Honda is a Japanese automaker well-known for its great sedans and SUVs, such as the Civic and the CR-V. That being said, the company also has a pickup truck in its lineup, the Ridgeline, and although it’s gotten great reviews from critics, it’s trailed more popular trucks in terms of sales. That may change soon, however, as Honda Ridgeline sales are catching up with the praise that it receives. 

Here’s how the Honda Ridgeline is doing right now

Honda recently published the company’s sales figures for March 2023, and it’s excellent news for the auto giant. In March 2023, Honda sold just over 5,100 units of the Ridgeline in the U.S. That represents a huge jump in sales compared to last year. In March 2022, the Japanese automaker sold just over 3,300 units of the midsize pickup truck.

This means that Honda sold just over 1,750 more Ridgeline units in March 2023 than in March 2022, which is an increase of over 52%. That was the second-largest growth in sales in Honda’s lineup. Only the Honda Odyssey, which saw its sales numbers grow by over 61%, had a better increase. This wasn’t just a fluke, either. 

When the Ridgeline’s sales numbers for the year are added, it’s clear that the truck is selling better than before. Year-to-date, Honda has sold just over 12,900 units of the truck. In 2022, the Ridgeline’s sales numbers for the same time period resulted in just under 9,200 units. That’s a difference of about 3,700 units. It also means that year-to-date, the Ridgeline is selling about 40% better than last year.

Honda Ridgeline sales haven’t matched reviews

This is a change of pace as the Honda Ridgeline, around since the 2006 model year, has had consistent but disappointing sales numbers. Obviously, the midsize truck has been selling well enough for Honda to keep updating it. However, the truck’s sales numbers are disappointing when it’s taken in context of how well it’s reviewed. 

Car critics routinely rate the Ridgeline highly, but that hasn’t translated into sales. This difference in opinion may just come down to taste. The Ridgeline isn’t a traditional truck since it has a unibody construction, the same type of construction as sedans and crossover SUVs. In comparison, most of the Ridgeline’s competitors have a body-on-frame type of construction. 

There are more differences, but they likely explain why the Ridgeline has hovered at around 40,000 units of sales annually since it was reintroduced in the 2017 model year. The good news for Honda is that this recent jump in sales could mean that the midsize pickup truck is turning a new corner.

What this recent jump in sales could mean for the Honda Ridgeline

Last year, the Japanese auto giant sold just under 43,000 units of the Honda Ridgeline. That was the best year for the truck in over a decade. If the Ridgeline’s sales continue to grow as they have in the first quarter of 2023, then 2023 may be the Ridgeline’s second best-selling year. More importantly, though, it also means that more car shoppers are paying attention to the Ridgeline.

That’s more important than ever since pickup trucks have historically sold very well in America. Based on these recent sales numbers, the Ridgeline seems capable of holding its own and may become a dominant midsize truck in the future.