By Randy Wakeman

I just bought a 2024 Honda Ridgeline, stepping up in a way from my 2019 Ridgeline RTL. The 2019 Ridgeline was not flawless, with several recalls. For whatever reason, Honda's tech has lagged substantially behind some other brands: particularly in the infotainment system and camera departments. The 2019 RTL had an analog factory stereo, a miserable little made in Mexico Panasonic unit. At the time, the pricey upgrade to the RTL-E model just got you a sluggish, low resolution display-- not worth the $7000 premium to me. It wasn't a close call. Fundamentally, the 2019 and 2024 Ridgelines have not changed from the 2017 Ridgeline redesign. It is the same 280 hp V6 and the same excellent i-VTM4 AWD system. As far as out-of pocket repairs, the only major annoyance was the moon roof, that failed twice. I was on moonroof number three when I traded in the 2019.

The 2024 has a 9 speed ZF transmission, a change from the Honda 6 speed that was made by Honda for the 2020 model year. In 2021, Honda changed the nose of the Ridgeline to make it look more truckish. In 2019, the Black Edition was $44,540. The 2024 has a sticker price of $47,745: not much of a tragic jump for five years. Although auto reviews still tout the $43,979 RTL as the trim to get, that isn't particularly good advice. The cheapest 2024 Ridgeline, the Sport with a cloth interior, is already $41,145.

As you can see above, the 9 speed ZF transmission adds a heavy-duty transmission cooler as standard equipment. First gear on the 9 speed is dramatically lower, while both 8^th and 9^th gears are taller. Gears 6-9 are all overdrive. The 2024 Ridgeline feels noticeably quicker: it is most noticeable off the line in Sport mode. According to the EPA, the 2024 actually gets worse gas mileage, by one mpg, on the highway. The EPA also claims that the 2024 Ridgeline's gas tank has mysteriously shrunk from 19.5 to 18.5 gallons, which it has not.

The 2024 Black Edition is loaded with creature comforts, from an upgraded 540 watt 8 speaker stereo, heated and cooled seats (outboard passenger seats are also heated), heated steering wheel, 400W AC power in the bed, power-folding side mirrors, wireless Android Auto / Carplay, wireless charging, Tri-Zone heating and cooling, and on it goes. Gone is the in-bed audio, apparently a feature directed at tail-gating.

While my old Ridgeline was a champ in snow and mud, as before the ground clearance (7.64 in.) limits any aspirations of rock-climbing and bashing about. The Honda CRV has more ground clearance at 7.8 inches. While the Ridgeline ground clearance is far more generous than, say, a Honda Accord (5.3 inches) it is still clearly a soft-roader, not a rock-crawler.

Like any longer wheelbase vehicle, there are breakover angle issues, perhaps parkability and turning radius issues as well compared to smaller vehicles. Folks like to talk about “capability.” Certainly, even my 2021 Grand Cherokee is more capable as in the two-speed transfer case, better ground clearance, smaller turning radius, and better break-over: but that is not why I bought another Ridgeline. A Ridgeline is more about comfort and capacity. The Ridgeline's tow rating is 5000 lbs., 1000 lbs. more than the compact Ford Maverick. If a generous tow rating is important to you, something like the 7,700 lb. tow rating of the Chevy Colorado might suit your needs.

There is an “ECON” button on the Ridgeline that dulls the throttle response, but does nothing for MPG in the city or on the highway. Consumer Reports found the same. It is no choice, but remains a meaningless feature, just as it was on the 2019 model.

The application of the ZF 9 speed to my 2019 V6 Cherokee was poor, for the 9^th speed was something that never happened on its own: you had to force it. Honda's embodiment is far better, as the Ridgeline starts in 2^nd gear unless you hit the “Sport Mode” button. Regular driving acceleration means 3000 rpm upshifts, where Sport mode holds on to gears a bit longer. In the Ridgeline, 9th gear actually happens, right at 65 mph. 

Unlike my 2019 RTL, the current Ridgeline has start/stop, called idle stop by Honda. While it does increase city mileage, it also cannot help but to increase wear and tear to the starter and engine. The question is by how much, exactly, and no one seems to know. A close neighbor has a 2017 Ridgeline with a bit over 90,000 miles with zero issues. He does not have a moonroof, by the way.

While folks like to say, "Oh, the vehicles are engineered for it," they are forgetting that car manufacturers have a great history of lying. Just last month, Honda, Toyota, and Mazda admitted to false safety testing on many different vehicle models over the last decade. They apologized. You can bet an exploding Pinto gas tank (with a side order of Takata airbags) that mindlessly believing all manufacturer's claims can be unsmart.

The EPA rates the Ridgeline at 18 city, 24 highway. Naturally, the idle stop feature does nothing at all for highway mileage. At the 18 city rating, a 3% fuel savings nets you a whopping 0.54 mpg: not remotely enough to justify the cost of the system, more expensive starter and battery replacements, and additional wear and tear on the engine. It is best described as an irritating joke.

