The ’23 Ridgeline is available in four distinct trim levels: Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. All are given their gusto by a 3.5-liter V6 that provokes 280 hp and 262 lb.-ft. of torque and has the grunt to tow up to 5,000 pounds. This powerplant is paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission that routs power to an all-wheel drivetrain. As far as fuel economy, each trim returns an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.
The Sport comes with plenty of useful features for work and leisure, starting with a cargo bed that provides 33.9 cubic feet of cargo space and has a lockable in-bed trunk and eight heavy-duty tie-down cleats. This base trim also gets LED headlights with automatic high beams, LED taillights, a dual-action tailgate, Honda’s Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock, push-button ignition, tri-zone automatic climate control, a HomeLink universal garage door opener, an overhead holder for sunglasses, and a 60/40-split flip-up rear seat with a hidden storage bin.
In the technology department, the Honda Sensing bundle of advanced driver-assist technologies comes standard, adding forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, and lane departure warning. To keep everyone charged and connected in the Sport, there two USB ports (one for smartphone/audio and the other for charging), are two 12-volt power outlets, and HondaLink remote vehicle services. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system unites a 7-speaker sound system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and an SMS text messaging assistant.
The RTL’s is upgraded with a power-sliding moonroof and rear window, leather seats (heated and power-adjustable in the front row), heated exterior mirrors with built-in turn-signal indicators, LED reading lights, illuminated vanity mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and position memory for the driver’s seat and side mirrors and driver’s seat. Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert augments the safety suite, while the infotainment setup adds SiriusXM satellite radio.
The RTL-E stacks the deck with a series of plush upgrades, from a heated steering wheel to programmable remote entry. The interior is also improved with illuminated beverage holders, blue ambient interior lighting, a conversation mirror, and courtesy door lights. Front and rear sensors are added for more confident parking. Those who choose this trim will appreciate the nice medley of connectivity upgrades: wireless phone charging, a pair of second-row USB charging ports, a 150-watt/400-watt truck-bed power outlet, and a superior infotainment system with navigation, voice recognition, HD radio, and an 8-speaker sound system with truck bed speakers and a subwoofer.
The Black Edition is upgraded to the same degree as the RTL-E, but with some aesthetic differences: red ambient interior lighting and blacked-out exterior features.
Four upgrade packages are offered for each Ridgeline trim: Function, Function+, HPD (Black or Bronze), and Utility. The Function and Function+ packages both have cargo nets, in-bed trunk dividers, and a first-aid kit, but the Function+ Package includes a rigid cargo-area cover. The HPD Black and Bronze packages come with fender flares, a special HPD grille, HPD emblems, and a sticker package, but the color of their wheels (black or bronze) is determined by the color option in the name. For added functionality, the Utility Package issues crossbars, roof rails, and running boards.