2018 Honda Ridgeline Release Date and Price

Not that long ago the Japanese manufacturer released the 2018 Honda Ridgeline. Even though the changes have been kept to a minimum, the truck should be far easier to configure now. Honda dropped the available trim levels from a rather impressive 12 to 9. This should allow the buyer to configure its perfect truck with more ease and it should give Honda more room to work with the truck. Unfortunately, this is pretty much the only real update the truck received. The Ridgeline remains mostly unchanged from the previous year which is a shame as there are a few missing features from it.

2018 Honda Ridgeline Detail

Unlike most other trucks in the US, the Honda is vastly different. It is based on a unibody platform, the same that underpins the Pilot crossover. This means the truck is actually front wheel drive and it features quite a few perks thanks to that. However, this doesn’t mean it is perfect. The towing capacity is quite limited due to its platform choice. It also means the truck is not as good in off-road as some of its rivals.

Luckily there are a few perks as well. For starters, the on-road handling characteristics are definitely better than on its predecessor. The Honda also manages to boast slightly better fuel efficiency than most of its rivals as well. As a sole engine choice, the Ridgeline boasts a 3.5 liter naturally aspirated V6 with 280 horsepower. While not the most powerful, it manages to give the truck more than adequate performance.

Design

Even though it is a unibody truck, it still offers the design of a true mid-size pickup. There is a large four-door cab in place as well as a large bed. Unlike in some of its rivals though, the bed is nicely integrated into the cab. This means the driver can use part of the cab as a bed as there is a folding panel in place. Also, unlike in any of its rivals, there is a massive trunk right under the bed’s floor which further expands the carrying capability of the truck.

What is new?

Unfortunately, the 2018 Honda Ridgeline is mostly the same as before. The only real upgrade on the truck has been done to the Sport trim level. This is not available in two all-new colors, a White Diamond Pearl as well as a Lunar Silver Metallic. Both of these are optional extras, and unfortunately, both of them are only available in the Sport. For now, the truck is still missing some essential features, but we do hope Honda will add them in the near future.

2018 Honda Ridgeline Price and Trim Changes

Sales wise, current generation made a good start, although purely in Ridgeline’s sense. Breaching over 20k of sold units last year is still laughable compared to figures achieved by Colorado or Tacoma, which in short are almost five and ten times higher. But, as we said, Honda is pleased with it, and it already raised the bar. Price one, unfortunately. Still, it’s hardly a matter of greed as the bump is rather trivial, pushing starting price at $29,630 or modest $155 increase. In total, different pricing hardly changes anything about it, while new trim shuffle kind of does.

Strange Deduction

When some model arrives fresh on the market, it sometimes starts more humbly, while time adds more trims, choices, equipment and so on. Honda made an opposite move here and deleted (second in the row) RTS trim level, while also denying AWD option for base RT trim. That means that now the cheapest way to get wonders of “power sent to all wheels” is Sport trim with checked appropriate option’s box. And that just pushed the price north for $3,695, in case you are into cheapest, yet capable, Honda’s truck. What done is done, and now let’s dwell into other trimming details.

No Choice

There are no choices of engines, so you’ll don’t have to bang your head about it. The only available mill is naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 delivering 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, mated to six-speed automatic. It takes fair 6.6 seconds to 60 mph, it can hurl decent amount of payload, and it comes with best in class fuel economy. So, far so good, but the rest of the story is undermined by monocoque chassis, compromising towing ability and ruggedness of whole deal.

Plenty of Choices

On another hand, with available trims, you have plenty of options. As we said base RT trim is exclusively FWD now and it comes with some goodies as push button start, cruise control, 5-inch infotainment, and audio system with seven speakers, among else. Sport model brings sporty makeup, keyless entry, three-zone climate control, and more for $33,170, while AWD exists as almost two grand option from here.

For 2018 Honda Ridgeline, Sport trim no longer comes only with black exterior color as White Diamond Pearl, and Lunar Silver Metallic joined the mix. When we look further, real luxury starts with $33,930 RTL trim bringing leather on the inside, along with seat’s heating.

