As a genuinely midsize pickup truck with car-like driving manners, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline occupies a sweet niche. The other two pickups based on a unibody chassis, the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, are significantly smaller vehicles (with commensurately lower prices). At the same time, the Ridgeline is not so big as to be ungainly around town.
And it can work. Even though it doesn’t have a traditional body-on-frame chassis, the V6-powered 2023 Honda Ridgeline can tow up to 5,000 pounds, and its max payload capacity is 1,583 pounds. You can haul a motorcycle in the bed as long as you lower the tailgate.
What’s more, the relatively small cadre of Ridgeline owners out there greatly appreciates the outstanding versatility of the vehicle. On one hand, it’s a comfortable 5-seat crossover SUV that works well as a family hauler. On the other, it’s a decent-size pickup that can, say, pick up a pallet’s worth of mulch.
An in-bed storage compartment and a fold-up rear seat that makes it easy to carry large potted plants or a big-screen TV in the security of the cabin greatly enhance the Ridgeline’s versatility. Even when you use the rear seats, a handy amount of storage is available beneath them.
Although 2023 is a quiet year for the Ridgeline, there is some welcome news: All 2023 Honda Ridgeline models now come with Honda Service Pass, a name applied to free factory-scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first.
As before, the Honda Ridgeline isn’t available with many individual factory options; the company chose instead to curate its trim levels in ways it feels will be popular with buyers.
The two most notable options are the HPD (Honda Performance Development) Bronze and Black Packages, which include flared fenders and attractive 18-inch HPD wheels, plus a unique grille, emblem, and graphics.
You can also order a 2023 Honda Ridgeline with a Utility Package (running boards, roof rails, crossbars). Also available: a Function+ Package that includes a hard tonneau cover, bed cargo net, trunk cargo net, trunk dividers, and a first-aid kit.
Ridgeline Sport
- 3.5-liter V6 with 280 horsepower
- All-wheel drive
- Lockable in-bed trunk
- Class III trailer hitch
- 7-speaker audio system
- Tri-zone automatic climate control
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- 8-inch audio touchscreen
- Adaptive cruise control
- See more features or see listings
Ridgeline RT-L
- Leather upholstery
- Moonroof
- Power front seats with heat
- Memory for driver’s seat
- SiriusXM satellite radio
- Power sliding rear window
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- See more features or see listings
Ridgeline RTL-E
- Truck-bed audio system
- 8-speaker audio system
- Wireless smartphone charger
- Navigation
- Parking sensors front and rear
- Power outlet in bed
- Illuminated front cupholders
- Blue ambient interior lighting
- See more features or see listings
Ridgeline Black Edition
- Black exterior trim accents
- Black Edition leather seats
- Red ambient interior lighting
- Available in black, white or gray
- Black 18-inch alloy wheels
- See more features or see listings
2023 Honda Ridgeline Sport
Like all 2023 Honda Ridgeline models, the Sport employs a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine and a 9-speed automatic transmission with push-button controllers. Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system is standard. In addition to variable cylinder deactivation (which is largely unnoticeable but helps to improve fuel economy), the Ridgeline Sport comes with remote start, hill start assist, and idle stop/start.
A thorough safety suite also is standard. Called Honda Sensing, it includes automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, plus a lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, and road-departure mitigation.
What else do you get with the Sport? Manual seats with durable black cloth, plus a 60/40-split rear bench that folds up to create more room in the back of the cab for cargo. The Ridgeline Sport also has a proximity key fob, a push-button starter, power mirrors, rear privacy glass, Shark Gray 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic on/off LED headlights, LED taillights, and LED foglights.
The Ridgeline’s durable composite bed features heavy-duty tie-down cleats, bed lighting, and perhaps the most popular feature: a lockable in-bed trunk with a drain plug, which means you can use it for ice and beverages at your next tailgate party.
And speaking of the Ridgeline Sport’s tailgate: It’s a dual-action unit that can be lowered conventionally or opened via a side hinge when you need to get closer to cargo in the bed. Also standard: an integrated Class III trailer hitch and a 7-pin wiring connector.
