The only Honda with a cargo bed—the 2021 Honda Ridgeline—is a one-size-fits-all alternative to traditional pickup trucks. While the Ridgeline lineup doesn’t include an off-road-ready model or an optional diesel engine, it does have a standard crew cab that’s roomier and more comfortable than any of its competitors.
Its minivan-based underpinnings and V-6 powertrain don’t allow it to tow more than 5000 pounds, but they do enable the Ridgeline to accelerate quickly, consume fuel efficiently, provide a competitive payload rating, and drive with unrivaled agility and refinement. Its host of standard driver assists and innovative features
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The lone powertrain is a 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 262 lb-ft of torque and hooks up to a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The engine feels smooth, and the throttle response is especially receptive when you call for hard acceleration. An untraditional pickup in many ways, the gelRidine surprises from behind the wheel. On the road, it is well-mannered and feels extremely competent.
Its coil-sprung independent rear suspension contributes to a carlike ride quality not available with the leaf-sprung, solid-axle setups used by the competition. Body lean in corners is minimal, and small bumps are barely noticeable.
The electrically assisted steering feels appropriate. The Ridgeline’s braking performance stands out as its lone dynamic blemish. Its braking distance from 70 mph to zero in on the long side, and we thought the brake pedal felt soft and had too much travel during normal use.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The 2021 Honda Ridgeline‘s engine is the most fuel-efficient V-6 in its class at 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. On our 75-mph fuel-economy route, which simulates real-world highway driving and is part of our extensive testing regimen, an all-wheel-drive Ridgeline earned 28 mpg. That figure matches our results for a GMC Canyon with the diesel engine and all-wheel drive, which is impressive considering the Honda’s gas engine.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Ridgeline’s interior is tops in its class in terms of practicality and comfort. As with most other mid-size pickups, the Honda features hard plastics below the dash level. Otherwise, the materials are above average. Rear-seat passengers will enjoy the most space of all mid-size rivals.
Fold-down armrests on both front seats are a welcome addition, especially since the center console sits low between them. The Honda pickup has only one bed length, 5.3 feet, which lines up with competitors’ short beds and has the second-lowest volume at 34 cubic feet. The antidote to this disparity is its locking, weather-tight in-bed trunk with a 7.3-cubic-foot capacity.
There’s one more advantage: with 50.0 inches between its bed’s wheel wells, the Ridgeline is the only mid-size pickup that can fit a sheet of four-by-eight-foot building material flat on the bed floor. Clever features continue inside. The rear seat splits 60/40 and, when flipped up, provides room to fit a full-size bicycle. Unfortunately, loading large items may be difficult, as the rear doors don’t open very wide.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Ridgeline earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and it was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Honda pickup truck also includes a host of standard driver-assistance technology. Key safety features include:
