For the latest Honda Ridgeline pricing and information:
https://www.kbb.com/honda/ridgeline/

Walking down the side of a vehicle. Gesturing in its direction. Pausing momentarily to note its newness. Then stepping out of frame.

And that’s the formula for kicking off a KBB video. For every task, there are reliable levers you can pull to improve the odds of success. With pickup trucks, it’s hard to go wrong pulling the “rugged” lever. And that’s what Honda has done with their 2021 Ridgeline. First up, what are the mechanical updates?

Um. Nothing…really.


Great, with that out of the way, let’s talk about what has changed.

The updates for 2021 are mostly focused on style. In the back, a reworked bumper accommodates a new dual exhaust. On the other end, everything forward of the front doors has been changed. That includes a new power bulge hood, new fenders, and a new face.

While we’re up here, it’s tempting to fixate on the grille. So, let’s do that.


Why yes, Honda has pulled the “bigger grille” lever; a proud tradition employed by nearly all truck manufacturers. (competitors) See? To give you a sense of the change, here’s a side by side with the 2020 Ridgeline. The one on the right is certainly squarer.

But is it more attractive?

If you sense hesitation from my eyebrows, you’re not wrong. But hey, attractiveness is subjective and, based on sales data, Americans love big, burly pickups. And this is certainly a burlier Ridgeline. For even more burl, Honda has also introduced the Honda Performance Development Appearance Package (as seen on this particular Ridgeline).

The HPD package amplifies the Ridgeline’s vibe with a unique grille, black fender flares that I’d probably skip, and bronze wheels I kinda dig.

If you’re wondering about the interior, not much has changed beyond some new contrast stitching.

Though the infotainment system has been updated with new graphics and a physical volume knob.

Oh, that’s nice.

Like I said upfront, the mechanical bits carry over from 2020. But as a reminder, that roster includes a 3.5-Liter V6 (280hp, 262 lb-ft) combined with the 9-speed automatic transmission that Honda made standard on in 2020.

And as before, you can get a front-wheel-drive Ridgeline or choose the optional i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system that can send up to 70% percent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels and 100% of that power to either the left or right wheel as conditions demand.

And as long as I’m flinging specs your way, Honda’s pickup still offers a stout 1,580 pounds of payload capacity and a max tow rating of 5,000 pounds.

Plus, the tailgate still does this. There’s still a cool in-bed trunk (7.3 cu-ft). And the rear seats flip out of the way for easy internal cargo loading. All that said, is the 2021 Ridgeline any more capable than the 2020 Ridgeline that preceded it?

No.

But, like a pickup truck knockoff of the cinematic masterpiece She’s All That, maybe all we needed to understand the Ridgeline’s true personality, was a little makeover.