2025 Honda Ridgeline

Trucks don’t have to be truck-like. The Honda Ridgeline is proof. Based on an SUV platform, the Ridgeline is family-friendly every day of the week. From commutes and school runs to desert outings or lakeside visits, the Ridgeline can be the ideal ride. It’s comfortable, powerful and capable. Although the Ridgeline doesn’t offer options like cab or bed sizes or even a choice of drivetrains, Honda has given it a winning combination of assets. Its uncommonly refined ride is complemented by an ability to handle weekend toys like dirt bikes and personal watercraft. We have more than 100 overwhelmingly positive Ridgeline owner reviews that say more or less the same thing.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize trucks, including the Honda Ridgeline.

Following an update last year, there are no changes for 2025. This third-generation Ridgeline has been around since the 2017 model year, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see an all-new Ridgeline for 2026.

The RTL is the most popular trim and one we’re happy to recommend. It adds more upscale features while keeping the price relatively reasonable. Buyers should also check out the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and Ford Ranger, which all start below the Ridgeline but require spending extra to reach a comparable level of equipment.

Before buying a new Ridgeline truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. In terms of resale values, the Ridgeline’s performance is midpack. Remember, recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The Ridgeline is the perfect truck for those who need a weekday runabout and a weekend workhorse. We love that it doesn’t feel like a truck — it isn’t bouncy, jarring, or rough. Instead, it’s as comfortable as its kin, the smooth Pilot SUV. That’s the result of a shared unibody platform, rather than using the traditional ladder frame underpinning most trucks.

Compared with its rivals, the Ridgeline is simply easier to drive and makes an excellent choice for daily commutes or long road trips. This quality is made even better by Honda’s impressive adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow and lane-keeping assist system, which comes as standard. The button-based transmission selector is less intrusive than a traditional lever, but can take a bit of getting used to.

As for truck duty, the Ridgeline pulls its weight. Well, 5,000 pounds. That’s not class-leading — a Ford Ranger can handle up to 7,500 pounds, for instance — but it’s still more than enough for personal watercraft, ATVs, and the like. Additionally, the Ridgeline can haul a respectable 1,583 pounds of payload.

With all-wheel drive and a relatively muscular 280-horsepower V6 as standard, any Ridgeline can be pretty capable off-road, but the TrailSport version is the adventurer’s choice. It brings all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension, and a steel underbody plate to protect vital components.

Fuel Economy

The Ridgeline achieves 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That’s a bit better than a comparable Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, and a 4-wheel-drive Chevrolet Colorado, which uses a turbocharged 4-cylinder. A Toyota Tacoma with 4-wheel drive is also capable of 21 mpg combined.

All Ridgeline trucks come with a spacious and functional 5-seater cabin. We find the front seats roomy and well-shaped for a variety of body types, and the backseat is far roomier and more accommodating than the rear quarters in the Tacoma, Colorado, or Ranger. We also like the extra tricks back there. The rear seats have storage areas under the cushions, or the seats can flip up to create enough room for a bicycle. Up front, there’s a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, as well as a standard 7-inch digital driver display. The center console has a large integrated armrest over a cubby that’s big enough to house a full-size tablet.

The Ridgeline comes solely as a 4-door crew cab with a 5.3-foot bed. The bed is big enough to fit a couple of dirt bikes, at least with the tailgate down. Or it can flat-carry 4-foot-wide items. There’s also an additional lockable storage compartment under the bed with 7.3 cubic feet of space and a drain hole, which can function as an ice cooler for tailgating. Speaking of the tailgate (which has “RIDGELINE” stamped in), it features a clever dual-action design that can flip down as usual and swing open to the side for easier loading and unloading.

TrailSport
As we’ve experienced in the Pilot and Passport versions, the TrailSport treatment isn’t to merely look rugged. It adds a beefier suspension, all-terrain tires, and extra underbody protection for off-roading.

Tri-zone automatic climate control
Every new Ridgeline truck comes with this feature as standard. It’s the kind of thing more often found in luxury vehicles to enhance overall comfort, and we’re impressed that Honda has installed it here.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Cable-free phone integration is another standard feature across the Ridgeline range, bringing convenience and tidiness.

Two-way tailgate
Like most tailgates, it flips down (and can take 300 pounds sitting on it). But then it does this trick where it can swing from its side hinge instead, providing more convenient access to the deepest part of the bed. We love this kind of thoughtful detail.

Lockable in-bed trunk
Precious items can be kept secure and out of sight in this 7.3 cubic foot storage area beneath the actual bed.

Truck bed power outlet
Part of the top trim, this outlet can provide juice for lighting or a laptop.

The Ridgeline employs Honda’s stalwart yet refined 3.5-liter V6 that delivers 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This power is sent to all four wheels as standard through an equally refined 9-speed automatic transmission. The maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Honda’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain is covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These terms are typical among mainstream manufacturers. Free scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles is also included.

Safety Ratings

The Ridgeline earned the 5-Star top overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It also took top scores of Good in six of seven crash tests carried out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), along with an Acceptable in the seventh.