Next-Gen Honda Ridgeline First Peek: It Looks a Lot More Like a Truck - The Drive

What the report says

The Drive reports that Honda has confirmed a new generation of its Ridgeline pickup is in development and is expected to arrive “within two years.” The publication says Honda released a dark teaser image Thursday showing a noticeably more upright, squared-off design direction for the midsize truck, which has been in its current generation since 2016.

According to The Drive, the next Ridgeline is being styled at Honda’s Southern California design studio and engineered in Ohio. The teaser suggests a more conventional truck profile, including a straighter front bumper, higher stance, visible bed separation and all-terrain tires. The article notes that Honda has not disclosed powertrain details, though it speculates the model could share components with the newer Passport SUV. That remains unconfirmed.

The Drive also reports that the next Ridgeline will continue to be built at Honda’s Alabama Auto Plant. Honda plans to pause Ridgeline production later this year to prepare for the new model, a timeline the article says aligns with earlier reporting that the pickup would be off the market for about 18 months.

The update matters because the Ridgeline has long occupied an unusual place in the pickup segment: it uses a unibody layout rather than the body-on-frame construction common among traditional trucks. That has helped distinguish it for comfort and practicality, while also making it a target of criticism from some truck buyers. Based on the teaser, Honda appears to be moving the next model toward a tougher visual identity while retaining the platform approach associated with the nameplate.