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What Makes the Honda Ridgeline Such a Fantastic Daily Driver?
December 20 2024 - Ben Kettle
A red 2025 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E driving through a city.

This is a great question and one that we’re asked pretty frequently since a large number of drivers are interested in midsize trucks like the Ridgeline. Although there’s certainly a lot to be said for the power and capabilities of a full-size pickup, the Ridgeline’s size and features make it ideal for daily driving. In fact, as much as we like higher trim levels like the TrailSport for its remarkable off-road capabilities, the standard features you’ll find on a Honda Ridgeline for sale are ideal for a wide range of drivers. Let’s take a closer look at the 2025 Ridgeline Sport (the starting trim) and what it brings to the road; you’ll see why so many people choose this as the truck they want to drive day after day.

Bold Engineering and Great Performance

Whether you want something for enjoying each day or a dedicated work truck, ultimately a pickup is a pickup—that means you want to see solid power under that hood. This is something Honda understands; its reputation for dependable vehicles goes back a long time and has been earned time and again. The 2025 Honda Ridgeline features a 3.5L V6 engine that provides 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty of muscle for a midsize truck like this. It comes paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for a smooth and responsive drive, plus a coil spring independent rear suspension for added ride quality.

One of our favorite things about this truck is that Honda’s Intelligent Variable Torque Management all-wheel drive (AWD) system is standard on every trim. So even just going with the starting Sport trim, you get one of the most impressive AWD systems on the market to keep you in control no matter where you go or what Mother Nature throws at you. It even includes Intelligent Traction Management with modes for Normal, Snow, Sand, and Mud—this lets you adjust traction and control for a variety of situations. What you end up with is a truck that you’ll enjoy driving each day, with the perfect blend of features and engineering to keep you in control no matter where you need to go.

A Cabin You’ll Look Forward to Each Day

Exciting performance is absolutely vital in a truck, but we think it’s just as important that you have a vehicle you want to get into when it’s time to hit the road. Many of us grew up with barebones trucks several decades ago that were incredibly capable but far from comfortable. We’re a long way from that these days and the Honda Ridgeline is the perfect example of this with its plentiful standard features. For starters, you’ll find two rows of seats inside so five passengers can comfortably fit, with cloth seats (no vinyl here) that are welcoming and comfortable. A lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage gives you extra places to stow the things you need.

Honda even makes tri-zone automatic climate control standard for the Ridgeline so everyone who comes along with you can be quite comfortable. Comfort is one thing, but the Ridgeline also makes it easy to get going—something we can all appreciate on those rough weekday mornings. Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock gives you push button start to get going, plus you can hop out without worrying if you forget to lock your truck behind you. A nine-inch infotainment display with support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard and is paired with a seven-inch driver display and a seven-speaker sound system. Plus, there’s a standard wireless phone charger, making every day easier even if you discover you forgot to charge your phone the previous night.

A grey 2025 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E parked on rocky terrain and angled right.

Good Looks You’ll Want to Show Off

Of course, Honda isn’t going to stop at a comfortable interior that you’ll look forward to hopping into each day—the 2025 Ridgeline is just as impressive on the outside. You’ll find 18-inch Shark Gray alloy wheels on the Ridgeline Sport, wrapped in all-season tires that are perfect for daily driving. Illumination on the road is excellent thanks to LED low-beam headlights with auto-on/off functionality, plus LED brake lights and LED fog lights. Not only does the Ridgeline have a spacious bed for the stuff you need to bring with you, but a lockable in-bed trunk adds extra storage space to load up before you hit the road. You even get an integrated Class III trailer hitch with a seven-pin connector standard on the Ridgeline, with 5,000 lbs of towing capacity.

One of our favorite features of this truck is the dual-action tailgate—there are other trucks out there with interesting tailgates, but they’re often only an available option for higher trim levels. The Ridgeline comes with a standard dual-action tailgate that can open downward as you expect or swing to the side to give you easier access to the bed (including the in-bed trunk space) without climbing in. And if the impressive features and gorgeous design of the 2025 Ridgeline aren’t enough, the seven exterior colors, including Crystal Black Pearl, Solar Silver Metallic, and Platinum White Pearl, help this truck truly shine and look remarkable in your driveway.

Innovative Safety Features Perfect for Daily Driving

Choosing a truck as your daily driver means gaining the added capabilities and bold performance of a pickup, but it shouldn’t mean missing out on peace of mind or confidence on the road. Honda gets this, which is why every 2025 Ridgeline comes with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist features to help protect you on the road. This includes a Collision Mitigation Braking System and a Road Departure Mitigation System to help you avoid potential crashes and stay on the road no matter what life throws at you. Forward Collision Warning and a Lane Keeping Assist System are also included to enhance the other features and keep you safer.

Going beyond what you’ll find on a lot of other vehicles out there, the Ridgeline comes with a standard Blind Spot Information System to warn you when someone is lurking in your blind spot, along with Cross Traffic Monitor for when you’re in reverse, and a vehicle is about to cross behind you. All of these great features go along with other standard items like a Multi Angle Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines to provide you with a clear view behind while backing up. In other words, you can count on the Ridgeline to ensure you have a great drive as it keeps you in control, with extra assistance when you need it to avoid a collision, keep you from drifting from your lane, and much more.

High angle view of a red 2025 Honda Ridgeline Sport driving through a farm.

Ready to Take the Honda Ridgeline for a Drive?

As you can see, the Honda Ridgeline is something special: a powerful and capable midsize truck that’s just as good at running errands as it is at helping you get your job done. It’s easy to find parking spots wherever you go in this truck, plus it has terrific features inside and out to enhance your time on the road and provide you with an experience that you’ll enjoy every day. In addition to the base Sport trim, Honda offers more options to take your daily drive further, such as the RTL trim with its leather-trimmed interior and one-touch power moonroof, but even the standard features on this truck are perfect for many of us. Now, we think it’s time for you to take a Ridgeline for a spin and experience why so many people make this truck the one they count on day after day.