There is talk that Honda could be putting the Ridgeline on hold for a time. A new report from Automotive News has the brand set to temporarily cease production of its midsize pickup while it readies an updated model to comply with tougher emissions standards.
The word on the street is that Honda will stop making the Ridgeline in the fourth quarter of this year, leaving an 18-month or so void until you can get your hands on the next one.
And the culprit is emissions.
The V6 in today’s Ridgeline is a naturally aspirated unit from another era, unlike what you’ll find in the newest Pilot or Passport. By all accounts it won’t pass the new regulations, so Honda has had to reconsider how it powers the truck. Instead of putting out a hasty update, they are taking some time to rework things for the future.
Come 2028, when the Ridgeline makes its comeback, expect a new V6 and mostly likely a hybrid powertrain as well.
Make no mistake, this isn’t going to be a whole new truck. The 2028 version is being billed as a refresh of what we have now, not a ground-up overhaul. You can look forward to some new styling and technology along with the hybrid, but the platform stays. If you want something entirely different from Honda, you may have to wait until the early 2030s.
