7 Reasons You Should Wait For the 2028 Honda Ridgeline, And Clever Design Isn't Even the Best Part!

The 2028 Honda Ridgeline is worth the wait for seven big reasons, and clever design isn't even the best part. If the Ridgeline always looked too soft or outdated to you, this redesign is going to fix it. Most people think a unibody pickup can never be truly rugged. The third generation is about to prove them wrong, with real off-road hardware and a smooth V6 hybrid. Number 7. New Rugged Look The first reason is the one you'll notice from across a parking lot. Honda's been selling 4,000 to 5,000 Ridgelines every month, year after year. Owners love its comfort, its versatility, and its reliability. But the styling has always held it back. Too mild, too car-like, and too quiet for a segment full of muscular designs. The third generation is going to fix exactly that. Honda's VP of Auto Sales, Lance Wolfer, is already promising a more rugged design and even more capability. Designers in California are shaping the body, while engineers in Ohio are working out the details underneath. Expect new LED headlights, a reworked grille, and a tougher bumper. Around the back, the tall, slim taillights are making way for a horizontal layout. As a result, the truck is going to look wider and more planted. Picture the upright, boxy attitude of the new Passport, translated into pickup form. If looks kept you out of a ridgeline until now, this is the generation worth waiting for. But a tough face means very little if the truck can't back it up once the pavement ends, and that's exactly where Honda is heading next. 6. More off-road capable than ever The current Trailsport brought all-terrain tires and steel skid plates. Still, it always felt more like a promise than a true trail machine. For 2028, the Trailsport is going to follow the new Passport Trailsport, and that changes everything. Anyone who has driven a rutted forest road knows the sound of rocks scraping against the underbody. One wrong line and a relaxing weekend turns into a repair bill. That's why the new Trailsport is getting serious hardware exactly where it counts. Ground clearance will climb by about 1.4 inches to a total of 9.65 inches. That's more than many traditional off-roaders offer straight from the factory. Honda is also reworking roughly 70% of the major suspension parts, adding longer rebound travel. In simple terms, the tires will stay planted on the ground, even when the trail twists and tilts. Protection is coming too, with two 4mm-thick steel skid plates guarding the engine, Transmission and fuel tank. Bright orange front recovery hooks will be there when things go wrong. The Trailsport is going to ride on 31-inch all-terrain tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels. The TrailWatch camera system will be standard as well. Its lens cleans itself whenever the wipers activate. Underneath, the latest iVT M4 all-wheel drive will send up to 70% of torque to the rear. And when one rear wheel loses grip, all of that torque can go to the other one. If you camp, hunt, or fish far from the asphalt, this will be the trim to wait for. But rough terrain asks for something else, too. Power that arrives smoothly and instantly. That's where the biggest mechanical news of this generation enters the picture. Number 5. V6 Hybrid Powertrain For years, Honda fans watched hybrids arrive in the Accord, Civic, and CR-V, while the bigger models waited. That wait is finally ending. The new Ridgeline is going to introduce a brand new V6 hybrid powertrain, built for Honda's larger models. The system pairs a V6 with up to three electric motors. On all-wheel drive versions, the third one drives the rear axle. Honda is targeting more than 30% better fuel economy than its gas-only V6 models. At the same time, acceleration is going to improve by more than 10%. That points to 26 miles per gallon combined and 0-60 in about 6 seconds. Now think about what most rivals Okay. A small turbo four-cylinder that drones on the highway, strains under load, and delivers power in uneven bursts. This is where the Ridgeline is about to pull clearly ahead. Six cylinders plus instant electric torque will deliver a level of smoothness no four-cylinder rival can match. Put simply, merging onto the highway with a trailer behind you should feel calm, quiet, and effortless. If you want lower fuel bills without giving up refinement, the Hybrid will be the version to watch. But even the smoothest powertrain needs a cabin worth spending hours in, and Honda has big plans there as well. 4. All-New Interior The current Ridgeline cabin has always been roomy and well-built, but next to the latest Pilot and Passport, it feels like it belongs