2026 Honda Ridgeline: From Bed Trunk to Desert Drifter

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline takes a different approach to the midsize pickup truck.

Instead of chasing maximum towing numbers or trying to feel like a heavy-duty work truck, the Ridgeline combines genuine pickup utility with a comfortable cabin, standard all-wheel drive, a smooth V6, and several clever cargo features you will not find on most conventional pickups.

At Anderson Honda in Kingman, Arizona, that combination makes the Ridgeline especially interesting for drivers who need a truck for everyday work, home projects, boating, camping, outdoor recreation, and longer highway trips—but still want something comfortable enough to drive every day.

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What’s New for the 2026 Honda Ridgeline?

The Ridgeline’s basic formula carries forward for 2026, but Honda added a couple of notable appearance options.

New for 2026:

• Ash Green Metallic is available exclusively on TrailSport
• Contrasting black roof is available on Black Edition with select exterior colors

Honda also marks an important milestone in 2026: 20 years since the launch of the original Ridgeline.

Over those two decades, the Ridgeline has continued to stand apart with Honda-specific features such as its Dual-Action Tailgate, lockable In-Bed Trunk®, flat truck bed, independent suspension, and unibody construction.

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2026 Ridgeline V6 Power & Standard AWD

Every 2026 Honda Ridgeline uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing:

• 280 horsepower
• 262 lb-ft of torque

The V6 is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

Unlike many midsize pickups where four-wheel drive or AWD is an added-cost option, every 2026 Ridgeline includes Honda’s i-VTM4® torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system.

The system can distribute torque between the front and rear axles and between the rear wheels to help improve traction and handling.

Ridgeline also includes Intelligent Traction Management with:

• Normal
• Snow
• Sand
• Mud

That gives the Ridgeline additional flexibility when road and surface conditions change.

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How Much Can the 2026 Honda Ridgeline Tow?

Every 2026 Ridgeline can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Honda also makes an integrated Class III trailer hitch with a 7-pin connector standard on every trim.

That capacity is useful for many:

• Small boats
• Utility trailers
• Campers
• ATVs and recreational equipment
• Home and work projects

For drivers around Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Bullhead City, that makes the Ridgeline a practical option for weekends involving the lake, camping, or recreational equipment without requiring a larger full-size truck.

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Payload Capacity

Payload varies slightly by trim because additional equipment adds weight.

Honda lists maximum payload capacities of:

• Sport: 1,583 pounds
• RTL: 1,544 pounds
• TrailSport: 1,521 pounds
• Black Edition: 1,509 pounds

That gives the Ridgeline useful hauling capability for tools, building supplies, camping equipment, coolers, bicycles, and other everyday cargo.

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The Ridgeline Bed Is Where Things Get Interesting

The Ridgeline’s bed is one of the biggest reasons it feels different from other midsize pickups.

Every trim includes:

• 64-inch bed with the tailgate closed
• 83-inch loading length with the tailgate down
• 33.9 cubic feet of truck-bed volume
• 50 inches of width between the wheel wells
• Eight heavy-duty tie-down cleats
• Integrated bed lighting

The bed is wide enough between the wheel wells to accommodate 4-by-8-foot sheets of building material laid flat, something that can be particularly useful for home-improvement projects.

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Dual-Action Tailgate

Honda’s Dual-Action Tailgate can open in two different ways.

It can fold downward like a conventional pickup tailgate or swing open sideways.

The side-opening design makes it easier to stand closer to the bed when loading cargo and provides much easier access to one of the Ridgeline’s signature features: the In-Bed Trunk®.

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The Lockable In-Bed Trunk®

Beneath the Ridgeline’s bed is a 7.3-cubic-foot lockable In-Bed Trunk®.

It provides hidden, weather-resistant storage without taking away usable bed space.

