2025 Honda Ridgeline Review

While all of its midsize rivals are built using body-on-frame construction, the 2025 Honda Ridgeline is unique in the segment for its unibody underpinnings.

As a result, it delivers a smooth driving experience and with useful storage features that its rivals don’t have. The Ridgeline comes in three trim levels, beginning with the Sport at $53,490, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $2,000. My tester was the TrailSport, with off-road-tuned suspension and all-terrain tires, at $56,990; and it was further optioned with upgraded paint and protective floor liners that brought it to $57,778 before taxes. The lineup tops out with the Black Edition at $59,490.

Styling 8 / 10

The original Ridgeline was an ugly duckling, but its 2017 redesign gave it a sleeker and more truck-like look. It’s a handsome and functional design, especially with the Ridgeline wordmark stamped into the tailgate courtesy of a 2023 refresh. The TrailSport trim gets a unique mesh grille, grey 18-inch wheels, and orange badges; and inside, the trim includes orange upholstery stitching, orange ambient lighting, and embroidery on the front headrests.

Safety 8 / 10

The Ridgeline gets the highest five-star rating from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it the top “Good” in its side crash test, but the next-step-down “Acceptable” in the small overlap front test. While it received “Good” on the original front moderate overlap, it hadn’t yet been subjected to the updated test at the time of this writing, which now assesses potential injury to a rear-seat passenger as well as to those in front. It also received “Marginal” for its headlight performance.

Standard driver-assist features on all trims include emergency front braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles.

Features 8 / 10

With only three trims, the Ridgeline comes well-equipped across all of the lineup. All ride on 18-inch wheels, rather than larger ones that require pricier replacement tires. The entry-level Sport includes a power-sliding rear window, tri-zone climate control, power tailgate lock, wireless phone charger, heated seats and steering wheel, and nine-inch centre touchscreen.

The TrailSport adds ambient lighting, parking sensors, heated rear seats, leather-trimmed upholstery, and driver’s side memory. The Black Edition then adds auto-dimming and power-folding mirrors, a power outlet in the bed, built-in navigation, ventilated front seats, and an upgraded stereo.

User-Friendliness 8 / 10

The Ridgeline’s dash may look a bit dated, but that translates into simple buttons and switches, including for temperature and fan speed, the seat heaters, and stereo volume, along with simple steering wheel controls. I’m not a fan of the push-button gear selector, although it’s better than some of the other electronic options out there. The infotainment screen lies back against the dash, on a prime angle for sunlight to glare on it.

Practicality 9.5 / 10

Trucks are inherently useful, but the Ridgeline goes above and beyond. Its bed is 1,600 mm (5-foot-3) long, about average for the segment. The big deal is its tailgate, which drops down conventionally or opens sideways like a door. If you’ve ever stretched across an open tailgate to reach cargo, you’ll appreciate how great this feature is.

Hidden under the bed is a lockable 207-L bin with a drain for washing it, or if you use it as a cooler. On most trucks, the spare tire hangs under the bed on a cable, which can seize up with salt or dirt; but on the Ridgeline, it’s kept clean in a slot above the under-floor bin.

Inside, there’s a large centre console cubby and plenty of small-item storage. The rear seat cushions have storage space under them. Best of all, they’re on metal legs, so if you don’t want to flip them up — perhaps there’s a child seat installed — you can simply slide items underneath. Towing capacity is 2,268 kg (5,000 lb), trailing rivals that can tow as much as 3,493 kg (7,700 lb); but at 677 to 687 kg (1,493 to 1,515 lb) of payload, depending on trim, the Ridgeline is about mid-pack.

Comfort 8 / 10

The Ridgeline’s front seats provide long-drive comfort, and while the rear seats are flatter, they’re still fine for most trips. Front-seat legroom is a bit tighter than most in the segment, although it’s still more than sufficient; but the Ridgeline tops almost all at 932 mm (36.7 in) of leg space in the rear seats.

Power 8 / 10

The Ridgeline uses a 3.5L V6 that makes 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Its turbocharged rivals make more power, but this engine is smooth and strong, with plenty of passing power; and I like the relative simplicity of its non-turbo induction. Overall, it’s a good fit to this truck.

Driving Feel 7 / 10

The Ridgeline goes where you point it, but the steering is too light and doesn’t feel as direct as I’d like. Putting it in selectable sport mode tightens it up, but then you have the engine revving higher than necessary. The adaptive cruise control can be a bit jerky when accelerating after a vehicle in front moves away. None of this is a dealbreaker, but it could benefit from some fine-tuning. 

The all-wheel-drive (AWD) system shifts torque from front to rear as needed for traction. It can send as much as 70 per cent to the rear wheels, and then shift all of that to either tire. My TrailSport tester included an off-road-tuned suspension and underbody protection, along with more rugged tires. Despite having AWD instead of four-wheel drive, it’s more capable than you’d expect off the asphalt, and should have no trouble getting you to a remote cottage or campsite.

Fuel Economy 8 / 10

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the Ridgeline TrailSport at 12.8 L/100 km in the city, 10.2 on the highway, and 11.6 combined; with their all-season tires instead of those all-terrains, the other two trims rate at 11.5 combined. In my week with it, I did slightly better at 11.0 L/100 km. It takes regular-grade gas. That consumption is pretty much in line with rivals, where the Ford Ranger is as low as 10.7 combined, while the Chevrolet Colorado tops out at 12.4.

Value 8 / 10

At a starting price of $53,490 for the Sport, the Ridgeline isn’t inexpensive, and all rivals but the Jeep Gladiator and GMC Canyon — those others being the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma — start at less than that. But as mentioned, the Ridgeline comes with a lot of features; and to get comparable features on its rivals, most will be close to or even more expensive than the Honda. Be sure you’re comparing prices on the features you want.

The Verdict

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline isn’t perfect, but it really impresses with its ability to work like a truck while adding numerous secure cargo options that you’d expect in an SUV. If you’re truck shopping, don’t forget to include this one on your list.