2024 Honda Ridgeline Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Unfortunately, the Honda Ridgeline has never been a looker. The first-generation model was one funky monkey, with a love-it-or-hate-it design seemingly from the mind of the Honda designer who penned the equally odd Element. With the second-generation Ridgeline, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction, the truck resembling a Pilot SUV that met the wrong end of a Sawzall.

In 2024, Honda still sells the second-generation Ridgeline, but recent styling changes give it more presence than when it first debuted. The blunt nose, tall hood, and new-for-2024 tailgate lettering help the Ridgeline fit in with the crowd, and the TrailSport’s all-terrain tires add some attitude.

This model year, a new centre console design with a wide centre armrest covering a large storage bin makes a bigger difference than you might expect. While the previous handy tray between the seats is gone, the Ridgeline’s interior now looks and feels more like a proper pickup and less like a minivan when you’re sitting in the driver’s seat.

Honda also adds a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel to the gauge cluster, located to the left of the analog speedometer. The newly standard 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system receives numerous improvements.

In Canada, three versions of the 2024 Ridgeline are available: Sport, TrailSport, and Black Edition. Each has a standard 280-horsepower V6 engine and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive (AWD), and prices range from $49,126 to $56,126, including destination charges and dealer fees.

Our test vehicle arrived in TrailSport trim with extra-cost Radiant Red paint and optional black tailgate lettering. It has a Canadian manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $56,524, including the destination charge.

Every Honda Ridgeline has a tried-and-true 3.5-litre V6 engine making 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. It powers all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission and Honda’s intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD system. Thanks to i-VTM4, up to 70 percent of the engine’s power can flow to a single rear wheel.

Towing capacity is 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) and is the Ridgeline’s most significant shortcoming when compared to its traditional body-on-frame rivals. Maximum payload capacity measures 687 kilograms (1,583 pounds, Sport trim), competitive with other midsize pickups.

Off-road, relatively shallow approach, breakover, and departure angles prevent the Ridgeline from tackling tough terrain, and the maximum ground clearance measures 19.4 centimetres. Considering a Subaru Crosstrek provides 22 centimetres, that’s unimpressive. We tried to traverse an uneven and rutted trail, and even when taking care, we easily scuffed the lower front air dam and scraped the TrailSport’s new oil pan skid plate on the dirt.

As has always been the case, the Ridgeline shines best on the road, where its creamy smooth powertrain, quick acceleration, supple suspension tuning, responsive handling, and quiet cab make it the most comfortable truck to drive daily. We did notice the Ridgeline TrailSport’s exclusive off-road suspension feels a little firmer on pavement, and the new all-terrain tires emit a faint whir at speed. Neither trait is aggravating.

The Ridgeline’s automatic transmission proved moderately irritating. Aside from a single hiccup on a cold morning, it shifted fine. But when you park the truck, it will roll a bit if you don’t use the foot-activated parking brake. So, be careful around pedestrians and when parking close to other vehicles. We nearly crunched the front end on a high curb due to this excessive rolling.

Average fuel economy on our testing route returned a result of 14.5 litres per 100 kilometres, a fair bit higher than the official Natural Resources Canada rating of 11.6 L/100 km combined driving (or 11.5 for non-Trailsport models).

If the Ridgeline’s towing, hauling, and off-roading capabilities fall short of expectations in the segment, the truck makes up for it through its comfort and sheer practicality.

For example, it is really easy to get into and out of a Honda Ridgeline. And once you’re seated, comfort is king thanks to properly supportive cushions. Nobody will complain about a lack of leg support, and five people can ride in reasonable contentment.

With TrailSport trim in Canada, the Ridgeline has perforated leather upholstery, heated front seats, heated outboard rear seats and a heated steering wheel. The driver’s seat offers 10-way power adjustment, and while the front passenger cannot adjust their chair for height, it is nevertheless properly positioned in the truck, making the omission a non-issue. On chilly morning school runs, the quick-acting windshield and rear window defrosters worked well, as did the heated side mirrors.

Rear-seat passengers enjoy just enough legroom to prevent complaints, and the front seatbacks are softly padded. A triple-zone climate control system with rear air conditioning vents adds to their comfort, and a large centre armrest folds down to provide cupholders and a modest storage tray.

