2020 Honda Ridgeline

header-image
$33,900 - $43,520
Starting Price 
M. Hannigan's image
M. Hannigan 

Content Writer,

Updated on June 6, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Smooth ride quality

Laggy infotaiment touchscreen

9-speed automatic is now standard

Spacious and upscale cabin

Low towing capacity

RT & RTL-T trims discontinued

Long list of standard active safety features

High initial price

Honda Sensing Suite is now standard

Efficient yet powerful powertrain

8-inch touchscreen is now standard

Specs & Features

$33,900

price

280 hp @ 6000 rpm

horsepower

262 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm

torque

9-Speed Automatic

transmission

3.5L 6cyl FWD 9A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline pulls off quite a show in the light pickup segment. This year, the base RT and RTL-T trims were discontinued. Therefore, the available trims in order are Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. The Ridgeline is available for sale with an astounding starting price of $33,900. It gets a 280-hp V6 engine that is now paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission to deliver swift acceleration. Its towing capacity is rated at 5,000 pounds. 

The cabin of the Ridgeline has a good fit and finish and uses plenty of premium materials. It offers ample passenger space in both rows for up to five passengers. However, its infotainment system is not up to the mark. The Ridgeline stands out in the class with top safety ratings and offers an array of standard safety features. The Ridgeline goes head-to-head against the Chevy Colorado, the Toyota Tacoma, and the Nissan Frontier

Buying Advice

The RTL trim is brimmed well in terms of features and hence, it is good to go for. This model adds a moonroof, power-adjustable and heated front seats, power-sliding rear window, leather upholstery. We also recommend upgrading to options such as a heated steering wheel and rear parking sensors for $500 each. 

Comparative Analysis against Competition

With crossover SUVs and pickup trucks more popular than ever, Honda combines the two genres with the innovative 2020 Ridgeline- CarAndDriver

The Honda Ridgeline is more inclined towards refinement and basically built for city roads. It will be an excellent mate for your weekend excursion or fishing trips with your friends and family. Show it some serious off-road stuff and you might get disappointed. Starting at $33,900, the Ridgeline is on the expensive side for a base model of any mid-size truck in the country. However, all the luxury and smoothness sure come at a price.

If you plan on buying the Ridgeline, you'll have to compromise on the ownership costs as they are higher than other competitors. The main reason being it depreciates by nearly $14,500 over a period of five years. The total ownership cost one has to bear, including maintenance, repair, fuel, etc. is around $8,470 per year. The miles per dollar ratio is estimated to be 6.98, which is really good thanks to its solid gas mileage. 

Buying Advice

The RTL trim is brimmed well in terms of features and hence, it is good to go for. This model adds a moonroof, power-adjustable and heated front seats, power-sliding rear window, leather upholstery. We also recommend upgrading to options such as a heated steering wheel and rear parking sensors for $500 each. 

Features
8.0/10

When it comes to versatility, the Ridgeline’s bed is second to none- Kelly Blue Book

For 2020, Honda has dropped the RT and RTL-T trims. So the total trim count of the Ridgeline is four, which are Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. The base price tag of the Ridgeline is $33,900 while the range-topping Black Edition retails at $43,520. Add to that a $1,095 destination fee. Except for the RTL-E and Black Edition models, both FWD and AWD configuration are available. 

Honda offers a few appearance and utility packages for the Ridgeline. The $3,372 Adventure package adds 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, skid plate, black roof rails, sport grille, fender flares, black running board, and crossbars for the Sport, RTL, and RTL-E trims. The Utility Package II adds running boards with lights, silver roof rails, front and rear splashing guards, and crossbars for the same trims at $1,591. 

Trims

Sport

RTL

RTL-E

Black Edition

MSRP (FWD)

$33,900

$36,670

N/A

N/A
MSRP (AWD) $36,140 $38,820 $42,020 $43,520

Key Features

Tri-zone automatic climate control

Adds/ Upgrades to Sport trim Ads/ Upgrades to RTL trim Adds/ Upgrades to RTL-E trim
  8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Power front leather seats In-bed 115V power outlet Black exterior trim
  Push-button start

Heated front seats

Truck bed audio system 18-inch black alloy wheels
 

Fog lights

Power-sliding rear window Satellite radio

Red ambient LED lighting

 

18-Inch alloy wheels

Power moonroof HD radio Special edition leather seats
  7-speaker sound system Heated exterior mirrors 8-speaker audio system  
  Honda Sensing Suite Leather steering wheel Navigation system  
  Proximity entry   Blind-spot monitoring  
  Remote engine start   Rear cross-traffic alert  
      Front & rear parking sensors  
      Heated steering wheel   
      LED headlights  
      Auto-dimming rearview mirror  

There is another appearance package called Outdoor Essentials package that includes mostly the same contents as the Adventure package, except it adds black fender flares and red door sills. It costs only $2,399 as it skips skid plates and 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. 

