Let’s be blunt; the 2023 Honda Ridgeline is the most underrated pickup truck on the market. “Just buy a Honda” is a monster cliche at this point, yet when buying a pickup truck, we act like buying a Honda isn’t even an option. The Honda Ridgeline might not be everything you want in a pickup truck, but it is everything you need from one. You should really consider the Honda Ridgeline. 

The Honda Ridgeline is the most underrated pickup truck 

You don’t need your pickup truck like you think you do; at least, that’s what research from The Drive says. “The highest indexed use among truck owners is pleasure driving,” says Alexander Edwards, president of automotive research and consulting firm Strategic Vision, which conducts an in-depth, annual, 250,000-person, psychographic new vehicle owners’ survey.

Honda’s pickup truck is not exactly like the rest of the pickup truck market. Pickup trucks are often large, tough, gas-guzzling power hogs built using the rugged body-on-frame chassis style. However, the pickup truck is going through a paradigm shift between electric, hybrid, and small crossover trucks. With all this change, there lies a humble little pickup truck somewhere in the middle. 

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline is a unibody truck powered by a slick 3.5-liter V6 engine. It has a fully independent suspension like we are used to seeing in a sedan. However, it is still very much a pickup truck. It features loads of clever storage space, like a hollow bed that can open and stow more gear. The Ridgeline offers one of the smoothest rides in the segment and still gets 20 mpg. From toe to tip, there is almost nothing to count against the Ridgeline objectively. Sure, if you need a hardcore work truck, the Ridgeline won’t cut it, but most people don’t work with their trucks; they just drive them to work. 

How much can the 2023 Honda Ridgeline tow? 

Towing is a big deal for pickup trucks. The Honda Ridgeline won’t pull down the barn, but it will pull enough for most people. The 2023 Ridgeline is good for 5,000 lbs of towing power. In the grand scheme of trucks, that’s really not that much. However, now with other smaller trucks like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, 5,000 lbs ain’t so bad. Hel, even the most kitted-out Toyota Tacoma can only tow 6,800 lbs. 

How much is the 2023 Honda Ridgeline? 

The only real problem with the Honda pickup truck is that it really isn’t very affordable. While the pickup truck market has gotten significantly more expensive, the Ridgeline is still on the upper end of its segment. Honda starts pricing for the 2023 Ridgeline at $38,800. If you go with any of the cooler trims like the HPD that number goes up until you hit the top trim starting at $46,230. 

Consumer Reports argues that the price is worth it since the Ridgeline has topped its reviews for years on end. The only thing CR didn’t love is the tricky infotainment user experience, a shallow bed, and limited off-roading capability. Literally, nothing else negative crossed its radar.

Is the Ridgeline 4WD?

No. The Honda Ridgeline doesn’t offer a proper four-wheel-drive truck. However, AWD is standard. AWD is becoming more normal in the small truck world these days. The Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz both only offer two-wheel-drive or AWD. 

The Honda Ridgeline is quirky. It might even challenge what we think we need from a pickup truck. However, the truth is most people with giant Ram 2500s, Ford F-150s, and Chevy Silverados rarely tow, haul, or off-road with their trucks.