Whether it’s a 3,000-mile road trip or a family vacation, folks love the Honda Ridgeline for its ability to handle what’s thrown at it, with decent fuel efficiency to boot. Some owners think of the Ridgeline more as a comfortable SUV than a truck.
Let’s break it down.
Is The Honda Ridgeline Good In Snow?
This seems like a silly question to ask, given that we’re talking about a truck, but a poster in a Honda Ridgeline Facebook group asked.
Let’s see his post:
“Just bought a 2026. How well does the Ridgeline perform in snowy climates? I’m also thinking about driving my Ridgeline on a roadtrip from Chicago to Mount Rushmore which is 935 miles each way. Is the Ridgeline a good roadtrip truck?”
Most trucks handle snow well, especially with the proper tires, though a truck with an empty bed can be a handful in snow - same if the truck has two-wheel drive. The Ridgeline, however, is equipped with Honda’s i-VTM4 AWD system, meaning it has all-wheel drive. The Honda Ridgeline also has a 7.4-inch ground clearance. So Honda Ridgeline winter driving shouldn’t be an issue.
Let’s hear from actual owners:
“Handles snow better than a 2022 Subaru Outback XT. I know. I have both,” one says.
Another:
“I live in Fairbanks Alaska and have one if that tells you anything”
And yet one more:
“With the right tires, it’s awesome.”
That last commenter brings up a good point - the Ridgeline can be equipped from the factory with all-season or all-terrain tires, depending on trim, but winter tires/snow tires can make the truck deal with snow even better. Winter tires tend to make any vehicle better in the snow, and the Ridgeline is no exception.
Can The Ridgeline Handle Deep Snow?
Snow is one thing, deep snow is another. Ridgeline owners suggest that the truck’s 7.64 ground clearance helps it handle deeper snowfalls. There is a difference between traction and ground clearance, of course, and once again, the proper tires will help with traction. Ground clearance, on the other hand, will make it easier to clear snow banks and snow drifts and that sort of thing.
Which Tires Make The Biggest Difference On A Honda Ridgeline?
Honda Ridgeline owners mention that Falken Wildpeak A/T severe snow rated tires or General Grabber are good tires to equip a Ridgeline with, and they also mention severe snow rated tires as way to handle the snow, like we mentioned above. So, if like the original poster, you are thinking of buying a Ridgeline and live in a place where snow is frequent, keep that in mind.
Is The Honda Ridgeline A Good Road Trip Truck?
That’s the next question our new Honda Ridgeline buyer was asking. Trucks aren’t always great road-trippers, given that they often have stiffer rides and sometimes sacrifice interior space for bed space. But the Ridgeline has gotten high marks for things like ride comfort and cabin quietness, and it is EPA-rated for up to 21 mpg on the highway. So Honda Ridgeline highway comfort seems to be better than what’s offered on most trucks, and the Honda Ridgeline’s gas mileage on the highway is relatively good for a truck.
Let’s go back to the owners for their experiences.
“We did Massachusetts to Minnesota last Christmas with luggage in the bed under a tonneau and two dogs in the back with the seats folded up. It was very comfortable and it's a Billy goat in the snow.”
“I drive my 25 BE from Arizona to Maine and back, 3100 miles each way. It is an excellent long distance truck -- smooth, quiet, comfortable, easy to drive, gets decent gas mileage, and hauls a lot of stuff. Like a high-end SUV.”
Why Do So Many Ridgeline Owners Compare It To SUVs Instead Of Trucks?
If you look at the comments about Honda Ridgeline ownership, you see comparisons to SUVs instead of trucks. Whether it’s Honda’s own CR-V and Pilot or the Subaru Outback or luxury SUVs, the Ridgeline gets compared to those vehicles. Having tested the Ridgeline, this author believes that the car-like ride plays a part, as does the pricing, which can get to around $45K-$50K depending on trim level and options. So, for some SUV buyers, the Ridgeline might be a good alternative choice - it gives more of an SUV ride, but with a pickup bed. It does not, however, have a third row like the Honda Pilot does.
The Honda Ridgeline vs the Subaru Outback is an interesting question, considering how different these vehicles are - but one owner, as noted above, found the Ridgeline to be better in the snow.
How Comfortable Is The Honda Ridgeline Compared With Other Midsize Trucks?
Pickup trucks, even mid-size pickup trucks like the Ridgeline, can often be trucky in terms of ride. The Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, and Jeep Gladiator are all Honda Ridgeline competitors, and all ride a little bit more in a truckish manner than the Ridgeline. The Gladiator, especially, is meant for going off-road, meaning its highway ride is pretty stiff and bouncy.
The Ridgeline, meanwhile, “rides like a limo” according to one owner on Facebook.
Is The Honda Ridgeline Better Than The Toyota Tacoma For Daily Driving?
The Toyota Tacoma is a very popular rig - and it’s also more of an off-road-oriented truck that the Ridgeline. So when considering the Honda Ridgeline vs. the Toyota Tacoma, one must keep that in mind. Owners seem to indicate that the Ridgeline offers better highway comfort and is a better family vehicle. We’d also note that the Ridgeline has a gas engine while the Tacoma has gone hybrid.
How Far Can You Drive A Honda Ridgeline On One Tank?
With our original poster asking about road-tripping, fuel economy matters. And not just miles per gallon, but range. The EPA rates the Ridgeline at having 410 miles of range - 390 in Trailsport guise. One owner said they were getting 415-430 miles of range and 26 mpg. That’s pretty impressive for a truck.
Is The Ridgeline Better For Families Than Other Trucks?
Whether the Ridgeline is the best truck for your family is up to you, but the owners responding to the Facebook post point to ride comfort, under-bed storage, a dog-friendly rear seat, storage, and pleasant daily-driving as to why they love their Honda Ridgelines so much.
Why Do Honda Ridgeline Owners Seem So Loyal?
Honda Ridgeline owners who responded to the original Facebook query didn’t brag about torque, horsepower, or towing capacities. They instead told stories about their experience.
That’s how owners help a brand bring in new buyers - or get consumers to stay away from a model. People discuss their experiences, not specs. It just seems that, at least using the small sample size of one Facebook group - a group that could be both biased and self-selecting - the Ridgeline has made these folks happy.
Why Did So Many Honda Ridgeline Owners Answer With Stories Instead Of Specifications?
Again, experiences matter to buyers even more than specs. People live their lives behind the wheel, and in the Honda Ridgeline’s case, things like 3,100-mile drives, 23-hour drives, vacations with dogs in the truck, and years of easily handling Wisconsin winters are all factors that cause current Honda Ridgeline owners to reassure a new Ridgeline buyer that they made the right choice.
About The Author
Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
Set Torque News as Preferred Source on Google
Follow us today...
