2023 Honda Ridgeline

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline will be continued to be offered in a total of 4 Trims are the Sports, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. The base Sport trim will start at an MSRP of $38,800 and goes up to $46,230. All trims come equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 engine with AWD drivetrain options and a 9-speed automatic gearbox. Mostly few convenience features and safety features are added on higher trims. Some common features across all trim which we liked the most is the in-bed trunk and the dual action tailgate.

The base trim sports edition offers most of the features each trim level adds minor feature addition. In terms of the styling, the Black edition looks better according to us. 18inch wheels come as standard across all trim, Additional packages are also available to enhance the feature list of existing trims. These include:

Adventure Package

• 18-Inch Black Alloy Wheels
• Crossbars
• Fender Flares

All Season Protection Package I

• Front Splash Guards
• Rear Splash Guards
• All-Season Floor Mats

All Season Protection Package II

• Wheel Locks
• All-Season Floor Mats
• In-Cabin Cargo Tray

Cargo Storage Package

• Hard Cargo Area Cover
• Door Sill Protection Film
• In-Bed Trunk® Cargo Dividers

Outdoor Essentials Package I

• Crossbars
• Hood Protector
• Black Running Boards

Outdoor Essentials Package II

• Crossbars
• Fender Flares
• Black Running Boards

Protection Package

• Front Splash Guards
• Rear Splash Guards
• Wheel Locks

Rugged Utility Package

• Crossbars
• In-Bed Trunk® Cargo Dividers
• Rear Underseat Storage System

Most of the packages are various combinations of features added and removed from each package and you could choose any package to your liking and requirements.

We Recommend

We feel the base sports trim does the job perfectly of what is required for a family pickup truck. But we would like to recommend the RTL since it gets heated seats. So if you are in a warmer area the base trim would do the job.

Release Date

There is no official announcement regarding the release date but mostly it will be available for booking towards the end of this year.

The Honda Ridgeline gets an able performing 3.5-liter V6 engine matted to a 9-speed automatic transmission which is capable to churn out a total horsepower of 280 hp @ 6000 RPM and a torque of 262 lb-ft @ 4700 RPM. It comes equipped with the i-VTM4 all-wheel drivetrain which uses intelligent traction management to distribute power accordingly to each wheel based on the terrain. The Ridgeline is capable to tow around 5000 pounds and has an integrated hitch with 7 pins as standard across all trim. The Ridgeline can accelerate from 0-60 in 7.2 seconds and can do the quarter mile in 15.6 seconds. It has a registered top speed of 130 MPH.

According to our comparison the Nissan Frontier gets the biggest engine at 3.8 litre V6 engine which churns out the best in class power output of 310 HP @ 6400 RPM followed by the Ridgeline, Ford Ranger, and Tacoma. The torque output is superior on the Ford Ranger at 310 lb-ft @ 3000 RPM followed by the Frontier, Ridgeline, and the Tacoma. The Ford Ranger has the quickest acceleration with 0- 60 time of 6.1 seconds and the quarter mile at 14.7 seconds. It is followed by a tie by Frontier and the Ridgeline at 7.2 and 15, 6 seconds time for 0-6- and quarter mile mark respectively. The Ridgeline has the best recorded top speed at 130 MPH.

2023 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Ride and Handling

The Honda Ridgeline’s handling is as crisp as other sedans offered by Honda and doesn’t feel like driving a pickup truck. The intelligent traction management allows for a perfect drive in all difficult and tricky road conditions. The independent suspension also adds to the handling by ensuring smooth driving on normal and rough roads. The seating on offer is also quite comfortable offering enough room inside the cabin. Overall we are very much pleased with the ride quality and handling on offer by the Ridgeline.

2023 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Braking Performance

The braking performance of the Ridgeline is adequate enough and offers ample stopping power. The Ridgeline gets 12.6-inch rotors at the front and a 13-inch rotor at the rear. It also gets a collision mitigation braking system which with the help of RADAR and a camera system detects other vehicles and pedestrians in front. Depending upon the situation either it gives a visual or audio alert and if necessary even electronically applies the brake to avoid a collision. ABS comes as standard on the Ridgeline. All this adds to the overall braking performance of the Ridgeline.

