2020 Honda Ridgeline Arrives With More Standard Equipment

The Honda Ridgeline pickup is getting an update for the 2020 model year, but not without a hefty addition to its price tag.

For the coming year, the midsize pickup gets a new nine-speed automatic transmission as well as a slew of more standard features that include an upgraded infotainment system and standard driver-assist technology.

The price tag, however, becomes significantly steeper at an entry-level price of $34,995.

Aside from the inclusion of more standard features, also contributing to the heftier price is Honda’s decision to reduce Ridgeline’s trim levels to four: Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. The old RT trim level that used to be the base trim for the Ridgeline will no longer be offered.

This makes the Sport trim the entry-level variant for the model, followed by the RTL trim, which now costs $37,765 (that’s a $1,800 increase from the previous year). Both the Sport and RTL variants get the larger 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as a replacement to the 5-inch screen. The two trims are also equipped with the Honda Sensing package as standard, which includes lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.

The RTL-T trim is also removed from the lineup, putting the RTL-E next to the RTL variant at $43,115. Topping the range is the Black Edition offered at $44,615. The top two trims come standard with an all-wheel-drive setup, which is optional on the two lower trims for $2,150.

The new transmission, however, does not make a huge change in the Ridgeline’s EPA fuel-economy ratings. The only bump is for the AWD models that go up by 1 mpg, while the FWD drive models remain unchanged at 22 combined, 19 city, and 26 highway.