For Apple Carplay and Android Auto, along with 8-inch screen displaying it, prepare to cash out $36,080 as an entry to RTL-T level, while for the 540-Watt audio system and HondaSensing (safety gizmos) you have to go for RTL-E and its $41,620 price tag. Although note that AWD comes as standard for later. Creme de la crème is $43,120 Black Edition with the special interior-exterior visual approach, and that pretty much sums up our 2018 Honda Ridgeline story.

The all-new Ridgeline has just been released, and so far it has been quite successful. However, just like with most new releases, the car is not nearly perfect. In the US it still is lacking some features which are otherwise unavailable on the Canadian version. For the upcoming 2018 Honda Ridgeline, it seems there might be some changes and upgrades. Honda didn’t make any official comments on these, but there are plenty of sources saying some interesting stuff about the new Ridgeline.

For starters, it seems that Honda may start to offer just a version for all the markets it’s being sold in. This should allow them on focusing on making the truck better. A new engine has also been rumored but more on that a bit later.

2018 Honda Ridgeline Release Date

The Ridgeline remains one of the most interesting trucks on the US market. Why? Well, it is the only truck currently on sale that doesn’t feature a body-on-frame design. In fact, it shares its entire running gear, engine and most of the tech with the Pilot crossover. It has a unibody design, it is only available in a cab configuration, and it has one of the worst tow ratings. Despite that people still, buy it.

This is because it offers plenty for the regular buyer. It is considerably more comfortable than the competition, it is quite fuel efficient, and it is capable enough. The only real drawback with the new model has to be the missing features which are about to be introduced on the upcoming 2018 Honda Ridgeline.

We do hope that at least the base price is not going to change much. Also, if the rumors end up to be true, then the new features might be added as an extra package which could be a great deal. Regarding the release date of 2018 Ridgeline, you should expect it in the last months of 2017, probably in late autumn. Ths is one scenario where Japanese automaker transfers Ridgeline completely unchanged into the next MY. In case that they opt for more changes release could be postponed for early 2018. Stay with us for more details.   

Design

It is quite clear that the 2018 model of the Ridgeline won’t change much in terms of looks. In the front, it currently shares its basic traits with the Pilot. The only differences are the different grille and beefier-looking bumper. Honda may add a more Pilot-like look into the mix with a higher end model, but this is unlikely. Instead of receiving a facelift, the Ridgeline is more likely going to receive some usable features.

For starters, a locking tailgate has been in the mix for a while now. Also, the doors could open wider for the 2018 Honda Ridgeline. This has been a problem for some, and it doesn’t make sense for a truck to feature doors that open just like those on a small family sedan.

Interior – Most of the Upgrades?

It seems that there are plenty of features that might land on the 2018 Honda Ridgeline. The current US model is missing ventilated seats, rain sensing wipers, a heated windshield, heated rear seats, a rear climate-control panel and even power folding mirrors. All of these are actually available on the Canadian model so it is safe to assume the US version could get at least part of them. This would give it a lot of added value which will make it more desirable than ever before.

Under the Hood

The current model features a 3.5 liter naturally aspirated and directed injected V6 which is good for 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Even though this is on the lower end of its class; thanks to the great gearbox and lighter chassis, the Ridgeline can easily keep up with the best in its class. The upcoming 2018 Honda Ridgeline is more than likely going to boast the same engine. Some suggested a small bump in power, but this is unlikely. Instead, the fuel consumption and possibly its tow rating could improve. How?

Well, the truck currently uses a six-speed automatic which may get replaced with either a nine-speed gearbox from ZF or with Honda’s newest ten-speed gearbox. The latter has been first seen on the Odyssey, and it is a vast improvement over the old six speed. If this is the case, then expect the Ridgeline to get 5 to 10% better fuel economy in the same driving conditions as before. Some rumors also suggested a hybrid powertrain for the truck. While this would be great, we highly doubt it, especially since there isn’t any hybrid truck currently on the market.