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To win over truck folk, the Ridgeline has donned its metaphorical belt buckle. In the back, the updates are simple and include a restyled bumper and a new dual exhaust system. Oh, but upfront, everything north of the front doors is new. New fenders. A new power bulge hood. New headlights. And a new, larger grille. Plus, the track is 20 millimeters wider for a more hulking stance. This is my first time seeing the updated Ridgeline in the real world. And under the sun I have to say, it does look brawnier. I’m not sure brawny and attractive are synonymous but if this style helps Honda sell more Ridgelines, more power to them.

For a more potent visual assertion of ruggedness consider the Honda Performance Development Appearance Package as seen on our tester. The HPD package adds a unique grille, nifty bronze wheels, HPD emblems, and these tacked-on black fender flares for a cool $2,800.

For comparison, here’s the non-HPD Ridgeline. I greatly prefer its looks. You might feel differently.

Inside, not much has changed beyond some new contrast stitching, reworked graphics for the 8-inch infotainment system, and the addition of a physical volume knob. That’s about it for the mid-cycle updates but the Ridgeline also possesses a range of compelling carryover traits.

The interior is still plenty roomy and functional. Excess cargo fits well inside thanks to 60/40 flip-up rear seats. The tailgate both flips down and rotates out making it easy to load the bed and reach the in-bed trunk. Also, there’s a roomy, lockable in-bed trunk (7.3 cu-ft) with a drain plug at the bottom, so you can use it like a big ice chest. And even though it isn’t the largest among pickup trucks, the 5’4” bed can carry more than 1,500 pounds of payload.

If you’re motivated, you can do a lot with the Ridgeline’s functionality. Though I will say that loading motorcycles or cargo into the bed would be easier with a lower load floor.

As for mechanical updates…there are none but here’s what you get. A 3.5-Liter V6 (280hp, 262 lb-ft) matched to a 9-speed automatic transmission. (18city/24hwy) Honda’s i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system comes standard and can send up to 70% percent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels and 100% of that power to either the left or right wheel as conditions demand. It’s a neat system that yields good traction off road and enhanced agility on-road.

At peak urgency, the V6 pulls eagerly. You can also use that V6 grunt to tow, just keep it under the Ridgeline’s 5,000-pound max. I’ll also note that even though it looks “tougher” the Ridgeline still drives like a Honda Pilot with a bed on the back because that’s essentially what it is.

If you want a pickup truck with a fully independent suspension and the ride plushness that comes with it, this is your only choice. Speaking of, compared to the Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevrolet Colorado the Honda Ridgeline is far more expensive with a starting price of around $36-and-a-half thousand dollars not including destination charges.

For perspective, you can grab a Colorado or Ranger for about $25-grand. Granted a base Ridgeline is far better equipped and more premium-feeling than a base Colorado but you can also find more powerful engines, greater towing capacities, better fuel economy, and more body style choices from the Ridgeline’s competition. Oh, and that new Nissan Frontier looks pretty cool.

If you’re in the “it has to hurt to be effective” school of pickup truck ownership, then the Ridgeline refined manners might not be your style. But if you’re open to driving a pickup truck with a quiet cabin and comfortable road feel, the Honda Ridgeline is a pleasing non-traditional solution.

In total, the Ridgeline is a unique player in the midsize pickup truck category. Am I enamored with its new style? I mean, it’s ok but maybe truck fans will be. And that’s fine. Dress up your pickup however you like but Honda, please, don’t stop answers questions in clever ways.

00:00 2021 Honda Ridgeline
0:36 Exterior
1:50 Interior
2:50 Engine
3:20 Driving Impressions
3:45 Competitors

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