Used 2021 Honda Ridgeline for SaleNationwide

How much does the 2021 Honda Ridgeline cost?

Prices have softened 6.30% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 827 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Honda Ridgeline a good car?

Yes — owners rate it 5/5, and our experts give it 7/10. The standout strength is Form and function at 10/10.

Owners consistently praise its comfort, ride quality, spacious interior, and innovative truck bed and cargo space. The smooth driving experience and practical everyday usability also come through strongly in owner feedback.

On the expert side, the Ridgeline’s stylish design and great handling help it feel more carlike than many pickups, while its powerful engine adds to its appeal. The trade-offs are limited towing and payload capacities, along with no alternate bed or cab configurations.

If you want a pickup that fits daily life well and still feels useful, this model year lines up especially well with that use case. It also sits in a market where 35.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which suggests there are worthwhile options to shop.

Is the 2021 Honda Ridgeline reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

Owner feedback points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with repeated praise for comfort, ride quality, and the kind of practical features that make the truck easy to live with over time. The smooth driving character and spacious cabin also support the sense that this is a vehicle people can count on day to day.

The expert review reinforces that impression by describing the Ridgeline as powerful, smooth, and refined, with all-wheel drive standard and a setup that’s built for regular use rather than drama. It also notes that the truck is cost-competitive in its class, which can help ownership feel more manageable.

Honda’s standard maintenance coverage is not detailed here, so your long-term risk as a used buyer comes down mostly to condition, service history, and how hard the truck was used.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Honda Ridgeline?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 79.1% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on every candidate, because a clean listing percentage does not replace a documented past. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that checks the truck’s body, suspension, brakes, and electronics, and pay close attention to signs of heavy use or poor maintenance. Since this model is valued for comfort and practicality, condition matters a lot when you’re comparing used examples.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Sport trim is the only one with cloth seats, and it comes only in black with a subtle pattern for the inserts. Higher trims add more convenience and luxury features, while the HPD Package can be added to any version for a more aggressive look.
• Powertrain: Every Ridgeline uses a 280-horsepower V6 with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. It’s smooth and refined, but it is not built for rock-crawling, and its modest ground clearance limits off-road ambition.
• Safety package: Honda Sensing is standard and includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning is standard on all but the Sport, and the top trims add automatic high-beam headlights.
• Infotainment: Every Ridgeline gets an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a seven-speaker sound system, text-messaging capability, basic HondaLink connected services, and USB charging ports. Higher trims add SiriusXM, HD Radio, navigation, voice recognition, traffic information, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging.
• Fuel efficiency: No fuel-economy figure is stated in the available data.

Which 2021 Honda Ridgeline trim should I buy?

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline is offered in 4 trim levels: Sport, RTL, RTL-E, Black Edition.

Here's the short version:

• Sport: This is the most affordable way into the Ridgeline, and it still gives you the core appeal: the V6, standard all-wheel drive, the 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Honda Sensing. It’s the best-value choice if you want the Ridgeline’s everyday usefulness without paying for extras you may not need.
• RTL: This trim is the logical step up if you want a more comfortable and better-equipped truck without jumping all the way to the top. It’s the kind of trim that makes sense for shoppers who want a nicer daily driver and are willing to pay for it.
• RTL-E: This is the sweet spot if you want more of the convenience and tech upgrades that make the Ridgeline feel more premium. It’s a strong pick if you plan to keep the truck a while and want a richer feature set.
• Black Edition: This is the most upscale and distinctive version, aimed at buyers who want the most equipment and the boldest appearance. Choose it if you want the top trim and are comfortable paying for the extra style and content.

Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning is standard on all but the Sport, so that trim is the one to watch if those features matter to you.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Honda Ridgeline?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you can shop carefully and still find value.

• Deal availability: 35.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 827 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.30% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 79.1% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $26,766, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Honda Ridgeline's resale value?

The current average of $26,766 sits slightly below last year's $28,565.

That price movement suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer but may temper what a future seller can expect. If you buy at the right price and keep the truck in strong condition, you’ll be better positioned to limit depreciation pain later.

The Ridgeline’s broad appeal as a comfortable, practical pickup should help support demand, especially among shoppers who value everyday usability over maximum truck toughness. A well-kept example with a clean history should remain easier to move than one with visible wear or a rough service record.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Honda Ridgeline safe?

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline earns high safety ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in prior testing, though new testing was still needed after the front-end redesign.

It earns a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

Honda Sensing is standard and includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance. The truck also includes a multi-angle reversing camera, while blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning is standard on all but the Sport and automatic high-beam headlights are reserved for the top trims.

One caveat is that the adaptive cruise control can react too aggressively in some traffic situations, which means you should not treat the system as a substitute for attentive driving. If safety tech is a priority, make sure the specific used truck you’re considering has the features you want.

Should I buy a 2021 Honda Ridgeline or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 35.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 79.1% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.30% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 update gives the Ridgeline a more truck-like look and broader appeal.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $25,320, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $26,766 average.
• It emphasizes comfort and driving refinement over maximum truck capability.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $29,001, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $26,766 average.
• It carries over the 2021 formula with a comfortable cabin and practical everyday usability.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, satisfaction, and current-market availability, the 2021 is the strongest starting point. If you’re especially price-sensitive, the 2020 can save you money while keeping much of the same core appeal.

How does the 2021 Honda Ridgeline compare to the 2021 Ford Ranger?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Honda Ridgeline:

• Pros: Stylish design, Powerful engine, Great handling.
• Cons: No alternate bed or cab configurations, Limited towing and payload capacities.

2021 Ford Ranger:

• Pros: Spacious, Easy-to-use technology, Multiple body styles.
• Cons: Uninspired styling, Interior materials feel cheap, Outdated technology.

Our experts score the 2021 Honda Ridgeline 7/10 and the 2021 Ford Ranger 7/10. The Ridgeline is the better pick if you care most about style, handling, and a more polished driving experience. The Ranger has the edge if you want more body-style choice and a lower starting price. If you need a truck that feels more refined in daily use, the Ridgeline stands out; if you want more configurations and a more traditional pickup setup, the Ranger is the more flexible option.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.