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Can we believe these redesign changes for the 2026 ?

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#41 ·
italianhandyman said:
Erroneous = wrong or incorrect. Nothing I've said has been that. I know more than you think about the Ridgeline. I made a very careful, researched decision. It is, bar none, the most practical (for the vast majority of use cases) midsize pickup truck sold today for dozens of reasons. The most important of which is... if the Ridgeline wasn't an option, I'd need a full-size truck. No thanks, doesn't fit in the garage... they've become so big it's just ridiculous.

Whatever the speculation is about a refresh or redesign, NONE of it addresses critical opportunities for improvement (i.e., suspension). Trust me, nobody in the mid-size pickup market is hoping for wheel arch vents, for example.

I want to see the Ridgeline succeed and NOT be last in sales (aside from the Gladiator which is really a specialty vehicle that I see equipped with huge chrome rims more than anything that costs a bloody fortune from a manufacturer I wouldn't trust to babysit an empty paint can).

Anywho, I'll cool off, as you suggest.
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Regarding the 265 tires.... currently some will fit, some will rub. The bottleneck is hard framework at the rear of the front passenger wheel well. One member here has ground theirs down to fit a slightly larger tire.

Honda will not do this on the current platform. They need a large enough wheel well to allow tire chains for areas that require it. The next-gen platform under the Pilot and new Passport will allow for that.
 
#44 ·
gmalkmus said:
What's wrong with the dampers? Truck seems to ride fine to me - haven't noticed a bouncy ride and it certainly doesn't feel overdamped.
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Farther said:
What "objective" evidence do you have that the Ridgeline suspension is objectively poor?
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I feel my 25 RL is at its limits with everyday driving. That is to say it has nothing to spare. I have other 4wd vehicles with better built suspension and they do handle rougher roads significantly better.

Note: I’m talking about what I encounter on my commute, not off-road. To me, discussions of more ground clearance and suspension travel make no sense for the road-bound RL.
 
#45 ·
Griso said:
The problem is to accomplish that would involve a stronger/heavier complete drivetrain, frame, brakes, etc. which will lower mpg for everyone. And sales just wouldn't justify making both a Ridgeline and separate "Heavy Duty" version.
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Maybe they could just revise the original ridgeline and update it a bit. :) I think truck sales will suffer as long as they keep upping the price for a car with a bed. El Caminos were always a cult following. Maybe they could work with Nissan to make a real truck ??? The RL is a really comfortable vehicle and plenty of people like it but it really needs a bigger brother that is more capable. Then they could downsize the RL. I would like a bit more ground clearance and pulling capabilities. I have a Tacoma with 2 wheel drive (limited slip rear, prerunner) that is more capable off road than my Trailsport.
 
#46 · (Edited)
luckyjoe said:
I feel my 25 RL is at its limits with everyday driving. That is to say it has nothing to spare. I have other 4wd vehicles with better built suspension and they do handle rougher roads significantly better.

Note: I’m talking about what I encounter on my commute, not off-road. To me, discussions of more ground clearance and suspension travel make no sense for the road-bound RL.
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I would like to understand you better. I find the complete opposite. In daily driving on the road, it obliterates other trucks in handling more like a car, way better than a truck this size has any business doing in canyon carving. The suspension is compliant and beyond super comfy. And yet, really planted. Something like an F150 feels like Ive gone back to the Flintstones era.

It's also way better off road in chip-seal and relatively level off-road well traveled dirt road, and even modestly off 'baja' style roads. I constantly see the live axel F150s on our roads slow to a 12mph crawl (shaking them like a bond martini inside their cabin) while im flying 50mph in barcalounger comfort. Even on my ranch it does crazy well up stupid grades off road, again, in nearly superhuman comfort.

Where it does like poop is anything that requires significant clearance.

So Im super curious where and what kind of environments bring the RL to the limit in a daily capacity. Very counter to my experience.

omgu812 said:
Maybe they could just revise the original ridgeline and update it a bit. :) I think truck sales will suffer as long as they keep upping the price for a car with a bed. El Caminos were always a cult following. Maybe they could work with Nissan to make a real truck ??? The RL is a really comfortable vehicle and plenty of people like it but it really needs a bigger brother that is more capable. Then they could downsize the RL. I would like a bit more ground clearance and pulling capabilities. I have a Tacoma with 2 wheel drive (limited slip rear, prerunner) that is more capable off road than my Trailsport.
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I'm not fully understanding you as you seem to be advocating for both a larger, and smaller RL. So do you mean they should expand the RL line to have something like a Small Medium and Large line of trucks?