The trunk also has a drain plug, which gives it several practical uses:

• Secure storage for tools or gear
• Keeping valuables out of sight
• Storing muddy or wet equipment separately from the cabin
• Using the compartment as an ice chest for tailgating, camping, or lake trips

For Arizona drivers carrying fishing equipment, tools, recovery gear, groceries, or outdoor equipment, it is one of the Ridgeline’s most useful everyday features.

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A Truck with a Comfortable Interior

The Ridgeline seats five passengers and is designed to feel more like a comfortable Honda SUV from behind the wheel than a traditional work truck.

Passenger measurements include:

• 40.9 inches of front legroom
• 36.7 inches of rear legroom

The rear seat also uses a 60/40 split lift-up design.

Folding the seat bottoms upward creates a tall interior cargo area for items you may not want to leave in the truck bed, such as luggage, electronics, groceries, pets, or other valuable equipment.

There is also additional storage beneath the rear seat.

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Standard Technology Is Better Than the Old Draft Suggested

Every 2026 Ridgeline comes standard with:

• 9-inch color touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay®
• Wireless Android Auto™
• Wireless phone charger
• HondaLink®
• USB-A data connection
• USB-C charging
• 7-inch digital driver display
• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Remote engine start

That means shoppers do not have to move into an upper trim simply to get wireless smartphone integration or a larger center touchscreen.

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Honda Sensing® Comes Standard

Every 2026 Honda Ridgeline includes Honda Sensing® and additional driver-assist technologies.

Standard features include:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System™
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Blind Spot Information System
• Cross Traffic Monitor
• Auto High-Beam Headlights
• Multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines

TrailSport and Black Edition also add front and rear parking sensors.

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2026 Honda Ridgeline Trims Explained

Ridgeline Sport — The Smart Starting Point

The Sport is the entry point into the lineup, but it still comes standard with most of the Ridgeline’s fundamental truck capability.

Highlights include:

• 280-hp V6
• Standard i-VTM4® AWD
• 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity
• Integrated Class III hitch
• Dual-Action Tailgate
• Lockable In-Bed Trunk®
• 9-inch touchscreen
• Wireless smartphone connectivity
• Honda Sensing®
• 18-inch alloy wheels

Best for: drivers who want the Ridgeline’s core utility and standard AWD at the lowest starting price.

Ridgeline RTL — The Comfort Sweet Spot

The RTL adds a substantial comfort upgrade.

Highlights include:

• Leather-trimmed seating
• Heated front seats
• 10-way power driver’s seat with memory
• 4-way power front passenger seat
• One-touch power moonroof
• Power sliding rear window
• Heated side mirrors
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• HomeLink®

Best for: shoppers who use their truck every day and want more comfort without needing the TrailSport’s off-road equipment.

Ridgeline TrailSport — The Adventure Pick

The TrailSport gives the Ridgeline a more trail-focused setup.

Highlights include:

• Off-road-tuned suspension
• All-terrain tires
• Skid plate
• TrailSport 18-inch wheels
• Trail Orange interior stitching
• Heated steering wheel
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™
• TrailSport all-season floor mats

For 2026, TrailSport is also available in the exclusive Ash Green Metallic exterior color.

Best for: drivers who regularly use dirt roads, campsites, trail access roads, or rougher terrain and want additional capability without giving up the Ridgeline’s everyday comfort.

Ridgeline Black Edition — The Premium Choice

The Black Edition sits at the top of the Ridgeline lineup.

Highlights include:

• 18-inch Berlina Black alloy wheels
• Black Edition exterior trim
• Leather-trimmed seating with red accents
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear outboard seats
• 540-watt premium audio system
• Red ambient interior lighting
• LED truck-bed lighting
• 150-watt / 400-watt truck-bed power outlet
• Navigation
• Heated steering wheel

For 2026, select Black Edition colors can also be ordered with a contrasting black roof.

Best for: buyers who want the Ridgeline’s utility with its highest level of comfort, technology, and distinctive styling.

