Skip to main content

The Honda Ridgeline is one of the most unique pickup trucks on the market. Despite being a truck, the Ridgeline is actually built on a Honda Odyssey platform. This truck has the soul of a minivan, but it’s still competitive in the truck vehicle class. Which 2021 Honda Ridgeline trim is the best buy?

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline is a unicorn truck

The Honda Ridgeline is unconventional, to say the least. The pickup truck both looks and performs differently from most trucks in its vehicle class. The Ridgeline is exactly what you would expect from Honda, a standout model that isn’t easily confused or compared with competitors.

So why buy a truck that drives like an SUV? The Honda Ridgeline is a daily driver for the truck owner that is more concerned with comfort and ride quality than conventional truck tasks. Yes, it has a truck bed, but it looks stubby compared to its competitors. Honda’s mid-size truck couldn’t fit in if it wanted to, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing in a vehicle class dominated by trucks that are rougher around the edges. It is the polar opposite of the off-roading Toyota Tacoma. So what if it can’t play in the mud?

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck is built on the Honda proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering structure. The redesigned Ridgeline sits on a modified Honda Odyssey platform, and that isn’t the only thing that sets it apart from other trucks. The Ridgeline’s unibody configuration, smooth ride, low towing capacity, and lack of real off-roading trims all set the truck apart from competitors in its vehicle class.

Which 2021 Honda Ridgeline trim is the best buy?

A silver 2021 Honda Ridgeline with mountains in the background
2021 Honda Ridgeline | Honda

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline may not suit the needs of the average truck owner. If you are in the market for a Ridgeline, the mid-size truck comes in several different trim options. The 2021 Honda Ridgeline is available in a Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trim.

According to Car and Driver, the base model Sport trim starts at $37,715. All 2021 Honda Ridgeline models come standard with all-wheel drive. The Sport’s V6 engine makes a massive 280 horsepower. That’s more horsepower than the Jeep Gladiator, Chevy Colorado, and GMC Canyon base models.

The best 2021 Honda Ridgeline trim to buy is the RTL because it adds to the vehicle’s overall comfort at an affordable price. The Ridgeline RTL trim starts at $40,695. The extra $2,980 will get you leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power moonroof, a blind-spot system, and many other features.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline RTL builds on the existing comfort and convenience the truck provides. This trim makes the Ridgeline an amazing daily driver equipped with many of the modern creature comforts and technology that mid-size trucks lack. The Honda Ridgeline isn’t the most affordable truck, but it certainly provides a unique driving and ownership experience.

Is the Honda Ridgeline a good truck?

The new 2016 Honda Ridgeline truck during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.
The Honda Ridgeline | Todd Korol/Toronto Star via Getty Images

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline truck has received great reviews from consumers and experts alike. It gets 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway, which is great for a mid-size truck. It only has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

What the 2021 Honda Ridgeline lacks in towing capacity and off-road capability, it makes up for in power. The 280 horses combined with standard all-wheel drive make for a smooth and energetic ride on most roads. The Ridgeline isn’t for everyone, but it is a great truck…depending on what you intend on using it for.

Related

The Real Reason the 2021 Honda Ridgeline Should Be More Popular