2020 Honda Ridgeline Review

Name: 2020 Honda Ridgeline Review
Brand: Honda
Price: 25995 USD

2020 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition Crew Cab Pickup Exterior

+215

The Ridgeline is for those who want the flexibility and utility of a truck, plus car-like sophistication and comfort. It doesn't ride or drive much like a pickup, but it does the job of one. The Ridgeline is the best truck in its class in terms of roominess, sophistication, and even cargo carrying. But it does give up a little ruggedness compared to its rivals.

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2020 Honda Ridgeline Review

byRyan ZumMallen^{Contributor
Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.}

Pros

Superior ride and handling thanks to independent rear suspension
Unique two-way tailgate and large lockable in-bed trunk
Sophisticated all-wheel-drive system provides multi-surface traction
Spacious crew cab is comfortable and handsomely finished

Cons

Frustrating touchscreen audio and navigation interface
Lacks low-range gearing and underbody clearance of typical trucks
5,000-pound maximum tow rating drops to 3,500 pounds on front-wheel-drive version
Sensitive driver aids are distracting

What's new

New nine-speed transmission replaces outgoing six-speed
Honda Sensing safety features and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now standard
Available trims reduced to Sport, RTL, RTL-E and Black Edition
Part of the second Ridgeline generation introduced for 2017

Overview

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline offers the most car-like experience in the midsize pickup truck segment. Credit goes to the Ridgeline's unibody construction, which helps it provide more noise isolation, ride comfort and interior room than its traditional truck-based rivals. You also get some cool storage tricks, such as a lockable in-bed trunk, that are exclusive to the Ridgeline.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline Sport 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.5L 6cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.01 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$170/mo

$224/mo

Avg. Large Truck

Calculate my fuel costs

Honda continues to offer the Ridgeline with a single engine option, a smooth-spinning 280-horsepower V6. New for 2020 is a standard nine-speed automatic transmission. It replaces the previous six-speed and promises incremental improvements in acceleration and fuel economy. Honda has also tinkered with the Ridgeline's trim levels this year. The biggest change is improved availability of the larger touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

So what's not to like? Well, the big knock on the Ridgeline is that it lacks the rugged off-road ability and attitude of its rivals such as the Chevrolet Colorado, Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma. Buyers of these trucks tend to want that stuff even if they don't plan on using any of it on a regular basis, if at all. But evaluated logically, the Ridgeline is undeniably the most refined, comfortable and roomy truck of the group.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the Ridgeline drive? The Honda Ridgeline stands apart because of its unibody chassis, fully independent suspension and torque-vectoring AWD system that improves stability on all surfaces. We like how the 3.5-liter V6 and nine-speed automatic work together. The catch: Off-road potential is limited.

The Ridgeline is like a crossover SUV in this regard, but with an advanced traction management system that can cope with snow, sand and dirt. Still, it lacks the underbody clearance, wheel articulation and low-range gearing that allows other 4WD pickups to venture into rockier territory. That said, the Ridgeline, with its independent rear suspension, performs better than typical solid-axle trucks on washboard dirt roads.

Comfort

9/10

How comfortable is the Ridgeline? The Ridgeline is much smoother and more composed on a variety of surfaces than the competition. That's because it's the only pickup in its segment with a four-wheel independent suspension. It shrugs off bumps easily, and there's little head toss or jostling.

We also like the Ridgeline's seating. The front seats have a nice shape and supportive padding that provides long-distance comfort. The cushions are broad enough to accommodate larger folks, and effective bolsters prevent those with narrower frames from sliding around. The comfy rear seats are set at a pleasing angle.

Interior

9/10

How’s the interior? The Ridgeline is easy to climb in and out of. Its step-up height is much lower than the Tacoma's, which makes the Ridgeline manageable for shorter folks and those with limited range of motion. Once inside, you'll find that most of the controls are easy to find and use.

The Ridgeline offers the driver and passengers plenty of room, particularly in interior width and rear head- and legroom. It's also pretty easy to see out of. The large windows give a good view out of the front and sides, and the blind spot isn't overly large.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard equipment. But we're not fans of the 8-inch touchscreen audio system because of its wonky volume controls. A full selection of advanced driving safety features are also standard, but execution is again lacking. Honda's forward collision warning system can be very sensitive, for example, and our test Ridgeline had many disconcerting false alarms.

The native voice command interface can control phone, navigation and audio. Commands need to follow certain guidelines, but some plain language commands do work. Press and hold the voice button to bypass this system and get to the much more sophisticated voice commands via your paired phone.

