2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport
Did you know that the Honda Ridgeline has become influential in the pickup truck business?
Even though it is classified as a mid-size pickup truck, the unibody construction has been seen as the path towards creating a new smaller size class of pickup truck.
Yet, the 2024 Honda Ridgeline has held its own for years. This year, they added something more desirable to lure new consumers to its charms – the off-road tuned TrailSport model.
We were curious whether the Ridgeline is capable enough to be considered a truck. After all, it is classified as a mid-size pickup truck.
Honda’s Ridgeline shares its platform and a chunk of its interior, engine, and transmission with three other Honda models built off the same architecture and assembly plant: Pilot, Passport, and Odyssey. However, the Ridgeline utilizes a different underbody structure designed to take on the tasks of a pickup truck rather than a SUV or minivan.
The Ridgeline’s unibody construction combines the cab and box into one body structure. The profile is a basic four-door crew cab with a 64-inch-long bed. Around the back is a two-way tailgate. You can open it the traditional way, by lowering it. You can also open it up to swing towards the left side of the truck. That way, you have better access to the bed and its very low wheel arches. You also have better access to the In-Bed Trunk. This lockable 7.3 cubic-foot storage space is great to put anything securely, such as tools and other items you need for activities. You can also use it as a cooler for beverages. When you’re done, just open up the drain plug to empty out the In-Bed Trunk.
Our Ridgeline TrailSport tester adds a set of 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires. TrailSport badging completes the look.
Cab space is excellent, offering one of the largest passenger volumes in the mid-size pickup truck class. There is room for five people across two rows of seats. In our TrailSport tester, front seat occupants sit on leather-trimmed seats that offer some bolstering and support. There are electric adjustments for rake, recline, and height.
The instrument cluster is now completely digital with dials for both the speedometer and tachometer. The information screen is in-between these dials. The touchscreen for the infotainment system sit on top of the center stack, while a push-button transmission actuator dominates the center console. You will find plenty of storage on this console and in the door bins.
Power comes from a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. It is connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission and the standard Intelligent Variable Torque Management AWD system. This system includes Snow, Sand, and Mud modes with pre-set traction settings for these conditions.
This driveline is also capable of towing up 5,000 pounds with a payload rating of 1,521 pounds. It also turned in a fuel consumption average of 20.6 MPG.
The ride quality is just fine. The Ridgeline TrailSport adds some off-road type of suspension that seems more controlled and solid. Handling is on the soft side, however. The same goes for the steering system. Braking is also fine, with solid stops in normal and panic situations. Pedal feel is pretty good.
Pricing for the Ridgeline starts at $39,750. You have a choice of four trim levels – all with standard all-wheel drive. Our TrailSport tester came with a sticker price of $46,830.
Whether you see it as a truck or not, the Honda has been constantly compared to its mid-size pickup rivals. The competition includes the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier.
Before you judge a book by its cover, see how useful the Honda Ridgeline is as a pickup truck. That’s the key to this vehicle. If you want something useful that can mix work with play, why not consider a Honda Ridgeline? Especially the TrailSport model!
Credits: CarSoup Editors
