Honda's Ridgeline Pickup Is Getting A Big Redesign. Here's Everything We Know
Honda's aging pickup is getting one last redesign with new styling and an updated V6 engine. Here's what we know.
Things at Honda are a bit chaotic currently. The automaker is facing its first annual profit loss in nearly 70 years, has killed three upcoming electric vehicles, and will supposedly keep producing a handful of current models into the next decade. That includes the Ridgeline pickup—but it won’t look the same.
The Honda Ridgeline is getting old. The second-generation unibody pickup is nearing its 10th birthday, with the current truck going on sale for the 2017 model year. While a third-generation version is still a few years away, an updated model is on the horizon.
A recent report alleges that the automaker will pause Ridgeline production in the fourth quarter of this year and restart it in the third quarter of 2028. The truck will return with new styling and an updated V6 engine designed to meet stricter emissions regulations
We don’t know how drastic the changes will be, but when the Ridgeline returns, it will likely face even more pickups, like the upcoming Ram Dakota and Hyundai’s Santa Cruz replacement. Until then, though, this is everything we know.
What Will Honda Call It?
2028 Honda Ridgeline Rendering By Motor1
Honda launched the Ridgeline 20 years ago. The first-generation pickup had a 3.5-liter V6 engine making 255 horsepower and a 5,000-pound towing capacity. It has an independent suspension and an all-wheel-drive system.
The automaker would halt production between the first and second-generation models, with the pickup absent for the 2015 and 2016 model years. The current Ridgeline went on sale for 2017 and has received several updates, like gaining a new TrailSport trim for 2024.
We expect Honda to continue to use the Ridgeline name, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it puts a bigger emphasis on the TrailSport trim in its next iteration.
What Will It Look Like?
2028 Honda Ridgeline Rendering By Motor1
The updated Ridgeline will ride on the current platform, so the design won’t change radically. However, the styling will get a thorough makeover, and we expect the pickup to adopt cues from the updated Passport, which has been a sales hit, especially the TrailSport trim.
Our rendering depicts the truck with the Passport’s squared-off design. It has an aggressive lower bumper skid plate, a pair of red tow hooks, a slim grille opening with the Honda badge in the middle, a pair of rectangular headlights, and a hood vent for good measure.
At the rear, our Ridgeline rendering has tall taillights with the same T-shaped motif as the Passport. Think of it as a Passport pickup, essentially.
What Will Power It?
2026 Honda Passport V6 Engine
The updated Honda Ridgeline is expected to feature a new V6 engine. The current model has Honda’s 3.5-liter J35Y6 V6 engine. It has single overhead cams and produces 280 hp.
The J35Y8 V6, which has dual overhead cams and is found in the Pilot and Passport, makes 285 hp and lacks VTEC. The Ridgeline could get a version of this engine. Honda is also developing a new V6 engine for its next-generation hybrid system.
This new engine is expected to arrive in a production vehicle next year, before the updated Ridgeline enters production. Honda will also likely replace the truck’s current nine-speed automatic transmission with the 10-speed unit that’s in the Pilot and Passport, which features paddle shifters.
What Platform Will It Ride On?
The current-generation Honda Ridgeline rides on the automaker's PF7 platform, which it shares with the Pilot and Passport. The updated truck will continue to use this architecture, but we would not be surprised if Honda made changes to the platform to increase safety and rigidity.
When Will It Debut?
If the updated Ridgeline is expected to enter production just over two years from now, we likely won’t see the pickup debut until mid-2027 at the earliest. Honda might even wait until early 2028 to show off the new pickup, but when we do see it, it will likely be badged as a 2029 model-year vehicle.
How Much Will It Cost?
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline Sport starts at $42,290, including the $1,495 destination charge. The mid-grade Ridgeline TrailSport has a $46,490 starting price, while the lineup tops out with the Ridgeline Black Edition, with the two-tone paint, at $49,390.
The truck competes with mid-size options like the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and Nissan Frontier, all of which start in the low- to mid-$30,000 range. We expect the updated Ridgeline to remain above the $40,000 to start, and we wouldn’t be shocked if the price crept up to around $45,000 when it arrives.
Here's More Honda News
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Honda's Updated Pickup Truck Arrives In 2028 With A Better V6
Toyota Is Quietly Building A Mid-Engined, All-Wheel-Drive Sports Car
Honda's CEO Survived A Revolt After The Automaker's Worst Year In Decades: Report
Ford's New $30,000 Truck Was Caught Testing—And It's Tiny
One Of America's Favorite Sedans Just Hit A Major Milestone
No, This Isn't The C9 Corvette
Honda's Popular Mid-Size Sedan Is Getting 'Pretty Major' Design Changes