Fuel Economy
4.0/10

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline is only moderately efficient- The Car Connection

The powertrain of the Honda Ridgeline is almost a symphony delivering excellent fuel economy. In its FWD form, the Ridgeline returns 19 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on a highway, and 22 MPG combined. The AWD models cut the combined fuel economy by 1 MPG. These fuel estimates are on par with other competitors in the segment. 

Unlike its rivals, the Ridgeline gets a small fuel tank measuring 19.5 gallons. Hence, its driving range is less than its rivals. To be correct, the Ridgeline delivers up to 439 miles combined whereas the range falls down to 419 miles for AWD models. Overall, the Ridgeline delivers the best return to the price of gas from the lot.

Model

2020 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab

2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

2020 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

2020 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

MPG (City)

19

19

18

18

MPG (Highway)

26

24

25

24

MPG (Combined)

22

21

20

20

Fuel Tank Capacity (Gallon) 19.5 21.1 21.0 21.1
Range (City/Highway/Combined; Miles) 371/507/439 401/506/453 378/525/451 380/506/443

All the competitors in this segment yield similar fuel estimates. I observed closely, the fuel economy of the Toyota Tacoma is very close to the Ridgeline. Considering the power it makes, even the Nissan Frontier's fuel ratings are good. The Chevy Colorado keeps up with the competition with a good economy and range. 

Interior
8.0/10

This Honda’s cabin is well-designed, well-appointed, and quiet, and it’s arguably the nicest interior in the class -Cars.USNews

The interior of the Honda Ridgeline is along the lines of the Pilot SUV, It's a cockpit-like cabin with an interior wrapped in leather upwards of the RTL trim. The dashboard is made out of soft plastic that meets the lines of luxury and sophistication. The Crew Cab configuration seats up to five people. While the front seats are comfortable and supportive, they are heated and power-adjustable except for the Sport trim. 

Taking the low ground clearance into consideration, the Ridgeline has the lowest seating position in the class. While low seating height can be an issue for some looking for a bird’s eye view from inside of the car. Otherwise, the rear seats are well-cushioned. Getting in and out of the vehicle is not going to be an issue for even people with small bones. Speaking of passenger space, there is plenty of them in both rows. 

An 8-inch touchscreen HondaLink infotainment is standard across the range and supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Garmin-based navigation is available on the top two trims and tends to work well. The infotainment system is not much fun to use, it’s more on the lines of unresponsive, and takes time to get used to. The standard seven speakers are responsible for sound duties but the Black Edition trim gets an 8-speaker audio system. 

Model

2020 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab

2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

2020 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

2020 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

40.1/62.0/40.9

39.7/58.3/42.9

41.4/57.5/45.0

39.9/58.3/42.4

Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

38.8/61.5/36.7

38.3/58.9/32.6

38.3/56.2/35.8

38.6/58.3/33.6

Cargo Space (cu-ft.)

33.9

N/A

49.9

33.5

The Ridgeline comes with just one cargo bed that offers a cargo capacity of 33.9 cu-ft. The bed also has 7.3 cu-ft. in-bed trunk with a lockable and sealable opening. You can store anything from tools to spare tires. The trunk is quite big in size, so big that it can accommodate a full-grown male in it. The trunk has a flusher at the bottom, which means that the trunk can be used as an icebox. The Ridgeline also comes with an in-bed audio system, which is unique in this segment. Some other cabin highlights are:

  • Tilt & telescopic multi-function leather heated steering wheel
  • Power front heated seats
  • Cloth & leather upholstery
  • Auto-dimming rearview mirror
  • Ambient lighting
  • Dual illuminating vanity mirrors
  • Moonroof
  • 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Navigation system
  • Satellite radio
  • 7 & 8-speaker audio system

Exterior
7.0/10

It's not unattractive, but it also doesn't look like it wants to get itself covered in mud at the first opportunity- Carbuzz

The Honda Ridgeline remains unchanged as far as the exterior design is concerned. Upfront, you get the typical Honda grille, not the updated version that updated version that you see in the Pilot. The Black Edition model adds a blacked-out grille with a bronze finish. The top trims come with LED headlights while the lower trims get halogen beams as standard. Also, fog lamps are standard on every Ridgeline. The Ridgeline rides on 18-inch alloy wheels as standard but every single trim does have a different wheel design.

