After the Passport and the Pilot, it's now the Ridgeline's turn to benefit from enhanced off-road capabilities. The Trailsport variant is being added to Honda's truck lineup for 2024. It comes with a plethora of improvements that will make off-road driving more enjoyable than ever.
As I recently tested the Pilot Trailsport, I can tell you that this is excellent news for the Japanese automaker's truck. This new version allows Honda to expand the Ridgeline's offerings and target a broader audience.
Real Off-Road Capabilities
The first thing to know about the Trailsport version is that it's much more than just a cosmetic package. Engineers have completely overhauled the suspension to improve its off-road driving qualities. Additionally, protective plates have been added underneath the truck for more extreme trail conditions. Nevertheless, despite all these modifications, the engineers ensured that the Ridgeline doesn't compromise on comfort and maintains a road behavior as solid as the other versions of the model.
In terms of tires, Honda has chosen 245-millimeter-wide General Grabber AT Sport tires. These tires have been specially designed to provide maximum grip in the harshest conditions while retaining the same qualities as regular tires on the road.
One of the significant advantages of the Honda Ridgeline Trailsport compared to its competitors lies in its innovative i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system, which can send up to 70% of the power to the rear wheels when needed. This system is also combined with torque vectoring technology, which means that power can be distributed completely to one wheel or the other.
The Honda Ridgeline Trailsport also receives some aesthetic enhancements and an exclusive sky blue paint. You can notably see the "Ridgeline" name stamped in large letters on the rear tailgate, which is quite striking.
Updates Across the Range
It's not just the Trailsport version that brings new features to the Ridgeline lineup for 2024. The Japanese manufacturer's truck now comes with a new 9-inch touchscreen display as standard for the entire range.
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline offerings have been slightly reduced compared to the 2023 model, with the removal of the EX-L and Touring versions. The lineup for 2024 consists of the Sport, Trailsport, and Black Edition versions.
There are no mechanical changes for the Japanese manufacturer's truck in 2024. The entire Ridgeline range still features the 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline Trailsport is expected to arrive at dealerships this winter, according to the manufacturer's statements.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
