The 2026 Ridgeline is the last of its line. On July 23, 2026, Honda confirmed that a third-generation Ridgeline with a more rugged design will come to market within two years, and that production of the current truck at its Alabama Auto Plant will pause later this year to prepare for it. The second-generation Ridgeline arrived for the 2017 model year and has aged well commercially: WardsAuto reports Honda sold 48,448 in the U.S. in 2025, up about 7 percent.
That leaves shoppers with a clear question: is a well-proven but dated design worth buying now, or is it better to wait? The answer depends on what you need a pickup to do.
Price and trims
Every Ridgeline has a 3.5-liter V6, a nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Honda launched the 2026 lineup in September 2025 at $40,595 for the Sport; current pricing lists the Sport at $40,795 before the $1,495 destination charge. New for 2026 are a Black Edition with a contrasting black roof and an Ash Green Metallic paint exclusive to the TrailSport.
2026 Honda Ridgeline prices and EPA ratings
| Trim | MSRP | EPA city/hwy/combined (mpg) | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | $40,795 | 18/24/21 | 1,583 lb |
| RTL | $43,595 | 18/24/21 | 1,544 lb |
| TrailSport | $45,995 | 18/23/20 | 1,521 lb |
| Black Edition | $47,395 | 18/24/21 | 1,509 lb |
| Black Edition two-tone | $47,895 | 18/24/21 | 1,509 lb |
MSRP excludes the $1,495 destination charge; current pricing per Kelley Blue Book, October 2026. EPA ratings and payload from Honda's 2026 specifications.
Our pick is the RTL at $43,595. For $2,800 over the Sport it adds leather-trimmed and heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat with memory, a power moonroof, a power sliding rear window, HomeLink and an auto-dimming mirror. The TrailSport's all-terrain tires and off-road-tuned suspension make sense only if you drive on rough unpaved roads, and it is the least efficient trim.
What it can carry and tow
The V6 makes 280 hp at 6,000 rpm and 262 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm and runs on regular fuel. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds on every trim, well short of the Toyota Tacoma's 6,500-pound maximum and the Ford Ranger's 7,500. Payload ranges from 1,583 pounds on the Sport to 1,509 on the Black Edition, competitive with both. EPA ratings are 18 mpg city, 24 highway and 21 combined, or 18/23/20 for the TrailSport.
The bed is where the Ridgeline earns its keep. It measures 64 inches long with the tailgate up and 83 inches with it down, and 50 inches between the wheel wells, so 4-foot-wide sheet goods lie flat. Under the bed floor sits a 7.3-cubic-foot In-Bed Trunk, and every Ridgeline gets a dual-action tailgate, eight heavy-duty tie-down cleats and an integrated Class III hitch with a 7-pin connector. The Black Edition adds a 150/400-watt bed power outlet. The Ridgeline uses unibody construction with MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, and its off-road geometry is modest: 7.64 inches of ground clearance and approach, breakover and departure angles of 20.4, 19.6 and 19.6 degrees.
Cabin and technology
Inside, the Ridgeline has more in common with Honda's Pilot and Passport SUVs than with a traditional body-on-frame truck. A 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, a 7-inch driver display and tri-zone automatic climate control are standard. Rear-seat legroom is 36.7 inches, and the 60/40 rear seat cushions flip up to reveal underseat storage. The Black Edition adds ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats and a 540-watt audio system. Honda Sensing is standard on all trims, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, blind-spot information and cross-traffic monitor. Front and rear parking sensors are limited to the TrailSport and Black Edition.
Safety ratings
Federal crash tests favor the Ridgeline. NHTSA awards it five stars overall, five for frontal and side protection, and four for rollover resistance. The IIHS, which has introduced tougher updated tests since this design launched, tells a different story. The 2026 Ridgeline is rated Acceptable in the small overlap front test, Poor in the updated moderate overlap front test, where the rear passenger's head and neck measures were rated Poor, and Good in the updated side test. Its headlights are rated Marginal, and its standard front crash prevention earns Poor ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian evaluations. It is not a Top Safety Pick, and those are weaker IIHS results than either the Tacoma or the Ranger earns.
If you rarely tow more than a small camper, value ride quality over trail ability and want a pickup that drives like a crossover, the Ridgeline remains a sensible, well-equipped choice. If IIHS results or towing capacity matter, look at a Tacoma or Ranger, or wait to see what Honda's next Ridgeline brings.
How we rated it: this review is based on Honda's published 2026 specifications and press releases, current pricing data, EPA estimates, and NHTSA and IIHS results available in October 2026. Drive Edition has not road-tested this vehicle.