Looking at the measurements, the Ridgeline is the widest truck in the category even without the mirrors. This contributes to better shoulder room in the cabin than its rivals. The low ground clearance makes it easy for the passengers to get in and out of the truck easily. Unlike its rivals, the Ridgeline is a unibody structure which means that the bed and the truck are actually one piece. The rear design of the Ridgeline has a less trucky look than some rivals. However, you do get LED taillights but no exhaust outlets. 

Models

2020 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab

2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

2020 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

2020 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

Curb Weight (lbs)

4,242 4,180  4,251  4,320 

Length (in)

210.0 212.3 224.9 205.5

Width (in)

78.6 75.2 74.3 72.8

Height (in)

70.2 70.6 70.6 70.1

Ground Clearance (in)

7.3 9.4 8.1 8.6

Wheelbase (in)

125.2 127.4 140.5 125.9

Owing to its true off-roading character, the Toyota Tacoma's ground clearance is the highest in this segment.  The Nissan Frontier's wheelbase is almost equal to the Ridgeline but its rear row isn't spacious as one. The Chevy Colorado is less wide than the Ridgeline and this impacts the shoulder room inside. Some main exterior characteristics of the Ridgeline are:

  • LED headlights
  • LED DRLs
  • LED taillights
  • Fog lamps
  • Door courtesy lights
  • Exterior entry lights
  • Heated exterior mirrors
  • 18-inch alloy wheels
  • LED pickup bed light
  • Black grille
  • Dual-action tailgate
  • Black window trim

Safety
8.0/10

The Honda pickup truck also includes a host of driver-assistance technolog- CarAndDriver

The Honda Ridgeline is one of the safest trucks around. It received a perfect 5-star overall safety rating for its crashworthiness. It was also awarded the Top Safety Pick by IIHS, which is the agency's second-highest accolade. Almost all crash tests were rated Good on safety measures. The front crash prevention was given a 'Superior rating. 

Honda has carefully decided that Ridgeline should be the clear pick for anyone who is looking forward to buying a safer truck, if not the safest, which it might pass for. Several driver-assist features can be found as standard on the spec list of Ridgeline. These features can prevent the risk of an accident and ensure a safe ride. Some of them include:

  • Rearview camera
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Forward collision warning
  • Lane keep assist
  • Lane departure warning
  • Road departure mitigation
  • Automatic emergency braking
  • Front & rear parking sensors
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Rear cross-traffic alert

Competition
8.0/10

2020 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs 2020 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 

The Chevrolet Colorado offers two engine options and offers class-leading towing capacity. Its longer bed also contributes to good cargo and payload capacity. However, the Ridgeline has a better fuel economy and offers a smoother ride quality. Inside, both trucks are equally spacious. The Colorado's infotainment system is more user-friendly while the Ridgeline's cabin feels upscale and offers more standard features. Also, the Ridgeline is a better pick in terms of safety.

2020 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs 2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 

Toyota is known for its build and off-road capabilities and the Tacoma only impresses when both of these are concerned. Its towing capacity is also greater but the ride quality of the Ridgeline is better. The Tacoma's rear row feels cramped for adults but its infotainment system is good and it also comes with a longer bed. However, the Ridgeline offers some unique bed features. Like the Ridgeline, the Tacoma also offers a long list of standard driver aids. 

2020 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs 2020 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

The Ridgeline is a better choice than the Nissan Frontier in almost every aspect. Although less powerful, the Ridgeline displays better agility than the Frontier but the latter has a dedicated off-road model. The Frontier's cabin looks outdated and its technology works like it's from a different era. Moreover, the rear row offers less passenger space than the Ridgeline. It also lacks in terms of safety features but beats the Ridgeline when it comes to hauling heavy loads. 

Final Verdict
8.5/10

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline is one powerful contender when the city roads are where you spend most of your time. However, for the wilder ones, who hit the trails more often, the Ridgeline doesn't check the right boxes. For those who tow their belongings around on a regular, this truck might fail you. There are other trucks in the market that are more utilitarian and are more truck-like, unlike the uni-body Ridgeline. For those who carry deep pockets and are city runners, the truck would fit right in the bill. With all the luxury and space, also features like the in-bed trunk and bed speakers, this is surely a rocker for the modern buyers, looking at SUV-like trucks.

