Another good pickup is getting a redesign, it is the 2024 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid. This one was quite a long time coming. The Ridgeline is in great need of a redesign as the design and technology seem a bit outdated. Especially when compared with other competitors in the same class. And if Honda wants to stay on top of the market they need to up their game and give their flagship truck some fighting power. We don’t mean power in the most basic meaning of the word. So we are not talking about engine performance. It is imperative that we look at the whole picture when talking about a pickup.
This means the interior, the styling on the outside, technology, and many other amenities. So what exactly can we expect from the upcoming remodel? Well, the interior styling could use a touch-up. The contemporary style is much wanted in today’s pickups and Honda is a bit lacking in that regard. The technology also needs to be upgraded because there were many improvements in that regard. The powertrain could remain the same, but many rumors about possible electrification exist. We will have to wait to see how that pans out. Let’s take a look at the whole picture of the new Ridgeline.
What Will 2024 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid Look Like?
Inside of the new 2024 Honda Ridgeline is refreshed. There is new seating with better cushioning and heating and massaging features. Which is expected at the current price tag. This will make the ride much more comfortable, especially on harsh terrain. There is a brand-made audio system, but the exact number of speakers is still unknown. Infotainment is unchanged, however, the dashboard is fully digital. This is a nice upgrade and gives us hope that the next iterations might switch fully to electric power including the engine. The technology is updated with lane change alerts, automatic brakes, and hands-free driving.
The outside of the upcoming 2024 Honda Ridgeline is looking quite the same. There is a choice of 17-inch and 18-inch lightweight rims. They shave off some weight to improve power to weight ratio and give the truck some speed and fuel economy. The design is already ergonomic as it can be. Introducing more curves would make it lose that menacing and rugged look and it wouldn’t be the same pickup it was and that is why people love it so much. The cargo bed is still the same size as the multifunctional tailgate. The front fascia is far and wide as well as shiny. Enough air intakes are in it to cool down everything under the hood.
2024 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid Engine
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid is all good under the hood. Previous versions were sought after because of that feature exactly. The powertrain was reliable, had good output, and would last a long time. It was probably for that exact reason that Honda decided to go forth with the exact same powertrain. It is obviously the 3.5-liter V6 that can produce 280 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. These numbers aren’t top of the class, but give a nice ratio of power to the mid-size Ridgeline. This powertrain is paired with a smooth nine-speed automatic transmission, which is almost standard at this point. The system sends power to all four wheels and we get the sought-after all-wheel drive. This is especially handy off the road. It improves rock crawling capabilities, and better control over revs when on hills or descending. Plus, Honda becomes competitive against other companies, such as FCA and their Gladiator hybrid.
Off-Road Performance
It is simply the go-to system when going off-road. And Ridgeline is built for the off-roader and all the adventures that are to come. The engine has a smooth transmission and a nice sound to it, it is very responsive in terms of the throttle. Even more so when accelerating at high speed. The truck acts responsively and nicely on the road. It has good suspension with state-of-the-art coil springs supporting the suspension. It makes the ride seem like you are in a smaller car and not a giant vehicle.
This is something you won’t get with a leaf spring suspension. When cutting corners it doesn’t lean or shift too much so the weight balance is nicely distributed. If speeding over bumps you won’t feel a thing. This is exactly because of that suspension as well as the interior comfort. The steering is also electrically assisted which means better response time, this is a literal lifesaver. Its brake pedal could use a bit of tuning as there is a feeling that it can’t stop the big pickup on a dime.
On the other hand, it is a heavy vehicle and it needs a bit of time to stop, which is expected. There are certain rumors circulating about the possible electrification of the Ridgeline. This is not fresh news exactly. It has been long speculated that the truck will receive some batteries to assist it. However, full electrification isn’t happening yet, although it wouldn’t take too much trouble to make the switch. But we must say that we are saddened to see a complete lack of hybrid powertrains. The hybrid system would improve performance, longevity, and fuel economy. All that with a simple addition of a mild hybrid system.
Fuel economy
The new 2024 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid isn’t too expensive to keep running. Its powerful V6 gets 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. This would be much improved if the pickup had some sort of electrical help, let’s say a 48V hybrid system.
Price and release date
The fresh 2024 Honda Ridgeline will hit the road later in 2023, probably in the last quarter of the calendar year. Trims levels determine prices, of which there are four. We have Sport for $40,000, RTL for $43,000, RTL-E for $46,000, and Black Edition for $47,000.