Honda Ridgeline
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
Honda Ridgeline — review
The Ridgeline has the most defensive owners in this entire cluster, and after reading their complaints, I understand why: they're defending a genuinely good truck against a criticism that was never about the truck.
"Not a real truck" is the whole argument against it, and it's a vibes argument. The facts: unibody construction that rides better than every body-on-frame rival, a 3.5-liter V6 (280 hp) with a 9-speed automatic that's a known Honda quantity, standard all-wheel drive, a 5-foot bed with a lockable in-bed trunk and a dual-action tailgate. About 7.2 seconds to 100 km/h. Owners use them for camping, hauling, commuting — the truck stuff, done comfortably. The complaint record backs the powertrain: no systemic engine or transmission failures anywhere in 2021–2026.
But the complaints are real, and they're electrical. Auto start/stop failing to restart the engine at a light. High-pressure fuel-pump stalling allegations. A transmission-module fault that left a truck stuck in Park — a tow-in event, the worst kind of surprise. A multipurpose camera failure that disabled the safety systems with a $2,118.78 repair bill, which tells you what modern sensor repairs cost when they go wrong. A 2022 A/C compressor repeat-failure report. One 2025 owner reported a throttle body, a starter, a loose door bolt and poor paint on a new truck — a single anecdote, not a pattern, but exactly the kind of post that makes you inspect panel gaps on the test drive.
Here's the context that changes the math: Honda paused 2026 production, and the third generation isn't expected until around 2028–2029. New supply is constrained, which firms up used values — good if you own one, a headwind if you're buying. The 2026 Sport starts around $40,600–40,800 MSRP (two sources disagreed by $200; call it $40.7k), but finding one is the trick.
The honest framing sits between the truck media (which underrates it) and the owners (who overrate it defensively). It's the best-riding midsize truck and the least truck-like: if your truck needs are real but moderate — mulch, bikes, a camper, Home Depot runs — it's arguably the smartest pick in the segment. If your truck needs are a lifestyle identity, buy the Tacoma and the rattles that come with it.
Who should skip it: serious off-roaders and heavy towers — the unibody has limits and the segment's body-on-frame trucks exist for a reason. Buyers who can't tolerate electrical gremlins should note the 2021's complaint profile and shop 2023+. And if you need a new truck right now, the production pause means you're shopping used or waiting.
Sweet spot: 2023–2024 — past the 2021 electrical cluster, before the production-pause price firming, $31k–43k used. Years to avoid: none categorically, but 2021 carries the heaviest complaint load. A well-documented 2021 at a discount with a clean electrical inspection is fine.
The bed is where the Ridgeline's unibody bet pays off in daily life. The lockable in-bed trunk swallows gear you'd never leave in an open bed, the dual-action tailgate swings down or sideways depending on what you're loading, and the flat load floor is genuinely useful. Owners who camp out of these trucks talk about the bed like a feature, not a compromise — and the available in-bed audio system is the kind of silly-brilliant touch that makes tailgates better.
On the road, the difference from body-on-frame rivals is immediate: less shudder over broken pavement, calmer steering, a cabin that feels like Honda's crossovers rather than a work truck wearing a costume. The trade is real, though — approach angles, ground clearance, and ultimate ruggedness favor the traditional trucks, and the 5-foot bed won't swallow full plywood sheets flat. The TrailSport trim (added 2024) dresses it up with all-terrain tires and retuned suspension, but it doesn't change the fundamental formula. Know which side of that trade you're on before you buy.
Pricing, September 2026: new Sport ~$40.7k MSRP + $1,495 destination (constrained supply). Used 2021s $26k–34k; 2024s $35k–43k; RTL/Black Edition add $3k–6k.