Honda’s recent run of award success continues with the 2023 Ridgeline earning a ‘Best Buy’ rating from Consumer Guide, coming out on top in the compact pickup truck category.

The award is based on a wide range of independently assessed factors, including performance, features, value, fuel efficiency, and test drive evaluation. The 2023 success marks the seventh straight year that the Ridgeline has been recognized and the eighth time in the last nine. Here are the key elements that place the Ridgeline at the head of the compact pickup pack.

Eye-Catching Looks

It’s not always easy for a pickup to stand out from the crowd, but the Ridgeline offers a pleasingly distinctive outline that marries robust ruggedness with the softening effect of modern aerodynamics. The front end is almost SUV-like, giving the Ridgeline an excellent road presence, with a spacious four-door cabin and a 162.5cm bed following behind.

Overall, this Honda delivers the utility of a pickup with the looks of a family crossover, creating a versatile vehicle that’s equally at home cruising the city streets or tackling tough worksite tasks.

Power to Rely On

The Ridgeline’s dimensions might be at the smaller end of the pickup range, but there’s nothing undersized about its powertrain. Based around a 3.5L V6 gas engine making 280 horsepower and 262lb-ft of torque, there’s plenty of grunt available for both sprightly acceleration and strenuous load carrying.

To complete the powertrain, the hefty output is passed through a nine-speed automatic transmission before reaching all-wheel drive as standard, with a selection of drive modes that tailor its responses to varying conditions.

Payload and Towing

There’s no doubt that the Ridgeline can handle smooth everyday driving with ease, but the more demanding parts of the performance equation hold up equally well. For a compact truck, it offers some impressive capability figures, with a maximum payload of 694kg in the pickup bed and up to 2,272kg in trailer weight following behind.

Interior Comfort and Infotainment

The Ridgeline’s cabin draws plenty of inspiration from Honda’s range of family SUVs, and this shows clearly in the high level of comfort and technology provided on every model. Heated front seats are standard, with ventilation and leather upholstery available as options. Tri-zone climate control extends the upscale feel, while an acoustic windshield combines with active noise cancellation to deliver lower fatigue on longer journeys.

A 4.2-inch colour digital display sits behind the wheel to provide essential driving information, backed by an 8-inch touchscreen for controlling the infotainment and comfort functions. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a bilingual Bluetooth system, with extra device integration available through wireless charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and multiple USB ports throughout the cabin provide smartphone compatibility.

Advanced Safety and Driver Assist

The Ridgeline’s commonalities with the SUV class continue with the generous level of active safety technology it offers, an area where pickup trucks too often lag behind. Key standard features include:

• Forward-collision warnings with automatic emergency braking if necessary
• Lane-departure warnings with automatic lane keep assist
• Road-departure warnings with steering and braking mitigation
• Adaptive cruise control for super-smooth highway cruising

Test Drive the Award-Winning 2023 Honda Ridgeline

If you’re looking for a compact but versatile pickup with the power to handle your most demanding tasks, the Honda Ridgeline won’t let you down. To discover why the 2023 model has earned its Best Buy status, please book a test-drive by clicking on the button below.

Please Note: The details of this article were accurate at the time it was written. Manufacturers may change the details of any vehicle’s specifications without notice.