Topping compact pickup truck lists across the board, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is here to prove that a unibody truck can still bring it. The recent redesign of the Ridgeline gives it a new style that looks better than ever. That said, we think the redesigned 2021 Honda Ridgeline is cool but insensibly expensive.

There’s a lot to love about this truck. It’s nice on the inside––basically identical to a new Honda Pilot. Anyone will tell you that the 2021 Honda Ridgeline has the best road manners out of every other compact pickup truck.

However, with a starting price of $36,490 some might say it’s way to expensive to prove worth it. With such inferior towing and hauling abilities, what’s the point of buying a truck this expensive? We agree it’s cool. And we realize it’s an unrivaled daily driver among other trucks. Still, it just seems like the cost is a bit high.

How much is a Honda Ridgeline?

If you want to buy a new Honda Ridgeline, it’s going to cost at least $36,490. Trust me, we get it. The newest model looks better than ever. Honda gave the curvy nice an aggressive makeover. In addition, there’s a new package in collaboration with Honda Performance Development. But how much does all that cost? And why is the Ridgeline so expensive?

For a 2021 Honda Ridgeline with the HPD package, the starting price is advertised at $39,290. The package costs $2,800. Buyers can add it to any trim. Plus, every 2021 Honda Ridgeline comes with standard all-wheel drive (AWD).

But how much is a fully loaded redesigned 2021 Honda Ridgeline with the HPD package? The Honda Ridgeline Black Edition is the highest trim for this compact pickup truck. The Black Edition Ridgeline starts at $43,920. Add the HPD package and you’re looking at $46,720.

How much does a pickup truck cost?

Pickup truck prices vary greatly according to the make, model, and trim level. To put things into perspective, the 2021 Ford F-150 starts at $28,940. The 2021 Ford Ranger starts at $24,820. These trucks are going to have fewer standard features, sure.

But overall you are getting more truck for fewer dollars. The 2021 Ford F-150 has the Honda Ridgeline so outdone in terms of towing and hauling alone. If you want a truck because they are capable and work hard, the expensive Honda Ridgeline may not be your top pick.

2021 Honda Ridgeline towing and hauling

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline obviously doesn’t tow as much as an F-150. But how much can it tow? According to this article by MotorBiscuit’s Sarah Brennan, the Ridgeline is capable of pulling up to 5,000 pounds.

In addition, this quality little compact pickup truck is also rated for up to 1,580 pounds of payload brawn. So it actually is capable of doing plenty for the weekend adventurer. Plus, all the new accessories offered come tailored to their specific purpose. For example, the bed extender for hauling motorcycles is shaped differently than a regular extension package.

You get what you pay for

While the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is cool, it might be insensibly expensive. This may be one of those instances where you get what you pay for. Each model gets a long list of standard safety and driver assistance features. Plus, every Ridgeline is AWD with standard V6 power.

It’s also a higher-quality cabin and driving experience than the rest of the compact pickup truck pack. So it may be one of the most expensive but it’s also inarguably one of the best trucks. Unless you actually want a truck for serious off-roading or workhorse levels of payload and towing strength, you may find that the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is a compact pickup truck that’s worth every penny.