With regards to the braking performance among the competitors, the Ridgeline has the biggest rotors at the front followed by the Ranger, the Frontier, and the Tacoma. Ridgeline also gets the biggest rotors at the rear at 13inch and follows a similar sequence. Overall the braking performance on the Ford Ranger is the best in the segment taking into consideration the rotor size and the curb weight, This is followed by the Ridgeline followed by the Tacoma, and the Frontier. All pickups offer decent braking power.

The Honda Ridgeline is not the fuel-efficient of the lot but provides decent fuel efficiency. It returns a fuel efficiency of 18 miles in city, 24 on the highway, and a combined figure of 21 miles. It gets a 19.5 gallons fuel tank which gives it a commendable range of 351 in the city, 468 on the highways, and a combined range of 410.

The Ford Ranger tops our list as the most fuel-efficient pickup truck with an MPG of 21 in the city, 26 on the highway, and a combined figure of 23. This is followed by the Tacoma and a close third by the Ridgeline. The Tacoma also gets the blogger fuel tank in our comparison at 21.1 gallons which gives it the best range in the segment. The Ford ranger and Ridgeline is pulled back due to its smaller capacity fuel tanks.

The Seating comfort on the Ridgeline is quite good with its cloth upholstery seats. The seating position offers a good view of the surroundings. It also gets an adjustable armrest which also gives support on longer drives. The Interior of the Honda Ridgeline is filled with storage spaces with both front side doors having almost 3 levels of storage sections it also has a central storage compartment which also offers ample space. In terms of the front row space. The Ridgeline has the most headroom and shoulder room in the segment but unfortunately, the legroom is not generous as other competitors. Moving toward the rear, they offer the spacious rear seats in the segment. The rear seats can be folded upwards to offer additional storage space. 

The Honda Ridgeline offers the most headroom and shoulder room in the segment but when it comes to the legroom the Ford ranger offers the most legroom followed by the Tacoma, and the Frontier. In terms of the second-row space, the Honda Ridgeline provides the most space in the segment. The highest cargo volume is offered by the Ford Ranger and the least volume is on the Nissan Frontier.

Some of the key interior features available with the 2023 Honda Ridgeline are:

• Cloth Seats
• Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• Lift-Up Rear Seat w/Underseat Storage
• Head Restraints at all Seating Positions
• Sunglasses Holder
• Lockable Glove Compartment

How intuitive is the 2023 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system on the Ridgeline is a 8-inch touch screen display. The screen is linked with the Honda Satellite-linked navigation system which features a 3D rendering of terrain, buildings, and road signs. It also aids drivers with lane guidance.

The Honda link app also lets you connect to your phone to the Honda Ridgeline allowing you to save the parking locations, check the fuel range, book service appointments, etc. The infotainment system also provides blind spot information with cross-traffic monitoring. It also comes equipped with a reverse parking camera for safer reversing. The infotainment system is not as modern as the other competitors but we feel is it has most of the necessary functions and features.

Some of the most notable infotainment features available with the 2023 Honda Ridgeline are:

• Multi-angle rearview camera
• Blind spot information system
• 6 Speaker audio system
• Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatible
• HondaLink
• Bluetooth HandsfreeLink

The Honda Ridgeline is built on a unibody construction which is typically stronger than most of the conventional body on frame designs and offers a smooth ride. Approximately 45% of the body is built using high-strength steel which adds rigidity to the structure. The exterior design is typical of a pickup truck with a bigger front grille. The design seems a bit outdated according to us and a refresh on the design front is due. The Ridgeline has a total length of 210.2 inches and a width of 78.6 inches and a height of 70.8. The ground clearance is around 7.6 inches.

