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The 2023 Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup truck often overlooked in this competitive segment. While the Ridgeline may not be the most off-road capable truck available on the market, it is excellent for everyday use. Shoppers who want the comfort of an SUV and the practicality of a pickup truck should consider taking the Ridgeline for a test drive. Despite starting to show its age, the Ridgeline is still a good option for those who value comfort and reliability.
All Ridgelines have a 3.5L V6 that produces 280 horsepower and 262 lbs-ft of torque. This engine has plenty of power and does a great job of powering this pickup truck, and we had no issues merging onto the highway or overtaking other cars. In our test, it took us 7.4 seconds to reach 100km/hr from a standstill which is good for a pickup truck. The V6 in the Ridgeline is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission that responds quickly and provides smooth shifts.
The Ridgeline is built on a unibody chassis and comes with a fully independent suspension, which means it doesn’t drive like a traditional pickup truck and handles surprisingly well. This is arguably one of the best selling points of the Ridgeline as you get the best of both worlds, the comfort of an SUV and the practicality of a pickup truck.
The Ridgeline has one of the most spacious cabins in the midsize truck segment. The cabin feels open and spacious thanks to wide-opening front doors and a well-designed interior. The cabin has a lot of hard plastic, but the interior still looks visually appealing. You also get blue ambient lighting in the footwell, door pocket, and cupholders, which looks good at night. Unfortunately, you are stuck with the colour blue as you can’t change it.
Our tester came with a tri-zone climate control system which means the driver, front passenger, and rear passengers can all set different temperatures to ensure maximum comfort. The Touring trim also comes with heated and ventilated seats which keep you warm in the cold winters and cool in the hot summers.
The Ridgeline is one of the most comfortable midsize pickup trucks on the market. It easily absorbs bumps in the road, and it feels like you’re driving an SUV. Some road and wind noise is present at higher speeds, but overall it’s a quiet truck.
The 8″ touchscreen infotainment in the Ridgeline is responsive, easy to use, and has a physical volume knob (Thanks Honda). Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the lineup but don’t have wireless connectivity, which is a bummer, especially at this price point.
Honda is pretty generous when it comes to offering safety features and provides the following on the Ridgeline:
The lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control work well, but the adaptive cruise control doesn’t have low-speed follow, which means it won’t work in stop-and-go traffic.
The Ridgeline also comes with a truck-bed audio system, one of our favourite features. This turns the cargo bed into a speaker and is perfect if you’re having a tailgate party.
The Ridgeline has a maximum towing capacity of 5000 lbs, which is lower than some competitors in this segment. I don’t see this being a problem for most shoppers, nevertheless, you should consider an alternative if you want to tow more than 5000 lbs. You also get a dual-action tailgate that can be opened like a conventional tailgate or a door. Buyers will also appreciate the lockable in-bed trunk, which is great if you want to store some items in the truck’s bed safely.
There isn’t a lack of storage inside the Ridgeline. Thanks to a well-designed and spacious cabin, there is ample storage everywhere. You get a small storage slot under the climate control system and a lot of space in the center console. In the rear, you get extra storage space under the seat which is surprisingly useful.
The Ridgeline is officially rated at 11.5L/100 km combined. In our test, we averaged 11.3L/100km with both city and highway driving. Honda also offers an ECON drive mode which works well and can help you save more at the pump, but you will notice a decrease in performance.
The Ridgeline is one of the most fuel-efficient gas pickup trucks available in the market.
Umer Junejo is an entrepreneur, writer, and lifelong car enthusiast. Umer founded Lease Marketplace in 2020 with the purpose of helping consumers find the best deals on the vehicles they want. By consolidating lease offers from various automakers, Lease Marketplace is a one-stop shop for customers exploring lease deals.