Cupholders are molded into the rear door panels, too, and up front the Ridgeline features shelves, trays, and bins galore. You can flip the rear seat cushion up to reveal plenty of enclosed in-cab cargo space or create a comfy place for furry friends of all sizes. The rear window power slides open for flow-through ventilation.

Honda offers an accessory roof rack for the Ridgeline, and the 960-litre cargo bed features a weatherproof and locking trunk supplying another 206 litres of cargo space. Lined in plastic and equipped with a drain plug, the in-bed trunk is perfect for tailgate parties, wet gear, sandy or muddy clothes, or luggage for a road trip. The dual-action tailgate drops flat or swings wide to the left for practical curb-side loading of the bed or trunk.

Starting in 2024, every Ridgeline has a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with a volume knob, tuning buttons, and secondary controls for those functions located on the steering wheel. Honda has updated the infotainment system with a faster processor and the available navigation system receives new graphics and simplified menus this year.

Standard equipment includes new-for-2024 wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto connectivity, and wireless smartphone charging. A simplistic package of HondaLink connected services is also standard, and a decent seven-speaker stereo fills the cab with sound.

There aren’t many upgrades. All but the Ridgeline Sport features SiriusXM satellite radio, while the Black Edition boasts HD Radio, extra USB ports, and an eight-speaker premium sound system.

While the 9-inch screen still seems a little small and outdated, the infotainment system is much easier and more pleasurable to use. The quicker response to inputs, reasonably capable voice recognition system, and elimination of smartphone cables make a bigger difference than you might think. Better yet, the most affordable version of the Ridgeline, the Sport, benefits from all of these upgrades. In addition, the instrumentation adds a 7-inch digital display to the left of an analog speedometer. Honda executes this well, and in some ways, it is easier and more pleasurable to use than the automaker’s full digital gauge panels.

Another upgrade to the 2024 Ridgeline Sport is a standard blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. Previously, you had to upgrade to get those safety features.

They join the standard Honda Sensing collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). The menu includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist with road departure mitigation, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights.

During testing, the ADAS performed as expected but wasn’t as smooth and confidence-inspiring as it should be. For example, when using adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist, the driver is frequently aware of the tech’s activity in moderate or thick traffic. On wide-open highways, this is less of a problem.

Otherwise, aside from a handful of false lane-departure warnings and the accompanying steering wheel wobble that we dislike about Honda Sensing, the tech functions well enough.

Something new happened during this evaluation; we experienced Honda’s Road Departure Mitigation system for the first time. When taking an exit ramp, we purposely crossed the white line separating the lane from the ramp’s shoulder, and the Ridgeline suddenly and momentarily braked hard.

While it's good to know this feature is standing guard, in this instance, the action was unnecessary and had another vehicle been following the truck, it could have caused rather than prevented an accident.

The Ridgeline’s age is showing with regard to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash-test ratings. The truck earns an Acceptable instead of Good score in the small overlap frontal-impact test. In addition, the IIHS rates the Ridgeline’s headlights as Marginal.

Meanwhile, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers the 2024 Ridgeline to be a safety rock star. The truck gets five-star ratings across the board except for rollover resistance, where it scores an impressive (for a truck) four-star rating.

The Honda Ridgeline isn’t the most affordable midsize truck you can buy, but it’s not the most expensive one, either. It exudes quality, and in the real world, Honda’s robust V6 engine outperforms turbocharged four-cylinder rivals regarding fuel efficiency.

We like the Honda Ridgeline. It’s easy to drive and live with, just as comfortable as any crossover SUV, and exceptionally practical for light-duty chores and tasks. The changes for 2024 seem minor but have a palpable effect on everything from styling and comfort to practicality and safety. The TrailSport probably churns through snow, sand, and mud better, too.

However, storm clouds are brewing. All of the Ridgeline’s rivals boast newer designs, and some are catching up to the Honda regarding quality, sophistication, technology, safety, and innovation. They all tow more weight, and most can handle larger payloads. Each one also offers superior off-roading capability, especially in their dedicated off-road trim levels.

Given the updates to the 2024 Ridgeline, Honda likely won’t redesign the truck for a few more years. But as much as we like this truck, the time has clearly come.

Note: Images show a US model.