to another era. That gap is about to close, as the 2028 model brings an all-new interior from the dashboard up. A completely new dashboard is coming, together with a fresh steering wheel and higher quality materials across the cabin. Build quality is moving up a level too, with tighter fits and more premium surfaces. If the Passport is any guide, physical buttons and knobs will stay on the center stack. That's a welcome choice in a segment where rivals keep burying basic controls inside touchscreens. Even better, the clever ideas aren't going anywhere. Thanks to its shared SUV platform, the cabin will stay one of the roomiest in the class. And out back, the in-bed trunk and the dual-action tailgate will keep doing what no rival can. For anyone who spends long hours behind the wheel, this upgrade alone could justify the wait. Still, a beautiful dashboard needs smart technology behind it, and that's the next big leap. Number 3. New Technology Technology has never been the Ridgeline's strongest suit. Rivals have been racing ahead with bigger screens and smarter software, while the Ridgeline played it safe. The third generation is going to close that gap in a big way. Few things are more irritating than a phone that drops its connection halfway through a trip. When you're towing through unfamiliar territory, that small annoyance quickly turns into real stress. That's why Honda's latest Google built-in system is such a meaningful upgrade. Google Maps and Google Assistant will live right inside the dashboard, with no phone required. On top of that, Honda is adding Gemini AI capability. You'll be able to ask for directions, change settings, or get answers in plain, everyday language. In front of the driver, a fully digital instrument cluster is coming. Next to it, a larger central touchscreen will follow the latest Pilot's style. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will round out the package. If outdated tech has been a deal-breaker, this upgrade is going to make the Ridgeline feel truly current. But not every buyer wants a hybrid, and Honda knows it. That brings us to an old favorite with some new tricks. 2. Upgraded V6 Not everyone is ready to go hybrid, and that's perfectly fine. The new Ridgeline will keep the trusted 3.5-liter V6 on the menu. However, it won't simply carry over unchanged. This engine family has been part of Honda's story for around three decades, earning a reputation for durability. Now, it's getting the same treatment the Passport already received. That means 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, up from today's 280 horsepower. More importantly, the old 9-speed automatic is making way for a smoother 10-speed automatic. The extra gears are going to help both refinement and efficiency. Towing capacity will stay at a strong 5,000 pounds. The biggest advantage here is simplicity. There are no turbochargers to worry about and no battery systems to maintain. Just a naturally aspirated V6 that builds power in a predictable, linear way. If you value proven mechanicals and long-term peace of mind, this will be the engine to choose. And that leads straight to the part that makes the whole package so tempting. The price. Number 1. Strong Value With this many upgrades, you might be bracing for a painful jump in price. Surprisingly, that's not going to happen. Despite the full redesign, the new Ridgeline won't bring any significant price increase. Today, the Ridgeline starts at around $42,000 with Destination included. Honda's recent moves show how serious it is about holding that line. The redesigned Passport Trailsport added all its new hardware for only $1,300 to $1,500 more. Meanwhile, some hybrid rivals are already climbing close to $68,000. In other words, the Ridgeline is about to offer far more truck for nearly the same money. If value matters as much as capability, waiting for the 2028 model will be the smartest move. Put it all together, and the picture becomes clear. The 2028 Ridgeline is going to keep what owners love, from the in-bed trunk to the dual-action tailgate. But it will also add a rugged look, real off-road hardware, a V6 hybrid, and a modern cabin. And it's going to do all of that without a big jump in price. For years, the Ridgeline was the truck smart buyers respected, but rarely got excited about. The third generation is about to change that for good. With all these updates and upgrades, the Ridgeline is about to become more competitive than ever. The only potential problem is that new rivals are arriving in the segment, starting with the revived Ram Dakota you can check out in our next video. The legendary nameplate is coming back, with an excellent mix of utility and convenience.