Pickup trucks are among the most popular vehicles on sale today. That said, most full-size and even mid-size pickups offer more power and capability than many people will ever use, and to do that they sacrifice good driving dynamics when compared with other vehicles. That’s why Honda’s move into the pickup market with the Ridgeline made so much sense years ago and still works well today. 

Based on the same platform as Honda’s Pilot SUV, the Ridgeline is the only unibody pickup on the market, meaning that it doesn’t sit atop a heavy truck frame. That slightly limits its payload abilities compared to other midsize trucks, but also means it’s a much more refined and efficient vehicle than its competitors. The Ridgeline does 85% of the things that most truck buyers will ever do with their trucks, but deftly blends that utility with the driving dynamics of a crossover.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline gets new styling up front, aimed at making it look properly truck-like. If the regular treatment isn’t aggressive enough, there’s also a new HPD (Honda Performance Development) appearance package. Honda

One of the biggest knocks against past Ridgelines was that they looked too crossover-like, but not anymore. The 2021 Ridgeline has been thoroughly updated with a butch new look and updated tech as well as a variety of new option packages.

Four trims are available for the 2021 model year starting with the Sport, which retails for $37,665 including delivery fees. Above that are the RTL ($40,645), RTL-E ($43,595) and the top-spec Black Edition ($45,095).

The Ridgeline competes in the hotly contested midsize pickup realm, but its construction means it has to be viewed in a different light than its competitors.

Buyers could consider the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma and either the GMC Canyon or Chevrolet Colorado in place of the Honda, but none of those conventional full-frame trucks are as comfortable inside or as well-behaved on the road as the Ridgeline. The Honda is as capable of maintaining its composure over rough, broken pavement as it is when not doing “truck stuff,” such as hauling the kids to school or making a run to the grocery store.

Unlike on previous Ridgelines, all-wheel drive is now standard on every model. While it isn’t as versatile off-road as the rival Jeep Gladiator, it’s more comfortable and better to drive on the road than most midsize pickups. Honda

That said, there are some limitations. While the General Motors twins, the Gladiator, and the Toyota can tow 7,000 pounds or a bit more, the Ridgeline maxes out at 5,000. 

Honda gets around this perceived shortcoming with plenty of interior storage and a configurable bed space with plenty of options to safely and conveniently haul cargo. Honda’s 7.3 cubic-foot bed trunk is particularly clever. The bed itself measures 64 inches long, with 33.9 cubic feet of cargo volume, 41.2 if you include the trunk. Among 2021 trucks, it’s the smallest bed in the class by volume, but it’s helpfully uninterrupted by the rear wheel wells, useful for wide and flat items like sheets of plywood.

The 2021 Ridgeline’s new styling was created specifically to interest image-conscious truck buyers, and it sports a more aggressive front end and beefier tires. Ahead of the front doors, all the sheet metal is new, and the more aggressive face comes with a hood bulge and chunky fenders, as well as a more upright grille and squared-off nose that screams pickup truck.

The Ridgeline’s cabin is comfortable and user friendly, and features high quality materials. Rear seat passengers get room that approaches best in class, too.  Honda

For buyers who want even more aggressive looks,  Honda has added a $2,800 HPD (Honda Performance Development) package with more aggressive fender flares, special bronze wheels, and other cosmetic bits reminiscent of off-road trucks from competitors.

All models are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. The Ridgeline’s engine and transmission provide smooth and responsive acceleration along with decent throttle response. When asked, there’s plenty of power and acceleration on offer, though the Ridgeline’s powertrain is happier cruising or pulling a small load. 

Where the Honda truly diverges from the rest of its segment is in ride quality and comfort. The Independent rear suspension and rigid unibody design give the Ridgeline an almost car-like ride. The Ridgeline holds its own in the corners and can iron out most of the worst road conditions. 

Honda has brought back a physical volume knob on the Ridgeline’s infotainment stack by customer request. Honda’s infotainment system has been much improved in recent years, but there’s more progress to be made.  Honda

Even though its powertrain is V6-only in a segment full of four-cylinders and diesels, the Ridgeline stands up well to its competition. The Honda’s 21 mpg combined outperforms some Ford Ranger trims and beats both Toyota and the GMC/Chevy V6 models on fuel economy.

The Ridgeline further differentiates itself from the truck pack with its interior, where usable space and comfort are the name of the game. The cabin is finished with upscale materials in most places, and sports comfy front bucket seats. Rear-seat space is excellent, though not quite as capacious as Jeep’s Gladiator, and toting people in the Ridgeline is just as easy as hauling cargo.

he Ridgeline’s bed is a little on the small side, but it isn’t encumbered by rear wheel wells as on other midsize trucks. It also features a clever 7.3 cubic foot trunk built into the floor.  Honda

Honda updated the truck’s infotainment system for the new model year and added back the volume knob it so controversially removed just a couple years ago. The standard 8.0-inch touchscreen runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the Ridgeline can be outfitted with an in-bed speaker system for outdoor parties.

The 2021 Ridgeline hasn’t been through government crash tests yet, but its predecessor was awarded a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This year’s truck gets HondaSensing as standard equipment, which includes a collision mitigation braking system, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, a lane keeping assist system, forward collision alerts and lane departure warnings.