For me, I really wish they would make a true trailsport for the RL like they did for their SUVs, with full protection plating on the bottom of the car. That would get me to an 80/20 happy place.

Additional improvements, I would really like is IMPROVE THE BRAKES. They are mediocre at best. I do not have the 'squishy brake' problem some people have had here, but the stopping power of these brakes is mediocre at best.

If I'm dreaming, I would love some kind of 4x4 lock mode.

I personally do not want a hybrid, I LOVE the V6 and it's way too nice an engine for a truck, but I would like them to add that option for those that do want want the hybrid option.

Lastly, I'm of mixed opinion on raising the truck. While I would love the extra clearance on occasion, I don't want to compromise its insanely good (for a truck) handling on highways/canyons, and lifting the center of gravity could compromise it a decent bit. If they could raise the truck like 1.5" without compromising the normal road handling too much, I would be very down for that upgrade too.
 
#47 ·
ZombiePhysicist said:
I would like to understand you better. I find the complete opposite. In daily driving on the road, it obliterates other trucks in handling more like a car, way better than a truck this size has any business doing in canyon carving. The suspension I complain and beyond super comfy. And yet, really planted. Something like an F150 feels like Ive gone back to the Flintstones era.

It's also way better off road in chip-seal and relatively level off-road well traveled dirt road, and even modestly off 'baja' style roads. I constantly see the live axel F150s on our roads slow to a 12mph crawl (shaking them like a bond martini inside their cabin) while im flying 50mph in barcalounger comfort. Even on my ranch it does crazy well up stupid grades off road, again, in nearly superhuman comfort.

Where it does like poop is anything that requires significant clearance.

So Im super curious where and what kind of environments bring the RL to the limit in a daily capacity. Very counter to my experience.
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If chip-seal is off-road, then the RL is the perfect vehicle for you. Probably 90% of my secondary local roads are oil & chip. They are fine, but rough road patching that has bucked, or just poor, old patches are not the RL’s forte. The suspension is just passable and suffers from built-to-cost. Chatter and transmission to the cabin are annoying.

Conversely, I have several coil spring solid axle trucks that eat rough roads up, further souring my RL impression.
 
#48 ·
I am stunned that anyone would say that "the Ridgeline's suspension is objectively poor" - not because I am precious about Ridgeline's but because I can objectively say that the Ridgeline's ride and suspension is probably the best I have ever experienced outside of an extremely high end motor vehicle.

My review of my Ridgeline included the phrase "magic carpet ride" and it still rides like that.
 
#49 · (Edited)
luckyjoe said:
If chip-seal is off-road, then the RL is the perfect vehicle for you. Probably 90% of my secondary local roads are oil & chip. They are fine, but rough road patching that has bucked, or just poor, old patches are not the RL’s forte. The suspension is just passable and suffers from built-to-cost. Chatter and transmission to the cabin are annoying.

Conversely, I have several coil spring solid axle trucks that eat rough roads up, further souring my RL impression.
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Disagree. I drive rough roads and off where there literally is no road, through woods. Chip seal is a relatively treat and frankly is no different than pavement compared to the more Baja dirt/rock like roads where I drive. Really bad rutty roads it's easy to go 40-50 on them and its absurdly smooth and comfortable, and F150 is more like connecting a pogo stick to a jackhammer.

If you're going real heavy off road, where you need say 10-15" of of suspension travel, yea, the RL isn't youre ride, but likely nothing short of a raptor (at speed) is. Also if youre going "deep mudding" "deep snow hauling" "deep sand dune'ing" or "bouldering", the RL is not your ride.

Disagree about the chatter in so much as it's ice water in hell compared to the F150s around here that barely manage 12mph on the same roads and the interior passenger looks like a sprung jack in the box that wont stop recoiling. Maybe I'm just lucky, but my 2021 is ludicrously good, and punches way above its weight, particularly compared to "real" trucks with their not-physics defying live axels. Maybe the area I have is just weirdly suited to the RL, but everyone with a "real truck" that I give a ride on our roads cant believe how smooth/compliant/glide-like the ride is relative to their own trucks.

I cannot speak for your travels, obviously, and I believe you when you say your RL isnt that good where you are. But where I am, it's really not even close, it's just way way better a ride.