In terms of the exterior dimension, the Tacoma is the longest of the bunch. The Nissan Frontier and Ridgeline are the shortest. The Ridgeline is the widest of the 3 with a width of 78.6inches. The Frontier is the tallest with a height of 7.2 inches. Talking about the ground clearance the Tacoma has the most ground clearance with 9.4 inches making it more suitable for off-road. Also, the wheelbase is shorter on the Ridgeline making it more nimble in tight spaces. 

Some standout exterior features include:

• Dual-Action Tailgate
• Lockable In-Bed Trunk®
• Lay-Flat Truck Bed
• LED Low-Beam Headlights
• Integrated Class III Trailer Hitch
• Unibody Construction

The Honda Ridgeline has performed very well in the NHTSA crash test rating with an overall score of 5 stars and an individual score of 5 stars on the frontal impact and side crash test making it the safest bet in terms of the competition. The rollover risk has been rated at 5 stars. The Honda Ridgeline is equipped with most of the standard features available on modern-day pickup like ABS, EBD, advanced airbags system, 3-point seat belts with automatic tensioning, Brake assist, Vehicle stability assist, etc. Unlike other models in the segment, Honda has made sure all these safety features are available as standard. The only feature that is not available as standard is the Blind spot information.

Other standout safety features include:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane departure warning, lane keep assist
• Auto high beam headlights

2023 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs 2023 Ford Ranger

Since their inception, the Ford Ranger and the Honda Ridgeline have been in competition with one another. Both of these are ideal examples of compact pickup trucks due to their small sizes and adequate payloads. In truth, the powertrains on each of these cars have largely comparable power and torque outputs, but they operate somewhat differently in actual driving situations. The Ford turbo-four engine is more powerful, quicker, and capable of towing more than the Ridgeline's V6 engine. While the Ranger has two different cab types and varied bed lengths, Honda's lineup is absent of anything similar. Although both of them could seem extremely basic from the outside, the Ridgeline's interior is spacious,, and is more practical. The ride quality on the Honda Ridgeline is also far superior to the Ford Ranger. If you are tight on budget you should definitely go for the Ford Ranger but if you are willing to spend more we would highly recommend the Honda Ridgeline.

2023 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs 2023 Nissan Frontier

The Honda Ridgeline and the Nissan Frontier are both able pickups. The Frontier has the bigger V6 engine and has the better power figures compared to the Ridgeline. In our comparison that is the only aspect where it scores against its Japanese counterpart. The Rest all the points go to the Honda. Ridgeline has slightly better fuel efficiency and has more practical interior space. In terms of safety also the Nissan is nowhere near to the Honda. Nissan is a more affordable option among the two but we would suggest our users to go for the Ridgeline which according to us suits better as a capable mid-size family pickup truck.

2023 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs 2022 Toyota Tacoma

Both the Tacoma and the Ridgeline are competent pickup trucks, but they offer very different capacities. The Tacoma is for people who want a tough workhorse that is also capable of off-roading. The Ridgeline, on the other hand, adopts a more subdued demeanor. Although it has superb driving dynamics and can handle some off-roading, it is more car-like in nature. As a result, it is incredibly convenient to use as a daily driver. However, the Tacoma isn't all awful because Toyota offers a variety of trim options and extra packages that may be customized to a person's needs. While the Ridgeline's limited trim options and extra package fairly limit your ability to customize your vehicle but the available trims mostly cover all your needs. In terms of affordability, the Tacoma is the more affordable option.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline gets a thumbs up from us as an everyday family pickup truck. It offers a good amount of performance in the segment and has a decent fuel efficiency. The Ridgeline has a vibe of driving a normal car. The interior noise isolations is very good compared to the competition. The interior has a lot of utilitarian features which add convenience to the occupants. Some of the features like the in-bed trunk storage, foldable rear seats, and two-way tailgate are some exclusive features available only to the Honda Ridgeline. Honda also has not compromised on the safety and offers the best in class safety with a host of features that have been offered as standard. The only drawback we feel about the Ridgeline is its styling and its price which is higher compared to the competition. All this aside if you are willing to pay the Honda Ridgeline is a good buy.