Black Edition All-Wheel Drive Crew Cab 5.3 ft. box 125.2 in. WB
2021 Honda Ridgeline

We're guessing that it's impossible to convince a majority of the truck-buying population that the 2021 Honda Ridgeline would be right for them. Quite simply, to them, the Ridgeline is not a truck. It may have a pickup bed, but its unibody crossover architecture stands in sharp contrast to the body-on-frame truck norm. It can also tow only 5,000 pounds, has minimal ground clearance and just one cab/bed/powertrain combination. As such, the styling updates made for 2021 to make the Ridgeline look more macho seem unlikely to make much of a difference. If it looks like a duck, but you know it's a goose, it still isn't a duck. Also, a lot of the macho-look heavy lifting comes courtesy of the new HPD Performance package, pictured here. Other '21 Ridgelines don't go quite as far. So the Ridgeline still may be a goose, but that's not actually a bad thing considering its unique crossover architecture grants it a multitude of advantages not shared by other, "real" midsize trucks. It rides and handles far better; its interior is more spacious, comfortable and quiet (it also has better storage and higher-quality materials); and its unique bed features a 7.9-cubic-foot trunk, the Dual Action tailgate that drops down and swings out, and the availability to turn itself into a giant speaker. It's a tailgater’s dream. So even if it's isn't a real truck, plenty of real people will still find plenty to like about the 2021 Ridgeline. What's new for 2021? The Ridgeline looks a little more rugged for 2021 (and a little less like a Pilot) courtesy of a bigger, blockier grille, a new bumper, twin exhausts and an available HPD Performance package that further beefs things up with a unique grille treatment, black fender flares, all-terrain tires and gold wheels. It's available on all trim levels, including the base Sport (pictured). Other updates include a wider track width and all-wheel drive being made standard (no more front-drive Ridgeline). There's also now a volume knob, but the rest of the underwhelming infotainment system remains the same. What's the Ridgeline interior and in-car technology like? For better and for worse, the Ridgeline interior is copy and pasted from the Honda Pilot from the B-pillars forward. That means it's not an especially attractive space, and certainly not one that screams "tough, fun truck!" Then again, it's not as if the Ford Ranger or Chevy Colorado do that, either. That's the "for worse" bit. For better, the Pilot interior offers exceptional small item storage and that basically carries over to the Ridgeline unchanged. The roomy covered center bin is especially handy for keeping even sizable items away from prying eyes or from flying around the cabin. But now, back to the worse bit. The Pilot/Passport/Ridgeline's infotainment system is the interior's weakest attribute. Yes, it gains a volume knob for 2021, but that doesn't change the convoluted menu structure, rudimentary navigation system (if so equipped) and lack of physical supporting buttons. How big is the Ridgeline? …
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