2024 Honda Ridgeline Review: Almost As Good As It Looks

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is an attractive pickup that looks as bold and appealing as its competitors, which include the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. However, it differs from them in a key aspect that may set pickup purists' teeth on edge: it is a unibody vehicle that actually has more in common with the Honda Pilot than it does with its rivals. Still, it has a compelling V6 engine that makes a sufficient 280 horsepower for all four wheels, and while it may have been more comfortable on the road than off it in the past, the new TrailSport trim may switch things up. We'll have to see if this is enough to persuade fans of more rugged trucks to take a chance on it.

New for 2024

New for the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck is the TrailSport trim, which gives the vehicle a bit more of an off-road personality. It does this with an off-road-tuned suspension, steel underbody protection, and General Grabber A/T Sport tires. These add a smidge more height and improve grip. Aside from this, the whole range gets a redesigned center console with extra storage and a larger nine-inch infotainment touchscreen with faster responses.

2024 Honda Ridgeline Price: Which One to Buy

The starting price of the 2024 Honda Ridgeline is just below $40k at $39,750 for the Sport, while the RTL will cost you $42,580. Slotting between this and the top trim, the new TrailSport sells for $44,980. Rounding out the lineup is the Black Edition at $46,350 MSRP. These prices do not include any admin fees or the $1,375 destination charge.

Those who love the Ridgeline for what it is will be happy with the base model, which enjoys a solid list of standard features and more SUV-like handling when compared to body-on-frame trucks. However, if you're in the market for a truck that likes to get dirty, then the new TrailSport trim should be a good fit. It enjoys many of the upmarket features of the RTL, like leather upholstery and power moonroof, but it also has more rugged capabilities and doesn't cost as much as the Black Edition.

Interior and Features

The cabin is spacious and looks good, and the large touchscreen makes it feel quite modern, but there are some cheap materials.

Nobody really expects a pickup truck to have a plush interior, so it's not disappointing that the Honda Ridgeline is mostly functional inside. The materials err on the side of durability rather than comfort, and the layout of the controls on the dashboard is centered on accessibility rather than style. That's not to say it isn't attractive, as the large touchscreen flanked by air vents is a common approach in modern cars. There are only a few physical controls found lower down on the central console, which is larger this year. The chunky door panels and steering wheel work well with the overall style of the vehicle, creating an atmosphere of modern-day adventure.

Space

Due to its unibody construction, the Ridgeline is presented in just one cab size. This build supplies loads of interior space for those in the front, with more than 40 inches of legroom, but taller passengers may not want to spend too long in the back. The seats are comfortable enough, despite their hardy coverings, but you'll need to upgrade to the RTL to gain access to power-adjustable front seats. These make it much easier to find a comfortable driving position, but the truck has good visibility no matter the case. Getting in and out of the vehicle is simple enough, though smaller children may need a hand with the raised step-in height.

Cargo

There definitely seems to be more of a focus on passengers than cargo space, as the bed of the Ridgeline is smaller than you'll find elsewhere in the segment, and there is no option to make it bigger. This means that the Honda only offers 33.9 cubic feet, but there is also a 7.3 ct-ft in-bed storage trunk.

Several storage solutions for smaller items around the cabin make up for these weaknesses. These include sizable pockets in each of the doors, a large central armrest cubby, a lockable glove compartment, and two cupholders in the front and back. If you need a little extra room in a pinch, the rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split.

Materials and Colors

You'll struggle to find any luxurious material around the interior space of the Honda Ridgeline. There is plenty of hard plastic that works toward keeping it durable, but soft-touch surfaces are rare. The upholstery is plain cloth, and the only color option is Black. For more interior colors, you'll need to upgrade to the RTL. At this point, leather becomes the norm, and you can choose from Black or Gray. These color schemes go beyond just the upholstery, and even the dashboard and door panels get the Gray treatment if you opt for it. At the top of the range, the Black Edition switches back to its monochrome palette, but the Black comes paired with dark Red inserts and brighter stitching.

