First impressions are great, but nothing beats getting to know a person, place or vehicle. That’s why I share my experience with vehicles after driving them for a week or so as a make or model evolves.
I am looking again at the Honda Ridgeline. I last wrote about the pickup when the second-generation model went on sale in September 2017.
Car of the week: 2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport
What is it? Five-passenger midsize all-wheel drive crew cab pickup.
How much? The 2026 Honda Ridgeline starts at $40,795. All prices exclude $1,495 destination charge. I drove a well-equipped Ridgeline TrailSport, base price $45,995.
What does it compete with? Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma.
How’s it selling? Honda sold 48,488 Ridgelines in 2025, up 6.7% from 2024. It has sold 10,980 so far this year, up 0.3%.
The Ridgeline is Honda’s No. 10 seller, ahead of only the Prologue EV.
Why do I want a Honda Ridgeline?
What I thought the first time I drove a Honda Ridgeline
The Ridgeline’s bed is its greatest asset. The walls are low enough that most people can easily reach into the bed. The trunk under the floor is big, easy to reach, lined in plastic and has drain plugs.
The dual-hinged tailgate opens from the side for access to the trunk or down like other pickups. The bed has tie-down cleats, lights and a 120-volt outlet.
Honda no longer offers the in-bed audio that was one of the Ridgeline’s features at launch.
The interior is roomy and comfortable.
The Ridgeline’s low height makes it easier to step into than most 4WD pickups.
What I think now
The Ridgeline struggles due to its premium price, quirky snub-nosed looks and Honda’s lack of credibility with pickup buyers. The TrailSport model looks great, but doesn’t add much capability.
What could be better
The Ridgeline’s base price is around $7G above the No. 1 and 2 selling Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger midsize pickups, respectively
Despite its car-style chassis, the Ridgeline TrailSport’s fuel economy combined city/highway trails the hybrid Toyota Tacoma and conventionally powered Ford Ranger.
A hybrid model would help.
The TrailSport doesn’t add much off-road capability.
2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport key figures and features
(This story has been updated to correct where the vehicle is assembled and to remove one feature.)
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2026 Honda Ridgeline struggles to stand out despite unique features
Reporting by Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