Comfort and convenience features on the Ridgeline Sport include power windows (with 1-touch up/down for the front windows), power door locks, and even a tailgate lock. You’ll also find a tilt/telescope steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a rear window defroster.
Infotainment and connectivity features center around an 8-inch color touchscreen with HondaLink, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto integration, and a 7-speaker audio system with a powered subwoofer. Two 12-volt power outlets complement two USB ports.
Dual-action tailgate – This tailgate can be lowered like a traditional pickup tailgate or swung out via a side hinge. It’s lockable, too.
In-bed trunk – This large compartment, set within the bed floor, helps keep expensive gear and tools securely out of sight. Its drain plug can convert it into an impromptu cooler.
Honda Sensing – This standard safety suite helps prevent the Ridgeline from getting into collisions.
See 2023 Honda Ridgeline Sport models for sale near you
2023 Honda Ridgeline RTL vs. Sport
The Ridgeline RTL costs only about $3,000 more than a Sport but includes many extra features.
These include two safety features we really like — a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. Also along for the upgrade to RTL are heated side mirrors (with integrated turn signals) and an acoustic windshield (that reduces cabin noise), plus a power sunroof and a power sliding rear window.
Inside, the RTL features leather-covered seats, the driver getting a 10-way power-adjustable seat with power lumbar and two-position memory. The front passenger seat is also powered, with 4-way adjustability. Heated front seats are standard in the RTL.
Other RTL niceties? In addition to a leather-wrapped steering wheel and LED map lights, you get illuminated vanity mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and SiriusXM satellite radio.
Leather upholstery – This ups the luxury quotient of the Ridgeline significantly while being easier to clean.
Power sliding rear window – With the back window and side glass open, airflow through the Ridgeline cabin is refreshing.
Blind-spot monitor – Lets the driver know when a vehicle is in the Ridgeline’s rear three-quarter blind spot, making lane changes much safer.
See 2023 Honda Ridgeline RTL models for sale near you
2023 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E
In the luxurious RTL-E trim, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline comes with LED daytime running lights, LED truck bed lights, and automatic high-beam headlights. Also standard on the RTL-E are front and rear parking sensors and a handy 150-watt/400-watt power outlet in the bed.
Inside, the Ridgeline RTL-E is distinguished by a heated steering wheel, courtesy lights in the front doors, illuminated cup holders, and blue ambient lighting.
The RTL-E also has Honda satellite-based navigation (with turn-by-turn directions) and an 8-speaker premium audio system. The bed of the RTL-E even has its own audio system, which uses six exciters inside the bed wall in place of conventional speakers. Additional features rounding out the RTL-E Ridgeline are a wireless charging pad, a built-in compass, and a pair of rear USB charging ports.
GPS navigation – Since it doesn’t rely on a cell signal, this nav system works anywhere a satellite can see it. Includes voice recognition and traffic monitoring to help find the least congested routes.
In-bed audio – Perfect for tailgating. Waterproof and with more than enough volume.
150-watt/400-watt power outlet – Provides plenty of power to run your compressor or charge your tools.
See 2023 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E models for sale near you
2023 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition vs. RTL-E
Continuing its position as the top Honda Ridgeline is the Black Edition.
Based on the RLT-E, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition lives up to its name with black exterior accents and gloss-black 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, you’ll find black leather seats (with red inserts and matching stitching), a black headliner, and red ambient lighting. Red light also graces the cupholders, door handle cutouts, and storage pockets. Even the infotainment touch screen has unique red backlighting.
Gloss-black alloy wheels – These wheels give the Ridgeline Black Edition a rough and ready look.
Black Edition leather seats – With their stitched Black Edition logos and deep red inserts and stitching, these leather seats let you know you’re in a special Ridgeline.
Red ambient lighting – Something seemingly as subtle as interior lighting can significantly impact how you feel about a vehicle.
See 2023 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition models for sale near you