Towing and Storage

8.5/10

How are the towing and storage? The Ridgeline is a solid cargo hauler inside and out. The crew cab has a longer dent-resistant bed than competitors. It also has a lockable in-bed trunk and a two-way tailgate. The bed sides are low enough to allow easy access, and it's the only midsize that can carry 4-by-8 sheets flat on the floor between the wheelwells.

The Ridgeline's payload rating is also very good for the class. Not quite as good is towing capacity — a maximum of 5,000 pounds with AWD. But it isn't too shabby in a truck class where heavy towing isn't a crucial purchase reason.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Ridgeline is pretty efficient as midsize trucks go. The AWD version is rated at 21 mpg combined, and the front-wheel-drive model is good for 22 mpg combined. Pleasingly, we've found these EPA estimates to be accurate in our real-world testing.

Value

8/10

Is the Ridgeline a good value? The Ridgeline is nicely trimmed inside and out. The material choices and overall design have a family-friendly sophistication that trucks, especially in the midsize arena, rarely attempt. Small panel gaps and nice-looking paint make this truck a cut above the rest.

Honda's no-option pricing strategy makes prices look a bit higher at first glance, but it also makes it easy to know the bottom line. Pricing is fairly competitive considering the quality offered.

Wildcard

7.5/10

Remember the Ranchero and the El Camino? They were car-like pickups of limited utility because they were made on a station wagon chassis. The Ridgeline is much better at being a truck because it's based on a smooth-riding and capable crossover SUV chassis that gives it loads of utility.

The Ridgeline won't interest those looking for a rig that plays on its tough-truck image. It's more of a logical truck, a comfy truck, the kind of pickup truck buyers would be quite happy with if they focused on need instead of want. Inevitably, some will not take it seriously and will ignore the good points detailed above. That's a shame.

Which Ridgeline does Edmunds recommend?

We'd opt for the RTL-E because of its long list of standard equipment, as well as features not available on lower trim levels. In this near top-level trim, all-wheel drive is standard as is an uprated audio system, navigation, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a heated steering wheel. The RTL-E also includes a blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic LED headlights.

2020 Honda Ridgeline models

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline is offered in four trim levels: Sport, RTL, RTL-E and Black Edition. All Ridgelines are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque) mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Sport and RTL trim levels, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is an option. The other trims come standard with AWD.

The entry-level Sport comes with much of the same hardware and capabilities of the higher trims. Now standard for 2020 is Honda Sensing, which bundles driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation and automatic emergency braking. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard, as are cloth seats, which are unique to the Sport, and tri-zone climate control.

Moving up to the RTL adds creature comforts such as leather-trimmed seats, heated and power-adjustable front seats, a sunroof and a power-sliding rear window. And the step to the RTL-E brings even more, with a powerful audio system, navigation, and a truck-bed power outlet as well as blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The top-of-the-line Black Edition has the same features as the RTL-E but comes with blacked-out exterior trim and wheels plus red-accented leather seats.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#5 out of 8 among Midsize Trucks

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Honda Ridgeline from 2008-2022.}

$429/yr

vs. $451/yr
for Average Midsize Truck

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.87x/yr

vs. 0.79x/yr
for Average Midsize Truck

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

15.7%

vs. 13.6%
for Average Midsize Truck

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Honda Ridgeline.

5 (64%)

4 (18%)

3 (5%)

2 (5%)

1 (8%)

4.3

70 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Luxury Truck With Incredible Resale Value

Paul, 06/22/2020

2020 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (3.5L 6cyl 9A)

Owned a Dodge Dakota that treated me well but it's time had come. Wasn't looking for a brand new truck, so I test drove a few used ones that had ~30k miles on them. After driving a Tacoma, F-150, and a 2019 Ridgeline with 30k miles, the Ridgeline was truly in a class of its own. Drives like a luxury car, but can do everything I need a truck to do - tow my boat, haul mulch and other stuff …

Best Outdoorsman truck for Upper Michigan!

