The 2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport is one of those trucks that makes a lot of sense on paper and even more sense once you spend a week with it. It rides like an SUV, hauls like a truck, and comes backed by the kind of Honda reliability that makes 200,000 miles feel like a reasonable expectation rather than a optimistic dream.
PRO: Drives Like a Car
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport’s unibody construction delivers a ride that feels closer to Honda’s own Pilot than any body-on-frame rival, soaking up road imperfections with a composure that makes competitor trucks disconnected by comparison.
PRO: Multi-Functional Bed
The Ridgeline’s 5-foot-4-inch bed punches well above its size with eight 350-pound-rated tie-down cleats, a lockable in-bed trunk with waterproof underfloor storage, and sides low enough that you can actually reach in without climbing up like you would on a full-size truck.
PRO: Trailsport Function
The TrailSport comes from the factory with an off-road-tuned suspension, underbody skid plates, and all-terrain tires that give it a legitimate edge over the standard Ridgeline when the pavement runs out, all without turning it into a jarring, stiff ride you have to suffer through the other five days of the week.
PRO: Honda Reliability
Honda has consistently ranked among the top brands in long-term reliability studies, and the Ridgeline’s proven V6 and 9-speed automatic combination has none of the turbocharger complexity or hybrid teething issues showing up in newer Tacoma and Ranger powertrains, making it a genuinely smart bet for anyone planning to put 200,000 miles on a truck without a lot of drama.
CON: Lack of Full Digital Gauge Cluster
In a segment where the 2026 Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger are rolling out fully digital gauge clusters as standard equipment, the Ridgeline TrailSport’s analog-heavy instrument panel feels like it belongs in a truck from five years ago, which is a tough sell at a starting price north of $45,000.
CON: Soft on the Actual Offroad
Despite the TrailSport badge and off-road suspension tuning, the Ridgeline has no low-range gearing and limited wheel articulation, which puts it firmly behind some its more offroad aggressive competitors when the trail gets genuinely technical, and no amount of all-terrain tires changes that fundamental limitation.