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Quick “Which Ridgeline Should I Get?” Guide

• Best value: Sport
• Best everyday balance: RTL
• Best for dirt roads and outdoor recreation: TrailSport
• Best premium choice: Black Edition

For many buyers, RTL is the sweet spot. You retain the same V6, AWD system, towing capacity, bed, and In-Bed Trunk® while gaining leather seating, heated seats, a moonroof, power seats, and additional convenience features.

The TrailSport makes more sense if you will actually benefit from its all-terrain tires, skid plate, and off-road suspension.

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2026 Honda Ridgeline Fuel Economy

EPA-estimated fuel economy varies slightly by trim:

• Sport: 18 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg
• RTL: 18 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg
• TrailSport: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined mpg
• Black Edition: 18 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg

The TrailSport’s all-terrain tires and off-road-focused setup account for its small highway fuel-economy difference.

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20 Years of Doing Trucks Differently

The 2026 model year marks 20 years since Honda introduced the first-generation Ridgeline.

From the beginning, Honda approached the pickup differently, introducing ideas such as the In-Bed Trunk® and Dual-Action Tailgate while focusing heavily on ride comfort, passenger space, and everyday usability.

The current Ridgeline also continues to be built at Honda’s Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, Alabama using domestic and globally sourced parts.

And the unconventional formula continues to earn recognition. The 2026 Honda Ridgeline was named one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cars for Families and earned recognition as a 2026 Best Value New Car from Cars.com.

Those honors reinforce what has always made the Ridgeline unusual: it is designed to work as both a pickup truck and a comfortable everyday family vehicle.

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Why the Ridgeline Makes Sense in Kingman and Northwestern Arizona

The Ridgeline fits a specific kind of truck buyer in Kingman and northwestern Arizona.

You may need a bed for weekend projects, a hitch for a small boat or trailer, AWD for changing road surfaces, and space for camping or outdoor gear—but still spend most of your week commuting, running errands, or driving longer stretches of highway.

That is exactly where the Ridgeline’s balance becomes valuable.

Kingman’s location near I-40 and US-93 means local drivers routinely put on highway miles traveling toward Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Las Vegas, or destinations farther across Arizona.

The Ridgeline’s comfortable independent suspension, five-passenger cabin, standard AWD, and 18/24 mpg EPA rating on most trims make it well suited to those longer drives.

Then, when the weekend arrives, you still have:

• 5,000 pounds of towing capacity
• Up to 1,583 pounds of payload capacity
• 33.9 cubic feet of truck-bed volume
• A lockable 7.3-cubic-foot In-Bed Trunk®
• Standard AWD
• A bed wide enough for 4-by-8-foot building materials

That combination can work particularly well for boating trips, camping, home projects, outdoor recreation, and hauling gear around Mohave County without requiring a larger truck than you actually need.

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Is the 2026 Honda Ridgeline a “Real Truck”?

The Ridgeline does not use the same body-on-frame construction as many traditional pickups, and that is intentional.

Its unibody construction and independent suspension help give it the smoother, more controlled ride that distinguishes it from many conventional trucks.

At the same time, every Ridgeline still gives you:

• A pickup bed
• 5,000-pound towing capacity
• More than 1,500 pounds of available payload capacity depending on trim
• Standard AWD
• Integrated Class III trailer hitch
• Multiple traction modes
• Dual-Action Tailgate
• Lockable In-Bed Trunk®

So the better question is not whether the Ridgeline follows traditional pickup conventions.

It is whether its combination of capability, storage, comfort, and everyday drivability fits what you actually need a truck to do.

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Shop the 2026 Honda Ridgeline at Anderson Honda

If you want a midsize pickup that can haul, tow, handle Arizona road trips, and still feel comfortable during everyday driving, come experience the 2026 Honda Ridgeline at Anderson Honda in Kingman, Arizona.

Compare Sport, RTL, TrailSport, and Black Edition models and find the combination of comfort, capability, and utility that fits the way you use your truck.

🛻 Shop Honda Ridgeline Inventory

🏠 Visit Anderson Honda

-TJ

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