2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport Review and Test Drive
Changes to the truck's new rugged trim add capability, but ground clearance holds it back from more extreme off-roading.
Christian Wardlaw
QuickTakes:
Honda wants you to know that the 2024 Ridgeline is more capable than you might guess, especially when tricked out in the new TrailSport trim level. Equipped with all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension, a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, Sand and Mud driving modes, and a steel skid plate protecting the engine's oil pan, the TrailSport promises capability.
But that promise may go unfulfilled. For example, just minutes after heading off the pavement in my 2024 Ridgeline TrailSport test truck, I crunched the front air dam when the left front tire dipped into an unexpectedly deep rut.
And that is the caveat with the 2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport. Honda has genuinely improved its midsize pickup truck's off-roading capability this year. However, with the same 7.6 inches of ground clearance as the base truck, it falls short when compared with other trucks in the segment, such as the Toyota Tacoma. If you're traveling through uncharted territory, your truck must be ready for anything, and clearance is king. The Ridgeline lacks it.
That said, if you're not inclined to explore parts unknown and don't need to tow more than 5,000 pounds, the Honda Ridgeline is a terrific choice in a personal-use pickup. Believe it or not, it offers more payload capacity than a burly GMC Sierra 2500HD AT4X AEV, drives like a kid-hauling Honda Pilot, and provides so much practicality you might wonder how you've lived without one for this long.
Christian Wardlaw
What's New for the 2024 Honda Ridgeline?
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline comes in Sport, RTL, TrailSport, and Black Edition trim levels. Prices range from the low $40,000s to the high $40,000s, including the destination charge to ship the truck from the Lincoln, Alabama, assembly plant to your local dealership. For this review, I evaluated a Ridgeline TrailSport with extra-cost Radiant Red paint and black tailgate lettering. The manufacturer's suggested retail price was $46,990, including the destination charge.
The TrailSport edition is new for 2024. In addition, Honda has updated the 2024 Ridgeline's in-cab technology, including a new 7.0-inch digital instrumentation panel accompanying an analog speedometer; a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with improved input response and fresh features; a redesigned center console; and minor styling updates related to the grille, wheels, and tailgate.
Mechanically, the 2024 Ridgeline is nearly the same as last year's truck. It still has a 3.5-liter V6 engine making 280 horsepower, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and standard AWD. What's changed is the TrailSport's tires and suspension. It rides on 245/60R18 General Grabber A/T Sport tires for extra grip in various situations, and Honda modified the springs, shocks, and stabilizer bars for an improved off-road ride and slightly better wheel articulation.
Christian Wardlaw
The 2024 Ridgeline Would Benefit From More Ground Clearance
I've driven a Honda Ridgeline off-road at the automaker's proving grounds near California City, California, and in the desert nearby. It churned through deep sand, laterally traversed a steep enough grade to raise my heart rate, and proved wildly fun to drift around on a dirt course. But none of those situations involved ruts or rocks.
I took the TrailSport to a spot near Ojai, California, for this evaluation. The terrain is relatively flat but has enough topographical interest to examine suspension behavior and assess clearances. Upon arrival, it was clear that erosion from a series of recent storms had transformed the area into something more challenging than I wished to attempt in the TrailSport. Plus, deep mud and standing water covered several sections of the trails.
That left me to evaluate the TrailSport on surfaces that even a Honda HR-V could easily tackle, except for a sizable section of ruts to drive across.
As I gingerly picked my way across them, wishing the Ridgeline offered a forward-view camera, the suspension felt soft. And then the left front tire dropped into a deep rut. The suspension cushioned the impact, but the front air dam crunched into the dirt, scraping the black plastic finish. Soon after, I introduced the new skid plate to the ground — the skid plate did its job properly and protected the oil pan. At that point, I'd learned enough, turned around, and headed back to the highway.
Christian Wardlaw
Aside from the run-in with the rut, the Ridgeline handled the Ojai challenge well. All it needs is more clearance — because the traction isn't a problem. In spots where the added wheel articulation didn't keep both rear wheels on the ground, the torque-vectoring AWD ensured power got to the tire still in contact with the dirt.
On the road, the TrailSport feels stiffer than a stock Ridgeline, and the tires add a subtle whir at highway speeds. Neither trait is unpleasant, and Honda's truck continues to offer impressive acceleration, commendable on-pavement handling, and generally more refined driving dynamics than its rivals in the midsize truck segment.
However, during this test, the nine-speed automatic behaved oddly on a cold morning, delivering a single harsh and delayed shift. Also, during my week with the Honda, the transmission allowed the Ridgeline to roll more than I anticipated after choosing Park. Due to that issue, I nearly crunched the front air dam a second time on a tall curb.
Christian Wardlaw
2024 Ridgeline Interior Updates Improve Usability and Style
There is more to the 2024 Ridgeline than the new TrailSport model. The interior adds new instrumentation, an upgraded infotainment system, and a redesigned center console.
Honda combines a highly legible analog speedometer with a new 7.0-inch digital screen featuring a tachometer ring surrounding a configurable data panel. In addition, the truck has a new steering wheel with better-integrated controls. Overall, the look is cleaner and more modern than last year's Ridgeline.
Between the front seats, the new center console sports a wide armrest covering a deep storage bin. It replaces the previous truck's thin adjustable armrests and low console with a tray-top door covering the storage area. As a result, the Ridgeline feels less like a minivan when you're sitting in the driver's seat. Also, nothing gets in the way when you're trying to buckle the seatbelt, as the previous inboard armrests did.
Christian Wardlaw
In the middle of the dashboard, a new infotainment system features a standard 9.0-inch touchscreen, quicker processing speed, upgraded graphics, and improved controls. For example, in addition to a volume knob, there are now radio tuning buttons. The system also adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Black Edition models have a new premium sound system.
During testing, I found the new infotainment system far easier to use and more pleasing than what Honda offered in last year's Ridgeline. Even the voice recognition system, which still isn't conversational, is at least fast and frequently helpful. In addition, the most affordable Ridgeline Sport gets the same infotainment offered in the other trims, making it more appealing than ever.
Collectively, these are welcome improvements. They make the Ridgeline's interior look and feel more modern, refined, and, in the case of the console design, more like a truck.
Christian Wardlaw
Ridgelines Are Great for Typical Instead of Extreme Truck Duty
Though a 2024 Ridgeline can't tow as much weight — or tackle as rugged terrain — as some other midsize pickup trucks, it is an excellent choice if you plan to do neither.
However, newer rivals could prove hard to resist. This year, the 2024 Ford Ranger and 2024 Toyota Tacoma get complete redesigns, closely following the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models that arrived in 2023. Jeep has freshened the 2024 Gladiator, too, a truck that does things the others simply can't — with a softtop roof and removable doors.
Still, like the Jeep, the 2024 Honda Ridgeline differs from your typical pickup truck. Comfortable, refined, and enjoyable to drive on the road, it provides practical features like a dual-action tailgate, an in-bed locking trunk, and plenty of in-cab storage behind the front seats.
That means the Ridgeline is excellent for daily driving Monday through Friday while effortlessly tackling chores, projects, and adventures on the weekends. Just don't head too far off the pavement or attach a trailer weighing more than 5,000 pounds.
Honda provided the vehicle for this 2024 Ridgeline review.
