By In the segment of mid-size trucks, this model stands out for many reasons. It is the only unibody truck on the market, which puts focus rather on driving characteristics and comfort than on working capabilities. Therefore, it’s the main choice of all those truck drivers who don’t necessarily need a 7.000-pound towing capacity or a vehicle for some other hard tasks. However, even this kind of loneliness has managed to make Honda designers busy. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline comes with notable updates.
First of all, there is a new transmission, but also more safety features, new infotainment system etc. All these things should help Ridgeline to retain or even boost sales in the segment that is becoming popular once again.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Gets New Transmission
We will start with the most important updates for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is a new 9-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the current 6-speed unit. There is no doubt that this change will be highly beneficial in terms of ride quality, even though the current model is already characterized by a pretty smooth ride and great overall comfort. Of course, the new transmission should also improve mpg ratings slightly. Once again, keep in mind that the outgoing model is already pretty good in this aspect, as it returns around 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Of course, the 2020 Honda Ridgeline will carry on with a well-known 3.5-liter V6, which is good for about 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.
More Safety Features
Another big update we should mention is that all 2020 Honda Ridgeline models will come standard with the company’s well-known Honda Sensing suite of safety systems. This suite consists of various safety goodies, such as collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control. Of course, that’s not all about safety, as the list of standard and available features also include things like Honda LaneWatch (a blind spot camera), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors etc.
Trim Levels
The Japanese manufacturer has also reorganized trim levels. More precisely two basic trims, RT and RTL-T, have been removed. Therefore, things are much simpler now, as you can pick between four versions – Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. Considering that the Sport has been some kind of low mid-range option, all 2020 Honda Ridgeline models come with more standard equipment. This also means a higher starting price. The new model comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, as well as with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Also, there are new available features like LED low beams for the headlights, an eight-way power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support, and ambient interior lighting.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Comes Without Styling Changes
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline comes with nice updates but the styling remains the same. Practically, the aforementioned LED low beams are the only styling novelty, but that doesn’t mean there are no other exterior changes. There is a new remote-locking tailgate, while we should also mention a much wider door opening.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Release Date and Price
As we already mentioned, Sport is now the entry-level trim, so the price is now higher compared to the outgoing model. Instead of 31.000, it starts at almost 35.000 dollars. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline will hit the market next week. While we are waiting to see the new unibody pickup truck from Hyundai, this truck continues to compete with conventional BoF models like Tacoma, Colorado etc.
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