And that's not even getting into how awful 'real trucks' drive on canyon-carving like highways and how absurdly good the RL is in those environments for a truck.

As always, YMMV
 
#50 ·
The state one lives in is a factor. New Jersey doesn't have the best roads around. And if he drives to Pa around Phila then he's treated to some more terrible ones. The 422 out of King of Prussia is just unbelievable for a state who has the highest gas taxes around.
 
#51 ·
ZombiePhysicist said:
Disagree. I drive rough roads and off where there literally is no road, through woods. Chip seal is a relatively treat and frankly is no different than pavement compared to the more Baja dirt/rock like roads where I drive. Really bad rutty roads it's easy to go 40-50 on them and its absurdly smooth and comfortable, and F150 is more like connecting a pogo stick to a jackhammer.
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I’m not concerned with the ability to go fast on rough rutted roads, but achieving the ride comfort while doing so that necessitates slowing down. The suspension was built to a cost, and it is easy to exceed its capability.
 
#53 · (Edited)
luckyjoe said:
I’m not concerned with the ability to go fast on rough rutted roads, but achieving the ride comfort while doing so that necessitates slowing down. The suspension was built to a cost, and it is easy to exceed its capability.
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Well I am concerned with that. I don’t like that the f150 HAS to go 12mph, so slow, because the suspension is so awful you’re being ping-pong ball’d inside the cab on our roads. That I can AND DO go 40-50 on those same roads in complete comfort like on a magic carpet (while the f150 has to go 12mph slow as heck) is an absolute winning feature to me and everyone I drove on our roads (and off roads).

And it’s the F150 that isn’t exceeding anything because its suspension simply does NOT have that capability (to drive fast and smoothly in comfort on rutted roads) without literally beating up its passengers.

I’ve been driving these roads at speed for 4 years, the RL’s suspension is fine. And I don’t think my suspension is anything special and holds up just fine. Perhaps there is something off with your RL or your roads are just somehow wrong for the RL but your supposition about the limits of the RL’s suspension longevity or capabilities is flatly proven wrong in my area, in my conditions, several times daily for 4 years straight.

Apparently YMMV
 
#54 ·
Digdex said:
I've been holding off for a redesign. The AI YouTube generated videos surface every summer but these rumors seem like more than rumors. Thoughts ?

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is expected to receive a significant redesign, featuring a more rugged and truck-like appearance while maintaining its unibody construction. Key changes include a bolder front fascia with a squared-off grille and sharper headlights, a more upright stance, and a visually separated bed from the cabin. The interior is also expected to be updated with a more driver-focused layout and improved technology, including a larger touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. Rumors suggest a potential hybrid powertrain option as well.



Here's a more detailed breakdown of the potential changes:
Exterior:
  • Bolder Front End:
    The 2026 Ridgeline is expected to have a more prominent grille and redesigned headlights, possibly with triple LED projectors, enhancing its presence and giving it a more aggressive look.
  • Refreshed Body Lines:
    The sheet metal will be updated with crisper body lines, more pronounced fender flares, and new rocker panel moldings.
  • Squared-Off Hood:
    The hoodline will be higher and more squared off, contributing to a more imposing stance.
  • Separated Bed:
    The bed will appear more visually distinct from the cabin, addressing previous feedback about the Ridgeline resembling an SUV with a chopped-off rear.
  • Redesigned Tailgate:
    The tailgate will be redesigned with deeper stamping for a more traditional truck appearance.
  • New Wheel Designs:
    Wheel sizes will range from 18 to 20 inches, with new alloy wheel designs specific to different trims.
  • Functional Side Vents:
    Functional side vents will be incorporated near the wheel arches to improve airflow.
Interior:
    • Driver-Focused Layout:
      The cockpit will be reworked to be more driver-centric, with improved materials and a more intuitive layout.
  • Larger Touchscreen:
    A larger touchscreen, possibly 12.3 inches, will be a prominent feature, along with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster.
  • Improved Technology:
    The infotainment system will be upgraded with features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Honda's latest interface.
  • Smart Storage:
    Expect more clever storage solutions inside the cabin to enhance practicality.
Powertrain:
There are strong rumors suggesting a hybrid powertrain option, possibly using a variant of Acura's 3.0-liter V6 engine with three electric motors.


With a new platform and potentially a hybrid powertrain, the towing capacity could see an increase.


