The Redesigned 2021 Honda Ridgeline Still Has a Minivan Soul
As rugged as the new look for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is, it still shares a platform with the Honda Odyssey minivan. But Honda knows its stuff, and that isn’t exactly a bad thing. It’s one of the reasons this Honda pickup truck sits at the top of its class. Even if we think it’s a positive, the fact remains. The redesigned Honda Ridgeline still has a minivan soul.
What platform is the Honda Ridgeline built on?
According to Honda, the redesigned Honda Ridgeline is built over “Honda’s proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure.” While there are tweaks to the frame build to compensate for the truck bed and slightly larger stance, the all-new 2021 Ridgeline sits atop the same platform as a Honda Odyssey.
This is a contributing factor to the Ridgeline’s balanced and composed handling. Plus, it’s smoother and quieter on pavement than its competition. At the time of this writing, the Honda Ridgeline is the only 2021 compact pickup truck model with a unibody configuration. Others like the Toyota Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger are body-on-frame trucks.
Is the 2022 Honda Odyssey minivan on the same platform as the Honda pickup truck?
Yes, these two Honda models share a platform. We took a look at the stats on the bottom of the page of Car and Driver‘s review of the 2022 Honda Odyssey minivan and the redesigned Ridgeline truck. We see the same engine and the same suspension. However, the Honda Odyssey minivan shows some smaller dimensions.
Plus, there is one major difference between the redesigned Ridgeline and the 2022 Odyssey. The 2021 Honda Ridgeline comes standard in every trim with an all-wheel-drive powertrain. The Honda Odyssey minivan doesn’t share this similarity with its pickup truck pal.
Does the Honda Odyssey minivan have AWD?
No, the 2022 Honda Odyssey still doesn’t offer all-wheel drive (AWD). Currently, the only AWD minivans in the segment are the Toyota Sienna and the Chrysler Pacifica. While the 2022 Honda Odyssey shares the same strong and refined V6 powertrain with the redesigned Ridgeline truck, it does not boast an AWD option.
This is perhaps the starkest difference between these two vehicles in the Honda lineup. While on the outside they couldn’t be more different––a rugged Honda pickup truck and a family van with sliding doors––on the inside, they are very much the same. However, the Ridgeline comes standard with an AWD powertrain while the Odyssey doesn’t even offer the option.
Are they the same price?
Roughly, yes. The 2022 Honda Odyssey starts a few grand lower and tops out higher. It also offers one more trim level than the redesigned Ridgeline truck. According to Car and Driver, starting prices range from $33,265 to $49,995 including the destination fee.
The 2021 Honda Ridgeline starting price begins a little higher than the Odyssey, but tops out lower. The all-new Honda pickup truck has a starting price range from $37,665 to $45,095 including the destination fee––according to Car and Driver. It makes sense that the family-oriented Odyssey would start at a more budget-friendly price point.
Overall, these two vehicles are pretty similar. They share technology, engine, and suspension engineering. The Odyssey is an amazing vehicle that even a pickup truck shouldn’t be ashamed to have things in common with. That said, there’s no denying that the 2021 Honda Ridgeline still has a minivan soul.
