and lockable in-bed trunk make the cargo bed unusually flexible and give you a secure place for smaller items.
- All-wheel drive has been standard on every Ridgeline since 2021.
- The 2026 Ridgeline is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds, enough for many light recreational and household needs.
Who it's for
The Ridgeline fits someone who needs an open bed for home projects, outdoor gear, or weekend jobs but spends most of the week commuting or carrying family and friends. It makes particular sense for shoppers who value comfort and smart storage more than heavy towing or serious off-road hardware.
Honda Ridgeline lineup
Sport is the straightforward starting point and a long-running core trim. RTL is the next step in the traditional trim ladder, while TrailSport, introduced for 2024, is the choice for shoppers drawn to a tougher look. Black Edition sits at the more appearance-focused end of the range, and a two-tone version joined the lineup for 2026. Recent package-style and appearance variants broaden the selection without changing the Ridgeline’s basic mechanical formula.
Honda Ridgeline generations
From 2009 to 2026, the Ridgeline spans two generations. The current 2nd Generation arrived for 2017, following the 1st Generation (2006–2014).
2nd Generation (2017–Present)
The Ridgeline returned for 2017 on a newer light-truck platform, with a roomier crew cab and a stronger focus on family comfort and easy everyday driving. It kept its V6, dual-action tailgate, and lockable in-bed trunk, then gained tougher styling in 2021 and a broader cabin and technology refresh in 2024.
206 In Stock
2026New generation
TrailSport+HPD Wheels and Black Edition Two-Tone variants join the lineup. The V6, 9-speed automatic, standard AWD, cabin, and bed design carry over.
2025Trim changes
Sport+, RTL+, and TrailSport+ package-style variants expand the trim lineup. There are no major hardware or technology changes.
2024Mid-cycle update
A broader refresh brings tougher styling, the first TrailSport trim, a larger 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch digital gauge display, and more standard safety features.
2023
The four-trim lineup, V6, standard AWD, and post-2021 design carry over unchanged.
2022
The four trims, V6, standard AWD, 9-speed automatic, cabin, and bed features carry over.
2021Mid-cycle update
A substantial refresh adds tougher front and rear styling, standard AWD across the lineup, LED low-beam headlights on every trim, and a physical volume knob for the touchscreen.
2020Trim changes
The lineup shrinks to Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. Every trim gets a 9-speed automatic, the Honda safety suite, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
2019
Lower trims gain revised USB ports, while RTL and RTL-T add a power moonroof and power sliding rear window.
2018Trim changes
RT AWD and both RTS versions leave the lineup, reducing it to six trims. The V6, 6-speed automatic, and core bed features carry over.
2017New generation
The fully redesigned Ridgeline returns on a newer platform with a 3.5-liter V6, 6-speed automatic, roomier crew cab, dual-action tailgate, and lockable in-bed trunk.
1st Generation (2006–2014)
The first-generation Ridgeline is a crew-cab pickup built around a V6, standard four-wheel drive, independent suspension, a dual-action tailgate, and a lockable in-bed trunk. Its main updates arrived in 2009, with a lighter styling and efficiency revision following in 2012.
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2014Trim changes
The SE joins late in the model year as the new top trim, adding navigation equipment and black exterior details.
2013
A rearview camera becomes standard on every trim. The powertrain, structure, towing hardware, and four-trim lineup carry over.
2012Trim changes
The Sport trim joins the lineup. A mild refresh also brings a revised grille and small aerodynamic and engine changes that improve highway fuel economy by 1 mpg.
2011
The RT, RTS, and RTL trims carry over with the same V6, 5-speed automatic, four-wheel drive, and bed features.
2010
The 2009 styling, V6, four-wheel drive, independent suspension, and bed features carry over without significant changes.
2009Mid-cycle update
A broad refresh brings updated front and rear styling, a slightly stronger 250-hp V6, revised transmission gearing, more standard equipment, added safety features, and a standard trailer hitch.
What's new by year
See what changed in a specific model year of the Honda Ridgeline.
