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People will say that the Honda Ridgeline isn’t a real truck because of its unibody design. However, that just means that it’s a more comfortable truck with SUV-like handling. However, how does the Honda Ridgeline TrailSport compare for off-roading? 

Is the Honda Ridgeline TrailSport good for off-roading? 

Sort of. The Honda Ridgeline TrailSport is good for light off-roading and can conquer gravel or dirt roads with ease. When it comes to climbing steep inclines or over rocks, it can start to have some trouble. 

The team at Cars.com put it to the test to see how far they could push it. The first real off-roading issue with the Ridgeline is related to its ground clearance. 

The TrailSport model doesn’t have a suspension lift, so it only has a ground clearance of 7.6 inches, which is pretty short, especially compared to other trucks. 

Even the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness beats it at 8.3-inches. Also, the Toyota Tacoma has up to 11 inches of ground clearance and the Jeep Gladiator reaches 11.6 inches. 

However, at least a steel skid plate protects the oil pan. In the front, a plastic skid plate protects from water and debris. It’s helpful, but rivals have metal skid plates in the front. Another plastic skid plate can be found in the rear to protect the fuel tank. 

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport fording water
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport | Honda

The second issue is related to overheating. The Honda Ridgeline TrailSport was taken on grades of about 40%, which requires a solid amount of torque. 

It has a modern AWD system to simulate limited slip and locking differentials, but a low-range transfer case would help it get moving.

The lack of a low-range transfer case caused the dual-clutch transmission to start overheating. The truck provided a warning but didn’t go into limp mode or become bricked. 

It allowed the driver to keep going, which is beneficial in an emergency situation but could damage the system. It only took a few minutes to cool off. 

The AWD system is excellent at distributing power to where it’s needed. With wheels in the air, the truck was able to gain enough traction to climb over light obstacles. It’s perfectly equipped for lighter adventures.

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Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.