In nearly 20 years on the US market, Honda’s midsize pickup has carved out a niche. It’s known for providing most of the practicality of a pickup truck with all of the on-road composure and comfort of an SUV. Still in its second generation, the Ridgeline gets some significant enhancements to that comfort for 2024, while also adding some off-road capability to its repertoire.

What’s New for the 2024 Honda Ridgeline

The big news is that the Ridgeline is getting the TrailSport treatment for 2024. Though the trim is new to the Ridgeline lineup, we’ve seen it on other Honda models. (The Honda Passport SUV, for example, also just got a TrailSport trim for the 2024 model year.) That earns the Ridgeline a spot, for the first time, on the lists of shoppers who need a touch of off-road ability in their pickup truck.

Design

The Ridgeline’s exterior styling carries over more or less unchanged for 2024, save for a few minor updates: Most notably, the truck now has its model name spelled out across the tailgate. “Diffused Sky,” a bright enamel blue color previously seen on the Pilot and the Passport, is now available, though exclusive to the TrailSport trim. The trim also gets black trim pieces, a more rugged grille, and unique 18-inch wheels, and it sports orange TrailSport badges.

Powertrain

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine making 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard with Honda’s i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive (AWD) system and can tow up to 5,000 lbs. The new Ridgeline TrailSport has a specially tuned suspension to allow for better articulation off-road, and it also comes equipped with all-terrain tires and with steel skid plates to protect the underbody from damage while traversing rocks. The unibody Ridgeline has earned a reputation for distinctly un-truck-like on-road manners, and Honda says we should expect the same from the TrailSport in spite of the measures taken to optimize its suspension for off-road adventures.

Interior

Like the Honda Passport, the Ridgeline gets a center console redesign for 2024. The storage bin now doubles as an armrest, making the fold-down, seat-mounted armrests a thing of the past, and Honda emphasized storage space in the new console. There’s room for two smartphones to lie side by side in front of the gear shifter, the console bin is large enough to fit a full-sized tablet, and even the cupholders are larger than they were last year.

The new TrailSport trim features orange accents inside, and the Ridgeline retains Honda’s clever flip-up rear seats, which can be locked against the rear wall of the cabin to provide more covered cargo space when the bed just won’t cut it.

Technology

Technology was the one area that significantly lowered the 2023 Ridgeline’s overall score in testing by CarGurus experts. Clearly, Honda was aware that it left something to be desired, and they’ve taken steps to improve matters for 2024. The Ridgeline now comes standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, and the infotainment system itself has been updated with a faster processor for better response. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard, along with a wireless charging pad, which was previously limited to the top two trims. 2024 also sees the introduction of a new standard 7-inch digital driver-information display.

Safety

The Ridgeline continues to come standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver-assistance tech. For 2023, this did not include standard blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert systems–both were available, but only on higher trims. Likewise, front and rear parking sensors are traditionally a higher-trim feature for the Ridgeline, which we expect to be true into 2024 as well. However, 2024 Ridgeline buyers can all expect adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, and more. The 2023 model earned high marks in crash testing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), losing a star only on rollover resistance, a challenge typical of its class.

Pricing

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is due at dealerships this winter. Honda has not shared pricing information as of this writing, but because it continues the second generation, we expect the 2024 Ridgeline to be offered with only modest increases for the new model year. The new TrailSport trim will likely sit at the higher end of the Ridgeline’s pricing spectrum.