2021 Honda Ridgeline

Pros: Unibody construction delivers smoother, better-composed ride and handling than traditional body-on-frame pickups; unique available features, versatile cargo bed

Cons: Only one engine and body style available; body-on-frame pickups offer better off-roading and towing capabilities

CG Says: The 2021 Honda Ridgeline has new sheetmetal from the front doors forward and all-wheel drive is now standard. Front-wheel-drive versions are no longer available. Inside, there is a revised interior with a volume knob for the sound system and available wireless cellphone charging. There is also a new HPD (Honda Performance Development) appearance package. Unlike other compact pickups that have body-on-frame construction, the Ridgeline has carlike unibody construction. A 5-passenger, 4-door crew cab is the only cab style available. A 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with a 9-speed automatic transmission and full-time all-wheel drive is the sole drivetrain. The cargo bed is five feet four inches long and five feet wide; a four-foot-wide sheet of plywood will fit between the wheel arches. There is also a lockable storage well under the bed floor and the two-way tailgate can be opened either down (like a traditional pickup) or to the side. A novel “truck-bed audio” feature available on top-line models uses small electronic units mounted inside the bedliner that essentially turn the entire pickup bed into a speaker. Other available features include keyless access/starting, a navigation system, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated mirrors, heated front seats, and leather upholstery. Honda Sensing (forward collision warning and mitigation, lane-keep assist, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control) is standard on all models. After its 2017 redesign and current refresh, Honda’s Ridgeline looks more like a traditional pickup truck than its predecessors. Ridgeline offers SUV-like on-road ride and handling characteristics that are a bit more refined than its GM, Ford, and Toyota rivals. Ridgeline also offers some clever interior and exterior cargo solutions that aren’t matched by its competitors. Unless you’re looking to do serious off-roading or towing, the Ridgeline will likely provide all the hauling versatility you’ll need, along with everyday driving manners and all-around sophistication that are a cut above its class competition.

2021 Honda Ridgeline