Rather than the stick on console on my 2019, the 2024 has push-buttons to select drive direction and modes. I didn't think I would like it, but it took only a hundred miles or so to get used to it. In 2018-2020, U. S. Ridgeline sales were in the low 30,000 unit range. In 2021, Ridgeline sales spiked to over 40,000, jumping to an all-time high 52,001 in 2023. Presented as a “fuel efficient mid-size truck,” my 2019 did not deliver. Anything at or above 20 mpg highway was a bonus, dropping to more like 18 mpg in the winter. So far, though, this 2024 is doing 23.5 mpg highway, a very strong improvement. It has improved further after the obligatory Honda 600 mile break-in. 

The 2014 Ridgeline RTL was $38,210 ($50,691.81 in 2024 dollars), with 250 hp, a 5 speed transmission, with what most considered poor gas mileage. More horses, more gears, more efficiency, and more refinement makes it a far stronger value today than it was in 2014. Some might feel the new 2024 Tacoma Limited is a truckier truck: I suppose it is. The Tacoma Ltd. with “synthetic leather” starts at $53,595 dollars. It is a body on frame 'real' truck of course, yet lacks the comfort, roominess (back seat), and value of the Ridgeline-- but certainly, test drive and compare for yourself.

Above: this Ridgeline got an UnderCover tonneau cover that doesn't leak, as before. The lockable trunk in the Ridgeline's bed is substantial, 7.9 cubic feet, and as useful as ever, shown below. The factory floor mats on the bottom of the trunk were replaced with WeatherTech, front and rear.

I'm generally not a fan of extended warranties, but the 80,000 mile 7 year bumper to bumper, $0 deductible offering from Honda was $920, so I popped for it. If you financed anything with Honda, you got $1000 back. So, I went for that as well. I may not even pay it off, as it is 1.9% APR for three years: quite an enticing interest rate. Rather than pay it off, even CD's will make you a peso or two.

In the specific case of this 2024 Black Edition, the cavernous interior with the flip-up “Magic Seats” in the rear make it easy to haul loads of gear. The Honda line-up is straightforward: a Passport for a two-row SUV, a Pilot for a three row, and the Ridgeline if you want a bed. The latest Pilot, with a 10 speed transmission, hits over $54,000 for its Black Edition Trim.

I did test-drive and consider the new 2024 Ridgeline Trail Sport. Selling for close to the same price as the Black Edition, it gives you very little beyond badges and decals. It has General Grabber A/T tires that add a bit of noise and cost you a mpg or so, and a plate that covers the oil pan. It is hardly more trail-ready than any other Ridgeline, with the same ground clearance limitation. Naturally, you can change tires and add bash plates on your Black Edition if you feel the need.

The interior is extremely well-done, with plenty of cubbies and accent lighting.

The better sound system, LED bed lights, heated steering wheel, power-folding side mirrors, 400W bed outlet, extra rear USB ports, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and built-in navigation make it easy to just ignore the “Sport” and “RTL” trims and head straight to the Black Edition.

Six months ago, I began to shop for a new Ridgeline. At that time, from one dealer, there was a $3500 upcharge over sticker for any new Honda. That nonsense seems to have ended, for there are indeed discounts on new Ridgelines now, in my case over $4000 off of sticker. That $7500 is a very good swing in the right direction.

Sure, I'd like an extra inch of ground clearance, a bit larger gas tank, and a full-sized spare. That was the case in 2019 and five years later, that is still the case. Too much change imperils the lighter weight, better ride, and better handling that you bought the unibody Ridgeline for in the first place, or at least I did. The Ridgeline remains as the only unibody mid-size truck out there, but has been joined by the much smaller Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz.

The Ridgeline is a great soft-roader and superb on the highway, but is not for everyone. If you need to tow 7000 lbs. or climb rocks, it isn't for you. This is Illinois, of course, and regular treks to the mountains are not in the cards. Running on mud, ice, gravel, and soft dirt are common and the Ridgeline fares well in those conditions.

On the 2019 Ridgeline, the mpg display lies like a rug, running around 1.5 mpg on the overly-optimistic side. While the 2019 might tell you that you are getting 20.5 mpg, based on gallons used you're only getting 19 mpg. On this 2024, yes, the gauges are still optimistic, but by .5 mpg. On a two hour 76 mph adaptive cruise control highway test, the 2024 returned an indicated 24.5 mpg, 24.0 mpg actual for the first leg, with 25.2 mpg indicated 24.7 actual mpg. This is a terrific improvement over the 2019 of over 20% better highway fuel economy. The only explanation I have is the 9 speed transmission and its excellent throttle mapping.

If you need to carry lots of gear, and want a somewhat economical vehicle that can carry four adult hunters in luxury-level comfort, the Ridgeline is that vehicle.