← Back to Verdikt 
▼ ▼
Midsize Unibody Pickup Truck
Honda Ridgeline
✓ Buy
Among the best in its category
The Ridgeline is what happens when Honda builds a truck for people who hate driving trucks, unibody construction means it rides like a Pilot, the cabin stays quiet, and owners routinely sail past 100k miles without drama. Fuel economy lands at 16-21 MPG, though, which stings for a Honda, and the Ford Maverick undercuts it by thousands while doing most of the same light-duty work; first-gen models also risk expensive timing belt failures on an interference engine, so stick with 2017 or newer. Buy if you want a pickup that won't punish your commute or your back, hauls weekend projects without fuss, and values refinement over towing capacity; walk if you need serious off-road chops, tow above 5,000 pounds regularly, or want maximum value for occasional truck tasks.
The generation that matters
This product isn't one story — here's how each era is regarded.
1st generation (2006–2014)
2006 – 2014
Mixed
Early models used the Honda Accord transmission and were prone to failure under truck-like use. Styling was polarizing but some preferred the blocky design over later generations.
2nd generation pre-refresh (2017–2020)
2017 – 2020
Compromised
Criticized for minivan-like front styling that hurt sales. Reports of transmission overheating from towing/off-roading within rated limits. Dated interior and high pricing relative to capability.
2021+ refresh
2021 – present
Solid
Styling improved to look more truck-like, addressing main complaint. Direct-injection V6 resolved earlier VCM/oil consumption issues. Still criticized for dated interior, high price, and low ground clearance, but praised for practicality and Honda reliability for light-duty use.
−
Common complaints7 issues−Poor fuel economy for its size, 16-21 MPG disappoints many owners expecting better from Honda
−Limited towing capacity (5,000 lbs) vs competitors
−Significantly more expensive than Ford Maverick with similar use cases
−Dated infotainment system, lacks modern tech like 360 camera
−Shallow bed depth limits some hauling tasks
−First-gen models (2006-2014) have timing belt failure risk, interference engine design
−Not a 'real truck' for heavy-duty users, unibody construction limits off-road and towing capability
✓
What owners praise8 strengths✓
Exceptionally comfortable ride quality, drives like a Honda Pilot, not a traditional truck (expert and community consensus)
✓
In-bed trunk storage is uniquely practical and highly praised by owners
✓
Strong long-term reliability, multiple owners reporting 100k+ miles with minimal issues
✓
Quiet cabin, refined V6 engine, handles well for a truck (expert-verified)
✓
Spacious interior, excellent for families and daily driving comfort
✓
Dual-action tailgate and flat bed floor praised for usability
✓
Honda build quality and dealer network reliability
✓
Better fuel economy than body-on-frame competitors (20-21 MPG combined per experts)
📊 How this score was calculated — 6-dimension rubric
High confidence▼
335 sources analysed with long-term owner data present
335 sources analysed — strong data quality
Reliability & Durability(22%)8.8
28 positive vs 4 negative long-term reports
User Sentiment(22%)9.3
4,127 positive upvotes vs 312 negative upvotes
Complaint Severity(16%)7.7
Complaints: 12 cosmetic, 18 functional, 3 systematic, 0 safety
Consensus Strength(8%)6.5
Opinion is use-case dependent — product divides opinion by intended use
Value for Money(15%)3.8
18 'worth it', 14 'overpriced', 22 mention better-value alternatives
Owner Advocacy(17%)9.2
12 repurchased/gifted, 31 unprompted recommendations, 3 regrets
Scores are percentile ranks: 5.0 is the median product in existence. 8.5+ is reserved for genuinely exceptional products (top ~10%). The score reflects consensus quality, what owners say about the product. Risk is tracked separately and shown above the summary when present. Both are calculated deterministically, so the same signals always produce the same score.
Specifications2026
▼Pricing
Starting MSRP
$42,290
Range
$42,290 - $48,890
Capability
Towing capacity
5,000 lbs
Payload
1,580 lbs
Fuel economy
20-21 MPG combined
Drivetrain
AWD standard
Dimensions & capacity
Dimensions (L×W×H)
210.2 x 78.6 x 70.8 in
Wheelbase
125.2 in
Curb weight
4,420 lbs
Seating
5 passengers
Cargo
5.3-foot bed with underfloor storage
Powertrains
3.5L V-6
standard on all trims
280 hp
Trim pricing
Sport
base trim
$42,290
TrailSport
off-road focused trim, introduced 2024
—
RTL-E
top trim
$48,890
🏆
How it ranks in Midsize Unibody Pickup Truck
10 products compared
1
Nissan Frontier
8.8/10
✓ Buy
2
Honda Ridgeline you are here
8.4/10
✓ Buy
3
GMC Sierra 1500
7.9/10
→ Consider
4
Ford Maverick
7.7/10
→ Consider
5
Ford F-150 Lightning
7.5/10
→ Consider
6
Toyota Tacoma
7.4/10
→ Consider
7
Nissan Titan
7.3/10
→ Consider
8
Ford Ranger
7.2/10
→ Consider
9
Hyundai Santa Cruz
7.2/10
→ Consider
10
Ram 3500
6.9/10
→ Consider
If you're buying
Know what others paid before you walk in.