Other Notable Changes:
The 2026 Ridgeline will maintain its unibody construction, setting it apart from traditional body-on-frame competitors.


The redesign aims to improve approach and departure angles, enhancing off-road capabilities.
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I'd like to see an increase in the length of the drive train so there could be more room in the back seat. I went back and forth in going with the Ridgeline again (had a 2007 before) or going with another brand because of the (shorter) legroom in the backseat.

Also, would like to see the steering wheel be positioned in the middle of the driver. I have a 2025 Trailsport. The steering wheel is a about an inch to the right of center of the driver. It fatigues me when traveling.

Thirdly, I'd like to see a transmission with say 6 gears rather than the 9. 9 gears don't seem to be tuned for driving on the highway in the USA even on flat terrain. It fights itself in downshifting at 75-80 mph. 9 gears are overkill.
 
#55 ·
ridgelineforever said:
I'd like to see an increase in the length of the drive train so there could be more room in the back seat. I went back and forth in going with the Ridgeline again (had a 2007 before) or going with another brand because of the (shorter) legroom in the backseat.

Also, would like to see the steering wheel be positioned in the middle of the driver. I have a 2025 Trailsport. The steering wheel is a about an inch to the right of center of the driver. It fatigues me when traveling.

Thirdly, I'd like to see a transmission with say 6 gears rather than the 9. 9 gears don't seem to be tuned for driving on the highway in the USA even on flat terrain. It fights itself in downshifting at 75-80 mph. 9 gears are overkill.
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Well, my 2017 has a six-speed :) But it's supposed to blow up any day now (approaching 90K miles). Never noticed the seat is offset to the wheel - a whole inch you say :) - nothing like my old Land Rover Defender for sure

As to rear seat room - compared to what? Did the Gen1 have more room in back? My G2 RL's rear seat has more legroom than a pal's 3/4 ton GMC and certainly more than a Tacoma. I can easily sit behind myself and I'm 6'2"+ with long legs
 
#56 ·
CanAmSteve said:
Well, my 2017 has a six-speed :) But it's supposed to blow up any day now (approaching 90K miles). Never noticed the seat is offset to the wheel - a whole inch you say :) - nothing like my old Land Rover Defender for sure

As to rear seat room - compared to what? Did the Gen1 have more room in back? My G2 RL's rear seat has more legroom than a pal's 3/4 ton GMC and certainly more than a Tacoma. I can easily sit behind myself and I'm 6'2"+ with long legs
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Legroom: compared to my 1 gen 2007 Ridgeline. It accommodated my family of 5 with teenage boys on long trips. My 2025 doesn't have the same legroom. It's cramped in the back seat. At 6'2", you'd ride comfortably in a 1 gen. If the driver is > 6', you would lack legroom in a 2025.

I had 240K miles on my 2007 (1 gen) when I got rid of it. The power train was in fine condition. I planned to keep it until 300K before deciding over an engine replacement and transmission overhaul. The electrical components were faulting to the point where I couldn't depend on it starting consistently. I had already put more money in repairs than it was worth. With my 2025, I don't expect to keep it as long as my old 2007. Too many electrical/computer stuff to go bad.
 
#57 ·
luckyjoe said:
I’m not concerned with the ability to go fast on rough rutted roads, but achieving the ride comfort while doing so that necessitates slowing down. The suspension was built to a cost, and it is easy to exceed its capability.
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Not necessarily. Driving a washboard road at lower speeds, even 15 mph or so, can cause the vehicle to shake, bounce, and jump around significantly, but push it up to 50+ and one can drive fairly smoothly, skipping along the tops of the bumps. Of course one has to go through the shakes while accelerating and decelerating though.
 
#58 ·
Impractical solutions for driving rough roads at posted limits aside, the RL is generally a nice, comfortable ride. It is built to a cost though, and that does limit ride quality. For me, I am happy with my civic-with-a-bed daily driver.
 
#60 ·
tmz said:
Not necessarily. Driving a washboard road at lower speeds, even 15 mph or so, can cause the vehicle to shake, bounce, and jump around significantly, but push it up to 50+ and one can drive fairly smoothly, skipping along the tops of the bumps. Of course one has to go through the shakes while accelerating and decelerating though.
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I remember when the very first Ridgeline (2006) was dinged by Consumer Reports because the shocks blew out on a washboard road. It has been improved since then.
 
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