The second-generation Honda Ridgeline is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month. While its sales numbers are not all that great compared to Toyota and Chevy offerings, the nameplate registered a 6.6% YoY increase at 48,448 units in the U.S. in 2025.
Honda continues selling the midsize truck as a gas-only model in North America, but a Ridgeline Hybrid in the U.S. market this decade isn’t a wild idea.
Hybrid powertrain for large vehicles
Honda needs a new hybrid powertrain for the Odyssey, Ridgeline, Pilot, and Passport to truly leverage the demand for large hybrid vehicles in the U.S.
In May 2025, Honda announced that it is working on a brand-new hybrid powertrain that meets the driving performance and towing capability requirements of its large-sized vehicles and will introduce it in the second half of the decade.
The company showcased this powertrain at a technology workshop held in November 2025, releasing some preliminary details.
Honda said that the future hybrid powertrain will suit its D-segment and larger models in North America. It didn’t call out the model names, but it’s not hard to imagine that the next-gen Ridgeline, Pilot, and Passport are on the list of recipients.
The company is developing an all-new V6 gas engine and electric motors to constitute this system. It is aiming for a fuel efficiency improvement of more than 30% and a driving performance improvement of more than 10% compared to current gas-powered models. That would hypothetically mean an EPA-est. combined fuel efficiency of around 27 mpg for the Ridgeline Hybrid.
Design
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline has some rugged attributes, but its softer shape and styling convey quite clearly that it is a lifestyle-oriented vehicle rather than a proper workhorse like the Ford Ranger or the Toyota Tacoma. While the soft design helps it stay honest, it is also somewhat outdated in 2026.
From a high ground clearance to a conventionally proportioned, boxy cab, and short overhangs, the 2026 Ridgeline has nearly an authentic pickup truck look. While we like it, not all shoppers are convinced about the front-end which lacks the powerful and commanding stance seen on its body-on-frame rivals.
On our wishlist for the next-gen Ridgeline Hybrid are a higher and more pronounced hood, more aggressive headlamps, and one or two more inches of ground clearance, besides a design overhaul.
Interior
During our time with the truck, we felt that the interior of the 2026 Ridgeline has a functional, truck-like character, but it is starting to show its age. The bulky dashboard with vertically oriented center air vents, the four-spoke steering wheel, and the wide center console add some visual heft and convey a sense of robustness, but the design and decor can do with a rethink.
A more upright, boxier dashboard, along with assist handles on the A-pillars for the next-gen model with the hybrid system would be on our interior wishlist. We would also expect the semi-digital instrument cluster, which looks behind the times, to be replaced with a fully-digital unit, and the 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system to be replaced with a new unit that integrates cleanly into the dashboard.
Price
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The 2026 Honda Ridgeline’s prices range from USD 40,795 to USD 47,895, excluding USD 1,495 destination and handling fees. We’ll update this page as we learn more about the future plans of the Ridgeline.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