Features and Infotainment

Honda is all about value for money, and while the Ridgeline isn't as cheap as some other models, it still comes well-equipped. Features include push-button start, smart entry with walk-away locking, tri-zone climate control, cruise control, and a 12-volt power outlet. You also get a seven-inch driver-information display and a nine-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and seven speakers. Upgrading to the RTL improves the standard offering with heated power-adjustable front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a power moonroof, while the infotainment is bolstered by HD SiriusXM. The Trailsport further adds navigation and a heated steering wheel. Only a few features are reserved for the Black Edition, such as HD Radio, a premium eight-speaker sound system, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.

Performance

Not lacking power, the Ridgeline is effortless to drive and very confident around the bends thanks to its SUV-like handling.

A pickup can't live up to expectations without enough power, but the Honda Ridgeline's 3.5-liter V6 engine is up to the challenge. It develops 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque for all four wheels and launches the Honda Ridgeline from 0-60 mph in a respectable seven seconds or so. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard on every trim, though there are paddle shifters. Top is limited to 130 mph, and the pickup truck has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

While it feels more at home around town where its SUV-like handling delivers a surprisingly comfortable and enjoyable driving experience, the Ridgeline now has a stronger off-road option in the TrailSport. The suspension has been tuned to handle the bumps and jolts better, and the all-terrain tires do a great job of guaranteeing sure footing. Steering is light enough to maneuver around, and the standard all-wheel drive ensures good grip.

Fuel Efficiency

Good gas mileage is not the first thing that springs to mind when buying a new pickup truck, but the Honda Ridgeline actually has good mpg for the segment. It's heavy with AWD and has a thirsty V6, but the 18/24/21 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles is respectable.

city needs to be quite high to ensure decent traveling distance, so 19.5 gallons sees the Honda cover 410 miles.

Safety

The NHTSA is supremely confident in the Ridgeline's safety credentials, but the IIHS has a few concerns.

Heavy and durable trucks usually fare quite well in a crash, so the near-perfect five-star safety review of the Honda Ridgeline from the NHTSA is quite understandable. The IIHS didn't quite agree, giving the pickup just Acceptable for the small overlap front passenger-side test and Marginal for the headlights.

Honda equips all its cars with its comprehensive Safety Sensing suite that includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, and a multi-angle review camera. This is on top of the ABS, traction and stability control, and six airbags. Higher trim levels get blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic control, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic high beams.

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Reliability

Honda is known for its reliability, and the Ridgeline scores an impressive 80 out of 100 according to JD Power's consumer survey. There have been no recalls for 2024 so far, but last year saw a single recall for a loose fastener on the brake booster assembly.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline enjoys the brand's strong warranty plan that includes five years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage, and three years/36,000 miles of limited coverage, which is the same length as the roadside assistance plan.

Warranty

Design

The 2024 Ridgeline looks just as good, if not better, than all of its contemporaries. It has an aggressive front, despite its relatively small grille, but the design is quite novel. It gets a gloss-black surround as standard, switching to chrome on the upper trims. The bulging hood and curved headlights give it an aggressive appearance. All the lights are LED right from the get-go, including the standard fog lights and all models are equipped with 18-inch alloys in varying colors. A dual-action tailgate is included as standard, while the moonroof comes in when you upgrade to the RTL. The HPD Package is available to every model and replaces the grille and wheels with more exotic variants.

Verdict: Is The 2024 Honda Ridgeline A Good Truck?

In a nation crazy about pickup trucks and with very specific expectations, the Honda Ridgeline breaks the mold a bit with particularly modern good looks alongside all the chunky competitors. It drives incredibly well because of its unique construction, and the new TrailSport helps to make up for any shortcomings it has in regard to off-roading. The engine is more than powerful enough and helps to improve the driving experience, and the interior is quite comfortable, even if it isn't the most spacious. There is nothing to complain about in terms of safety, reliability, and standard features, though, as Honda hits the ball out of the park here. However, the newer competition from Toyota has the upper hand.