Is the 2026 Honda Ridgeline a Good Truck? 10 Questions Jacksonville Drivers Should Ask

Truck shopping in Jacksonville usually starts with the same short list of names, and the Ridgeline doesn’t always make that first cut. The 2026 Honda Ridgeline earns a second look once you get past the spec sheet. It won’t win a towing contest against a full-size truck, but it wasn’t built to.

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup built on a car-like unibody platform, with standard i-VTM4® AWD, an estimated 5,000-lb towing capacity, and a lockable In-Bed Trunk® most trucks can’t match. It’s EPA-estimated at up to 21 combined MPG.

Our team at Stevenson-Hendrick Honda Jacksonville answers these questions from local truck shoppers every week. Below are the 10 questions Jacksonville drivers ask most about the 2026 Ridgeline, from towing and hauling to trims and how it compares to other midsize trucks.

Key Points: 2026 Honda Ridgeline Near Jacksonville, NC

• It drives like a truck built for daily life, not just weekend hauling. The Ridgeline’s unibody platform gives it a smoother ride than body-on-frame trucks, which matters if you’re behind the wheel every day.
• Every 2026 Ridgeline trim comes with AWD standard. Many competing midsize trucks reserve four-wheel drive for upper trims. Every Ridgeline, from Sport to Black Edition, gets i-VTM4® AWD at no extra cost.
• The towing and payload numbers are honest, not flashy. An estimated 5,000-lb towing capacity and up to roughly 1,583 lbs of payload cover most of what Jacksonville-area drivers actually haul.

2026 Honda Ridgeline Trims at a Glance

Four trims make up the 2026 lineup, and the differences come down to comfort, style, and how much off-road gear you want standard. Here’s the quick version before we dig into the details.

Prices shown are manufacturer starting MSRP and exclude tax, title, destination, and dealer fees. Fuel economy figures are EPA estimates. Contact Stevenson-Hendrick Honda Jacksonville for current availability and pricing.

One detail surprises a lot of shoppers: AWD is standard on every trim, including the base Sport. Plenty of midsize truck competitors treat four-wheel drive as a paid upgrade. The Ridgeline builds it in from the start.

Is the 2026 Honda Ridgeline a Good Truck for Everyday Driving?

Yes, and this is where the Ridgeline separates itself most. Most midsize trucks use body-on-frame construction, the same setup as a full-size pickup, which tends to ride firm when the bed is empty. The Ridgeline uses a unibody platform instead, closer to what you’d find under an SUV. That means a quieter cabin, a tighter turning radius, and a ride that doesn’t beat you up on the commute. For a truck spending most of its time as a daily driver, that difference shows up every day.

How Much Can the 2026 Honda Ridgeline Tow?

The 2026 Ridgeline is rated to tow up to an estimated 5,000 lbs, as equipped, with a Class III hitch and 7-pin connector standard on every trim. That’s not the highest number in the midsize class, and we won’t pretend otherwise. It’s enough for a boat, a small camper, a utility trailer, or a load of yard equipment, which covers most of the towing Jacksonville-area owners actually do. Real towing capability, without stepping up to a bigger, thirstier truck.

How Much Can the Honda Ridgeline Haul?

Payload capacity runs up to an estimated 1,583 lbs on the Sport trim, tapering slightly on higher trims as more standard equipment adds weight. That covers mulch, tools, moving boxes, or a bed full of gear from a Saturday project. The bed does more work than the number alone suggests, since the durable composite floor and In-Bed Trunk both add usable capacity a traditional steel bed doesn’t offer.

How Big Is the Ridgeline’s Truck Bed?

The bed measures 5.3 feet long and 5 feet wide, with 4.2 feet between the wheel wells and 1.4 feet of depth, for 33.9 cubic feet of cargo volume. It’s built from a UV-stabilized, scratch-resistant composite that resists dents and rust without needing an aftermarket liner. The tailgate opens down or swings to the side for tight-spot loading. An optional bed extender adds 16 inches, stretching maximum cargo length to 76 inches.

What Is the Honda Ridgeline In-Bed Trunk®?

The In-Bed Trunk® is a lockable, weatherproof storage compartment built into the floor of the Ridgeline’s bed, holding 7.3 cubic feet and including a drain plug. That drain plug turns it into one of the largest coolers you’ll ever own. Fill it with ice for a day near the water, then drain and rinse it when you’re done. The compact spare tire sits inside on a sliding tray and can be relocated for extra room. No other truck in this class offers hidden storage quite like it.

Is the Honda Ridgeline AWD or 4WD?

The Ridgeline is all-wheel drive only. Every 2026 trim comes standard with i-VTM4®, Honda’s all-wheel-drive system that continuously manages torque between the front and rear axles, and side to side at the rear, for better traction. There’s no 4WD low-range gearing, because the Ridgeline’s unibody construction isn’t built around a traditional transfer case. Drivers get Normal, Snow, Sand, and Mud modes to match the system to the road ahead.

Is the Honda Ridgeline Good for Off-Road Driving?

The Ridgeline handles moderate off-road conditions well, including sandy boat ramps, muddy driveways, and light trails, especially on the TrailSport trim with its all-terrain tires and off-road-tuned suspension. What it’s not built for is serious rock crawling or low-range technical terrain. If your off-roading means reaching the water or a rough backroad, the Ridgeline fits. If it means crawling over boulders, a body-on-frame truck with true 4WD is the better tool.

What Kind of Gas Mileage Does the 2026 Honda Ridgeline Get?

The 2026 Ridgeline is EPA-estimated at 18 city and 24 highway MPG on the Sport, RTL, and Black Edition trims, for a combined estimate of 21 MPG. TrailSport comes in slightly lower at an estimated 20 combined MPG, a trade-off for its all-terrain tires. Less weight and less wind resistance than a comparable body-on-frame truck tends to mean better efficiency at the pump.

Which 2026 Honda Ridgeline Trim Should I Buy?

The right trim comes down to what you’ll actually use the truck for.

• Want the essentials and standard AWD without paying extra: The Sport covers Honda Sensing®, a 9-inch touchscreen, and the full drivetrain at the lowest entry price.
• Want a more comfortable daily driver: The RTL adds heated power front seats, leather upholstery, and a sunroof.
• Want extra confidence on rougher terrain: TrailSport brings all-terrain tires, a tuned suspension, and a skid plate, with an HPD wheel package available for more style.
• Want the full package: Black Edition tops the lineup with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and blacked-out styling, including a Two-Tone roof option.

Why Choose a Honda Ridgeline Instead of Another Midsize Truck?

Some competitors post higher maximum towing numbers or offer true low-range 4WD. We’re not going to tell you otherwise. What the Ridgeline offers instead is a different kind of value: a car-like ride most trucks in this class can’t match, AWD standard on every trim, a quieter cabin, and In-Bed Trunk storage no direct competitor really replicates. Add in Honda’s reputation for reliability and resale value, and the case for the Ridgeline isn’t about winning every spec. It’s about a truck built for how most people actually use one.

Explore the 2026 Honda Ridgeline at Stevenson-Hendrick Honda Jacksonville

Stevenson-Hendrick Honda Jacksonville is located at 2221 N Marine Blvd in Jacksonville, NC, serving drivers throughout Richlands, New Bern, Swansboro, Morehead City, and Kinston. Our team can walk you through every 2026 Ridgeline trim and answer any questions the spec sheet doesn’t cover.

Explore our 2026 Ridgeline inventory online, or contact our team to schedule a test drive. The best way to know if the Ridgeline fits your life is to spend a few minutes behind the wheel.