2026 Honda Ridgeline2025 Honda Ridgeline2024 Honda Ridgeline2023 Honda Ridgeline2022 Honda Ridgeline2021 Honda Ridgeline2020 Honda Ridgeline2019 Honda Ridgeline2018 Honda Ridgeline2017 Honda Ridgeline2014 Honda Ridgeline2013 Honda Ridgeline2012 Honda Ridgeline2011 Honda Ridgeline2010 Honda Ridgeline2009 Honda Ridgeline
Frequently asked questions
Is the Honda Ridgeline a full-size truck?
No. The Honda Ridgeline is a midsize, four-door pickup with seating for five. Its smooth-riding body structure and roomy crew-cab cabin put everyday comfort ahead of the heavy-duty feel of a traditional full-size truck.
Does the Honda Ridgeline come as a hybrid?
No. The Ridgeline years covered here use gasoline V6 engines; no hybrid version is part of these lineups. Newer models use a 280-hp 3.5-liter V6.
Does every Honda Ridgeline have AWD?
On newer Ridgelines, yes. AWD became standard across every trim for 2021 when Honda dropped two-wheel-drive versions. First-generation trucks used standard four-wheel drive, while some 2017–2020 second-generation examples were sold without AWD.
How much can a Honda Ridgeline tow?
A newer Ridgeline is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The exact rating can differ by model year and drivetrain, so verify the specific truck before planning around that maximum.
What makes the Ridgeline’s bed different from a regular pickup bed?
Two features stand out: a tailgate that opens downward or swings sideways, and a lockable storage trunk beneath the bed floor. The trunk keeps smaller gear out of sight and separate from cargo in the open bed.
Is the Honda Ridgeline a good family truck?
Yes, especially if you need one vehicle for family duty and light truck work. The Ridgeline seats five, has a roomy four-door cabin, and rides more smoothly than a traditional truck while retaining a useful bed and AWD on newer examples.
How many generations of the Honda Ridgeline are there?
There are two main generations. The first ran from 2006 through 2014. After a break, the fully redesigned second generation arrived for 2017 and continues in the years covered here, with major updates along the way rather than another ground-up redesign.
Honda Ridgeline Reviews
What owners are saying about the Honda Ridgeline.
4.3
Honda Ridgeline
(13,325 reviews)
“The Honda Ridgeline has a surprisingly useful amount of features not available on other trucks. My favorite is the in-bed trunk; an impressive amount of weather-tight room. For a truck it sure drives and has comfort like a car.”
“While the towing capacity of this vehicle is only 5,000 pounds, it provides sufficient capacity for me to pull my small camper while giving me a luxurious ride and a cost-effective transportation method.”
“Comfortable, quality PU truck with some nice features like bed trunk. Interior nice, ride smooth. Nice electronic package. Some concern with engine. Stuck rocker arm control freed itself w/o maintenance. Some minor (for now) transient drive train oscillation at 45-50. May be AWD feature or transmission or elements of both.”
“Can't believe a vehicle that cost this much does not have an audible backup sensor which is a standard safety feature on about all other makes and models or not having any rear seat PowerPoints to charge devices. I suppose if you only pay 46k for a vehicle, the parents probably can't afford to buy their children electronics, so why have a power point in the back seat for them to charge devices?”
“The most flexible vehicle you can own for a reasonable price. It's a Honda “ El Camino" 2.0”
Sources
- automobiles.honda.com — 2025 / Ridgeline / Specs Features Trim Comparison
- automobiles.honda.com — 2025 / Ridgeline
- automobiles.honda.com — 2024 / Ridgeline / Specs Features Trim Comparison
- automobiles.honda.com — Wave 2 / Utility / MY21 Utility Brochure Wave2 Model Site
- automobiles.honda.com — Ridgeline Brochure / V2 / MY18 Ridgeline Brochure Online Mech
- automobiles.honda.com — Ridgeline Brochure / V2 / MY17 Ridgeline Brochure
- automobiles.honda.com — 2014 / Ridgeline / 2014 Ridgeline Factsheet
- global.honda — Worldnews / 2015 / 4151218Ridgeline Pickup NAIAS
- automobiles.honda.com — 2013 / Ridgeline / 2013 Ridgeline Factsheet
- automobiles.honda.com — 2012 / Ridgeline / 2012 Ridgeline Brochure
- automobiles.honda.com — 2011 / Ridgeline / 2011 Ridgeline Factsheet
- automobiles.honda.com — 2010 / Ridgeline / 2010 Ridgeline Factsheet