Trims

    Sport
    $33,900 onwards
    • Adaptive cruise control
    • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
    • Lane keeping assist
    • Road departure mitigation
    RTL
    $36,670 onwards
    • Heated and power-adjustable front seats
    • Leather-trimmed seats
    • Sunroof
    RTL-E
    $42,020 onwards
    • Blind-Spot monitoring w/ rear cross-traffic alert
    • Navigation system
    • Powerful audio system
    Base
    $43,220 Est. onwards
    • Engine: NULL 1A
    • Horsepower: TBD hp
    • Torque: TBD
    • 0-60 mph: TBD sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: -
    Black Edition
    $43,520 onwards
    • Blacked-Out exterior trim
    • Red-accented leather seats

Compare to similar cars

Price

$33,900- $43,520

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.67

Horsepower

280 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque

262 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$21,300- $37,700

Gasoline

6.44

200 hp @ 6300 rpm

191 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

2

Read Review

$24,110- $38,675

Gasoline

6.89

270 hp @ 5500 rpm

310 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm

4

Read Review

$22,200- $40,000

Gasoline

6.58

200 hp @ 6300 rpm

191 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

2

Read Review

$41,400- $43,000

Gasoline

8.06

308 hp @ 6800 rpm

275 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

5

Read Review

$40,500- $44,300

Gasoline

7.64

308 hp @ 6800 rpm

275 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

5

Read Review

$26,790- $37,490

Gasoline

6.48

310 hp @ 6400 rpm

281 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

4

Read Review

2020 Honda Ridgeline vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    7 sec15.5 sec112 mph
    6 sec14.7 sec110 mph
    8 sec--
    8.2 sec16.3 sec-
    8.7 sec16.8 sec100 mph
    8.7 sec16.8 sec105 mph

    2020 Honda Ridgeline vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      19 mpg26 mpg22 mpg19.5 gal.370.5/507 mi.
      21 mpg26 mpg23 mpg18 gal.378/468 mi.
      20 mpg26 mpg22 mpg21 gal.420/546 mi.
      20 mpg26 mpg22 mpg21 gal.420/546 mi.
      18 mpg24 mpg20 mpg21.1 gal.379.8/506.4 mi.
      18 mpg25 mpg20 mpg21 gal.378/525 mi.

      2020 Honda Ridgeline vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        210 in.78.6 in.70.2 in.7.3 in.125.2 in.
        212.7 in.74.3 in.70.4 in.8.4 in.128.3 in.
        212.7 in.74.3 in.72.2 in.8.9 in.128.3 in.
        212.4 in.74.3 in.70.7 in.8.3 in.128.3 in.
        212.4 in.74.3 in.70.4 in.8.4 in.128.3 in.
        210.8 in.77.8 in.70.7 in.8.4 in.126.8 in.

        2020 Honda Ridgeline vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          7.3 cu.ft.-33.9 cu.ft.
          26.5 cu.ft.38.4 cu.ft.51.8 cu.ft.
          49.9 cu.ft.101.4 cu.ft.49.9 cu.ft.
          41.3 cu.ft.39.2 cu.ft.41.3 cu.ft.
          33.5 cu.ft.-33.5 cu.ft.
          41.3 cu.ft.89 cu.ft.41.3 cu.ft.

          2020 Honda Ridgeline vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            9.9 cu.ft.7.3 cu.ft.33.9 cu.ft.64 ft.
            100.7 cu.ft.26.5 cu.ft.51.8 cu.ft.73 ft.
            70.9 cu.ft.49.9 cu.ft.49.9 cu.ft.74 ft.
            33.5 cu.ft.33.5 cu.ft.33.5 cu.ft.73 ft.
            41.3 cu.ft.41.3 cu.ft.41.3 cu.ft.62 ft.
            33.4 cu.ft.41.3 cu.ft.41.3 cu.ft.62 ft.

            2020 Honda Ridgeline vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              3500 lbs.1465 lbs.4242 lbs.
              7700 lbs.1522 lbs.3980 lbs.
              7500 lbs.1860 lbs.4145 lbs.
              6620 lbs.1460 lbs.4180 lbs.
              5000 lbs.1385 lbs.3926 lbs.
              3500 lbs.1426 lbs.3884 lbs.

              2020 Honda Ridgeline Pickup Truck Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              7

              Recalls

              2

              Investigations

              148

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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