Walk through any suburban parking lot and you’ll spot rows of oversized pickups that barely fit between the lines. Most of those trucks will never tow a trailer or haul anything heavier than grocery bags. The 2026 Honda Ridgeline takes a different approach. It’s built for the people who actually use a truck bed on weekends, want a comfortable ride during the week, and don’t need 10,000 pounds of towing capacity to feel good about their purchase.
- The 2026 Ridgeline is a midsize crew-cab pickup offered in four trim levels, all powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 280 horsepower, a nine-speed automatic, and standard all-wheel drive.
- The V6 helps the Ridgeline carry almost 1,600 pounds of payload and tow up to 5,000 pounds, putting it in line with midsize rivals like the Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, and Toyota Tacoma.
- Pricing starts at $42,090 including the $1,495 destination fee, and the range-topping Black Edition Two-Tone starts at $49,390.
A Truck Built on SUV Bones
Among midsize pickups, the Honda Ridgeline is a bit of an oddball, but mostly in a good way. Unlike others in this class that use traditional body-on-frame construction, the Ridgeline rides on a crossover SUV platform, based on the same mechanical underpinnings as the previous-generation Honda Pilot and Passport. That carlike backbone means the Ridgeline is more comfortable than its competitors, and it’s a perfectly capable truck as long as your off-road and towing ambitions aren’t too extreme.
The Ridgeline is a unibody pickup with a four-door cab, a 5-foot-4 composite bed with underfloor storage, and a dual-access tailgate. That underfloor trunk is one of the best-kept secrets in the truck world. It locks, it drains, and it gives you a secure spot for gear you don’t want bouncing around in the open bed. No other midsize truck does this quite as well.
If you’re cross-shopping used cars in this segment, you’ll notice previous-generation Ridgelines hold their value well, which says a lot about owner satisfaction and long-term reliability.
Four Trims, One Powertrain
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is a midsize crew-cab pickup offered in four trim levels: Sport, RTL, TrailSport, and Black Edition. All are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque) mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, and it’s offered in a single configuration with four doors and a 5-foot-4-inch bed.
The Sport starts at $40,795, the RTL at $43,595, the TrailSport at $45,995, and the Black Edition at $47,395, with a Black Edition Two-Tone option running $47,895. Every Ridgeline comes with Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system, which actively distributes torque between the front and rear wheels depending on conditions, improving traction on snow, mud, and uneven surfaces.
For 2026, Honda adds a new Ash Green Metallic color exclusive to the off-road-leaning TrailSport trim and a contrasting black roof option for the Black Edition. Otherwise, the 2026 Ridgeline largely carries over from the previous model year.
Comfort Over Conquest
The Ridgeline’s real selling point is how it drives. It isn’t flashy, and it’s certainly not the toughest-looking truck on the block. But for everyday life around the suburbs, it’s easier to drive, easier to see out of, and comfortable enough for daily commutes while still handling weekend hauling duties, whether that’s camping gear, hockey bags, or a load from the hardware store.
The TrailSport tested by reviewers came in at $47,945 with off-road-lite gear like a skid plate, all-terrain tires, TrailSport-specific suspension tuning, and niceties such as leather-trimmed seats with orange stitching, a power moonroof, heated front seats, and a seven-speaker sound system. That’s a well-equipped truck for under $48,000.
Honda expects fuel economy to remain the same as 2025, with estimated ratings of 18/24/21 mpg city/highway/combined for all trims except the TrailSport and its 18/23/20 mpg figure. Those numbers aren’t class-leading, and they trail what you’ll get from a Ford Ranger or Toyota Tacoma. Fuel economy is one area where the Ridgeline could use a boost, and a hybrid option would be a welcome addition in a future generation.
How Much Truck Do You Really Need?
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It won’t haul a massive fifth-wheel camper or crawl up a boulder-strewn trail. But for the vast majority of truck buyers who need a bed for weekend projects, reliable all-weather traction, and a comfortable daily driver, it checks those boxes with room to spare.
Kelley Blue Book users rate the 2026 Honda Ridgeline reliability 5 out of 5 stars, which is far above average for a vehicle in its class. Edmunds consumer reviews show that the 2026 Ridgeline also gets an average rating of 5 stars out of 5. Those numbers tell you something. Owners who buy a Ridgeline tend to love it.
If the honest answer to “how much truck do I need?” is “enough for Home Depot runs and camping trips,” the Ridgeline makes a strong case. It drives like an SUV, works like a truck, and won’t punish you on every trip to the grocery store.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.