Keweenaw Born, 12/14/2020

2020 Honda Ridgeline Sport 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (3.5L 6cyl 9A)

Dec ‘22 update: No issues to report. I don’t like the Firestone tires and can’t wait to put new ones on. I highly recommend Cooper Discover AT3s. I’ve had those on other vehicles and they’re very grippy in winter, quite and wear very well. I’ll wait another year before investing $1000 on new tires though Dec ’21 update (almost 2 yrs owned): Everything I’ve said below still holds true. I … have almost 30,000 mi on it and have had no issues. The trunk and the wide bed are the best parts of the truck. I have a 2015 Honda Rubicon and it easily fits in the bed with room to spare. In the summer I average ~25mpg, in the winter (cold & winter blend fuel) ~21mpg. The AWD system is amazing and keeps me planted no matter the road conditions - and in Upper Michigan I’ve had it out on BAD roads. The ride is so nice my wife prefers us taking the Ridgeline on longer trips than her Accord. The engine/transmission is the smoothest I’ve ever driven - you can’t tell when it shifts. I travel a lot for work and have had many car/truck rentals and I’ve yet to drive a vehicle I prefer over my Ridgeline. It’s not too big, not too small, has plenty of storage, great mpg, great power, awesome handling, awesome AWD, awesome ride quality. Perfect. If you know about Michigan's Upper peninsula, then you know they get snow. LOTS of snow. They also have lots of dirt roads, ATV trails, great hunting and fishing, and everything an outdoorsman wants. In my experience, the Honda Ridgeline is the PERFECT truck for the outdoorsman - no contest! It's iVTM-4 AWD system keeps the truck "stuck to the road" no matter how much snow or slippery the road is; all without the driver needing to do anything other than put it in "snow mode" if they want. No more questioning whether you should put your truck in 4WD or not, or whether you should lock in the diffs. No worrying about if you're going to fast to put it in 4WD or not - just drive and let the Ridgeline do all the worrying. Off-roading - it does that perfectly as well. Now while we don't have a Rubicon trail here, it has easily handled all roads and trails I've thrown at it. Have logging trucks rutted up the road to camp in the spring? No worries, the Ridgeline will get you there! Want to drive out to Keystone Bay past the end of Highway 41? No problem! There's nothing in MI or WI that has gotten the Ridgeline stuck. Want to haul your ATV to camp? I can easily fit my 2013 Honda Rubicon in the back with room to spare. Want to haul 4 kids, food, water, generator, chain saw, gas AND the ATV to the cabin? Throw everything but the kids in the trunk, drive the ATV up in the back, load the kids up with their electronics in the spacious cab and go! No more spending hours trying to figure out how to pack all the food, gear, luggage AND kids in the cab while still bringing the ATV. The trunk is awesome and you'll find a million uses for it. Is camp or the cabin a 100+ miles away? Not to worry - you'll get 22+ MPG hauling the family, all the gear AND the ATV in the back. With just you commuting to work you'll get 23+ MPG. Have to drive downstate on the interstate for hours? 26+ MPG. The Ridgeline is awesome! The ride, handling, size of the cabin, versatility - it's all excellent. And how much does all this cost? Mine was mid-$30's - CONSIDERABLY less than other trucks that you'll have to compromise ride, traction, handling, storage, MPG, etc. with. I'm a truck guy (and a Yooper) so I didn't want leather, sunroof, or fancy bells and whistles. Just give me an old-school cloth interior with manual adjusting seats and I'll keep my $3000 thank you. Anyway, don't let people tell you it's not a truck. Or get sucked into the "frail male ego" syndrome which compels you to buy a body-on-frame truck because otherwise you're not a real man. Show them you're smarter than the average bear and buy the Swiss army knife of trucks - the Honda Ridgeline. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Modern day Elcamino

Vince Coppeto, 09/03/2020

2020 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (3.5L 6cyl 9A)

I had a Ford f-150 4x4 which I traded for my Ridgeline. I don't tow, hunt, fish, go off roading. I belong to a HOT ROD group of guys that like to help each other out with our projects. Each one of us has his specialty, upholstery, paint, wiring and suspension. Mine is engine. I need a truck in name only to haul engines and parts to the machine shop and back, or to someone's house. …

2020 Honda Ridgeline

Chris, 05/11/2020

2020 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (3.5L 6cyl 9A)

The Ridgeline is the perfect vehicle for me. I need a pickup truck to haul motorcycles and parts. The towing capacity is only 5000 pounds which is more than enough for my needs. If you need to haul heavy loads you might as well buy a full size pickup. The Ridgeline rides like a dream. The storage is tremendous. I am more than happy with this vehicle.

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2020 Ridgeline Highlights

Trim:

Sport

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$33,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$170/month
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	3,500 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Ridgeline models:

Collision Mitigation Braking: Warns the driver of a possible forward collision and engages the brakes to reduce the severity of a front impact.
Adaptive Cruise Control: Manages following distance as well as speed, and it can be switched to speed-only mode if desired.
Multi-Angle Rearview Camera: Gives the driver a clear view behind the truck, which can be especially useful when the bed or cabin is full or when connecting a trailer.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16.4%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Acceptable
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2020 Honda Ridgeline Review

2020 Honda Ridgeline Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline Sport 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.5L 6cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.01 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Towing and Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Ridgeline does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Honda Ridgeline models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Luxury Truck With Incredible Resale Value

Best Outdoorsman truck for Upper Michigan!

Modern day Elcamino

2020 Honda Ridgeline

2020 Ridgeline Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline Sport 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.5L 6cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.01 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}