There are a number of unique features that distinguish the Honda Ridgeline from most of its competitors.
There is no question that traditional body-on-frame pickup trucks have become more popular in the midsize pickup truck segment thanks to their ability to tow and go off-road.
For those seeking a more comfortable and fuel-efficient vehicle, the Ridgeline is the best choice.
The Honda Ridgeline has undergone several upgrades over the course of the past few years that have seen it become more and more of a superstar, with few trucks being able to compare.
As we’ll only be getting a rollover with no changes in 2023, we won’t see any changes from what we got in 2022.
In addition to that, we’ll take a look at 5 things you should know before buying the Honda Ridgeline, whether you decide to buy the 2022 or 2023 model.
What To Expect With The 2023 Honda Ridgeline?
Before taking a deep dive into those important things you need to know before buying, let’s take a quick look at what to expect from the truck.
Powerful Engine
To start with, the Ridgeline will be coming with the three-and-a-half liter V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque while also being connected to a 9-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive also coming as standard.
The engine will be pretty cool, and it is extremely competent on the road. However, one notable small floor is Ridgeline’s braking performance.
Packed Interior
Interior features will also be based on practicality and comfort with Honda choosing to load up the Ridgeline with cool features while also having the cabin designed and built with materials that are above average.
An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a physical volume knob as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities will also add to the standard infotainment features to come with the truck.
Safety Features
The Ridgeline will also not be short of driver assistance features as it will be getting a host of them, including forward Collision warning, automated emergency braking, Lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.
The Price
The base Ridgeline will cost around $40,095, while its black edition top trim will have a price close to the $50,000 mark. With all these said, now let’s take a look at the breakdown of things you’ll need to know regarding the Honda Ridgeline.
5 Things To Know Before Buying A 2023 Honda Ridgeline
The Ridgeline is perhaps the most interesting because it combines the best qualities of crossovers and midsize trucks. It’s very hard to beat the Ridgeline’s combination of power, features, handling, and comfort.
This is why buyers in the market for a well-rounded pickup should strongly consider it. However, here are some things you should know before you buy the truck.
1. Available In Four Trims
It is available in four trims. Just as seen with the 2022 variant, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline will be getting four trims which are:
- The Black Edition
- The Base Model
- RTL
- RTL-E
The base model is the Ridgeline Sport, and even though it is still a decent option, it doesn’t really have much in terms of features to really show what you can expect with the others.
Although all the trims of the Ridgeline will be based on Honda’s Styler developing a fuel-efficient and comfy pickup, the base model offers little in terms of features and compared to the RTL trim that comes second in the lineup the difference is quite evident.
Suppose you’re interested in an option that offers you a mix of value and a couple of other desirable features then the RTL is worth considering.
And the interesting thing about it is that it only costs three thousand dollars more than the sport trim. The RTL trim will come with a leather-trimmed cabin comprising heated front seats and power-adjustable seats.
The Black Edition top trim will also be one to look out for as it does come with a leather-trimmed interior, ambient lighting, and a range of features based on infotainment and also how the interior is loaded.
2. Price
Well, even though nothing really changes when you look at both trucks for the 2022 and 2023 model years, the new Ridgeline will experience a slight increase in price from what was offered with its predecessor.
But in 2023, the base sport trim will have a price of forty thousand ninety-five dollars while the value-oriented RTL will cost $43,075.
Also, the third RTL-E trim will be available for around $46,025; for the top trim, buyers should be ready to pay around $47,525 for this truck.
Compared with its main rivals, the Honda Ridgeline represents the pickup truck in its range that comes with the highest starting price.
The truck’s main rivals will be the Jeep Gladiator, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, and Ford Ranger, all of which have an average car cost of around thirty-one thousand dollars.
The Jeep Gladiator will cost $38765, the Chevrolet Colorado will cost $28105, the GMC Canyon will have a price of $30480, the Nissan Frontier will start at $30485, while the Ford Ranger will have a base price of $20425.
Out of all of the trucks, only the Gladiator comes really close to the price of the Ridgeline, and even though the Ridgeline can still be called one of the best cars in its range, these other options can also be worth your money.
3. Better Fuel Economy
One of the rather interesting things about the Honda Ridgeline from last year that we’ll see again this year is the impressive fuel economy ratings that it will get.
The Ridgeline will deliver 18 MPG in the city and 24 on the highway. With these figures making it the best truck in its range when it comes to fuel economy, this position will actually be shared with GMC Canyon which also posts similar figures.
Though for the canyon, you’ll be getting this from a diesel engine as opposed to the gas engine that comes with the Ridgeline. This is one of the admirable things about the truck.
To add to this, the Ridgeline will also be fitted with an eco-assist system that will provide information to drivers on how fuel efficient they are.
With it, drivers will also be able to monitor a color-changing display close to the speedometer to see when they’re wasting fuel.
What’s more, is that there will also be an econ button that can help to alter the performance profile to save fuel.
Generally, Honda has just done more to ensure that we’re getting an option that is fuel efficient and will be the best in its range.
4. Lower Towing Capacity
For all the impressive things present in the car, or for all that comes with the car, one thing that might be a downside side for the Honda Ridgeline is that it will have a lower towing capacity.
The Ridgeline will only have a 5000 pounds towing capacity, which is pretty small considering that it comes with the same engine as its competitors. Those ones even offer more.
The Ford Ranger, for instance, uses the same V6 engine but has a seven-and-a-half thousand-pound towing capacity which is two and a half thousand pounds more than the ridge line.
However, when it comes to payload, the Ridgeline does better with its 1600-pound capacity. However, this is still not convincing enough, considering that the Ford Ranger is the more affordable option with a starting price that is much lesser than what you have for the Ridgeline.
5. Limited To Just A Single Engine Option
The Honda Ridgeline is usually considered to be less of a traditional pickup truck, and well, it will be coming with just a single engine option which will be the lone three-and-a-half liter V6.
While this engine is still very capable, you might want to skip the option to buy if you’re looking for a hardcore pickup truck. The Honda Ridgeline at its best, offers a bit of comfort and another bit where it can perform as a traditional pickup.
And if that’s something you want or you’re comfortable with, then swooping for it will be an excellent choice.
Final Words
Of all the things you should know before buying the 2023 Honda Ridgeline, the biggest of it all is that there will be no changes coming with this new version.
And should you already own a 2022 Honda Ridgeline and you’ve been considering whether or not to change, buying the 2023 option will be the wrong choice.
Should you feel the need to change, though, you might just want to opt for any of the other options available as the Ridgeline’s rivals, as it is still basically what we got for the 2022 model year.
Buying the 2022 Ridgeline now will be an excellent option considering the lower price it has coupled with the fact that it is already available in the market.
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