It’s no secret, the Honda Ridgeline has never really been the most popular mid-size truck. And that is despite the fact that critics and journalists seem to praise this pickup consistently. Although the 2022 Ridgeline features a standard V6 and all-wheel drive, it seems like that is not enough for most truck buyers. Especially those who want to take their pickup on the road less traveled. 

Can you go off-road in a 2022 Honda Ridgeline?

In terms of off-road ability, the 2022 Ridgeline is not the best. It has unibody construction and lacks features such as a locking differential that are found in other mid-size trucks. Now, the 2022 Ridgeline does feature AWD. And that should help it handle some light off-road duty. 

Unfortunately, having AWD does mean that this mid-size truck does lack a more capable four-wheel drive system. But, you should be able to do things like drive on a beach fairly easily. 

What kind of engine does the 2022 Ridgeline have?

Under the hood of each Honda Ridgeline is a 3.5-liter V6 engine. This powerplant makes 280 horsepower and 262 pound-foot of torque. And while it is nice that Honda makes six cylinders standard, it doesn’t seem like that has convinced buyers to purchase its pickup.

Most other mid-size trucks will make you pay extra for a V6, but that is not the case with the Ridgeline. And Car and Driver does note that this pickup does off smooth delivery of power. And that is not always the case when it comes to trucks. 

Something that also helps the 2022 Ridgeline have a comfortable ride is its coil-sprung independent rear suspension. This makes the Ridgeline behave more like a car than a truck. 

How expensive is the Honda Ridgeline?

The Ridgeline is not necessarily a cheap truck. Its MSRP starts at around $40,000. If you are interested in buying this truck, a variety of trim levels are offered. The best mix of value and features might be the RTL trim.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline RTL comes with heated seats, leather interior, and power front seats. Because of this, it feels more premium than the base Sport model. 

Why doesn’t the Ridgeline sell well?

There are likely multiple factors that keep the Ridgeline from being a popular truck. While its unibody construction does make it comfortable, most truck owners enjoy the connected feeling to the road that a body-on-frame vehicle has. Plus, the Ridgeline lacks serious off-road chops. And even for those whose truck will never see a trail, off-road capability is something to be appreciated.

The other factor is price. On other mid-size trucks like the 2022 Nissan Frontier, $40,000 gets you quite a bit of truck. It does seem like the price of the Ridgeline might be too high for its own good. Even on the used market, the Ridgeline can be fairly expensive. But, even though the Ridgeline does not sell well, it’s still around. And for the right buyer, it might be the perfect pickup.