By North America’s most comfortable pickup truck is about to get some very interesting novelties next year and one of them is 2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid. The famous light truck has been around for years and the current model represents the second generation, which is active for about two years.
Considering its age, it seems very likely to see a mid-cycle refresh pretty soon. Though these updates are mostly about visual upgrades, Honda plans something different. Besides usual cosmetic updates, the 2020 Honda Ridgeline will also come with a new powertrain. We are about to see one of the first electrified trucks on the market, with an advanced hybrid system that won’t sacrifice great performances for good fuel economy. Moreover, it should be even more capable than the standard version.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid Design
In terms of base design characteristics, the 2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid won’t be much different compared to the base model. This truck is a little bit different compared to the rest of the models in class. In this case, the focus is on comfort and smooth ride, instead of things like towing, hauling etc. So, the truck actually rides on a unibody platform, the same one that underpins the Pilot SUV.
Moreover, these two models share most of the parts, both in terms of mechanics and aesthetics. Considering that the base model will probably come with some visual upgrades, we can expect Hybrid version to follow all these changes. Compared to the current model, we are about to see plenty of new details, mostly at the front, in areas like the grille, front fascia, bumpers etc. Still, the base contour will remain largely the same.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid Interior Design
On the inside, the upcoming update probably won’t bring more important changes. So, we are about to see a familiar cabin design. Compared to other models in class, you can find much more refinement in this one. The first things you’ll notice is a car-like dashboard layout, which comes with a lot of curvy lines. Also, you can count on hi-quality soft-touch materials all around the cabin. In terms of leg and headroom, this model has been a class-leader all these years, so we don’t have any doubt that the 2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid will continue in the same way.
Same goes for tech and convenience features. This version will most likely be on par with higher trims of the gasoline version. In practice, this would mean that some of the notable standard features should be things like 8-inch touchscreen, smartphone integration, navigation, tri-zone automatic climate control, sunroof and much more.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid Safety Features
Another reason why this pickup truck stands out from the crowd is a generous list of safety systems. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid will most likely feature all as standard features. First of all, it is worth to mention that this truck received a five-star overall rating on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash test. In terms of safety systems, some of the most notable are parking sensors, rearview camera, LaneWatch (a blind spot camera), blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, as well as Honda’s famous Sensing suite. This package includes numerous advanced driver-assist features. some of them are collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, lane keep assist and much more.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid Powertrain
Finally few words about the most interesting part of the upcoming version. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid will come with a pretty interesting hybrid configuration. Though many believe that it could be the same system that powers the Accord Hybrid, we are pretty sure that the company will go for something much more powerful. The Accord’s hybrid is definitely a great system. It offers amazing fuel economy but doesn’t feature enough power for a truck.
So, the solution would be a hybrid system from Acura’s luxury mid-size crossover MDX. This system uses the company’s new 3.0-liter V6 engine, which comes in a combination with two electric motors. Such combination delivers around 321 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque, which seems like a perfect measure for this truck. This is practically 30 horses more compared to the base gasoline version. On the other side, you can count on a much better fuel economy. This powertrain comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which sends power to all wheels.
Honda Ridgeline Hybrid Release Date and Price
Considering such significant novelties, the 2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid will most likely come earlier than usual. This would mean sometime in the second half of next year. When it comes to the price, you should consider that this will be a fully-loaded truck in terms of standard equipment, comparable with highest trim levels of the standard gasoline version. So, we are pretty sure that the 2020 Honda Ridgeline Hybrid will cost more than 40.000 dollars.
At this point, it is early to talk about potential rivals. Several carmakers are considering hybrid powertrains for the future, but we still didn’t get any confirmation. Until we get some official information, consider upcoming diesel versions of models like Chevy Colorado and Toyota Tacoma as potential competitors.
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