The mid-size Honda Ridgeline continues to be the sole unbody design truck on the roads in the US. Thanks to that buyers can count on almost car-like ride quality that can’t be achieved by the traditional, body-on-frame design. The Ridgeline also gets credits for the comfortable interior, quality materials and clever cargo bed design. Honda also provides a wide range of options.
Buyers can choose from six trim options while the Ridgeline comes in the crew-cab body form only. The engine count is also one. For those who want to get the most from the mid-size ute, they should consider the range-topping 2020 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition which combines most of the comfort and tech features with the unique exterior and interior style.
Possible changes:
The 2020 version might bring some styling and tech upgrades like the recently refreshed Pilot SUV. The upgraded infotainment system could appear in the next version as well as more accessible advanced safety systems. The nine-speed automatic transmission might also come for the new model year as some reports claim. Honda hasn’t confirmed when the hybrid powertrain would get a chance.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition: Design
Following the mid-cycle update of the closely-relative Pilot SUV, the 2020 Ridgeline could also benefit from the similar treatment but Honda might also wait for the 2021 model year to update the mid-size ute.
Like the successful SUV, the Ridgeline could get new LED headlights and revised-style grille. There should also be some new details on the front and rear bumpers if the truck appears in the refreshed form.
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition version will add to the look of the model with the unique, dark-themed style. The model will ride on 18-inch black-painted alloy wheels which are exclusive to this version. The black treatment will also be used for the front skid plate, side mirrors and door handles. In the same manner, the dark-themed grille and black bumpers will also be part of the model’s identity.
Interior, Equipment:
Inside the Pilot-like cabin, the Ridgeline Black Edition will also use the black as the dominant color.
The black leather combined with red stitching will be used for the seats and this version will also have black trim and headliner. Improving the ambient will also be LED interior lighting.
The truck could also gain an upgraded infotainment system with the 8-inch center screen and smartphone features. The truck will also use a six-speaker premium sound system. The equipment list will also include a sunroof, heated steering wheel, 10-way power adjustable driver seat, driver memory setting, tri-zone climate control, LED cargo lights, HD and satellite radio, etc.
The model will also equip advanced safety systems such as lane departure warning and intervention, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and parking sensors.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition: Powertrain
The Ridgeline isn’t capable of towing as much as the body-on-frame, mid-size trucks but with the SUV-derived underpinning, the model will provide the class-best ride comfort. The towing limit will be 5, 000 pounds.
The power for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition will again provide Pilot’s 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The engine makes 280 horsepower and torque of 262 pound-feet in the combination with the six-speed automatic transmission. The nine-speed automatic gearbox form Pilot SUV might appear for the new model year as some reports suggest. That could affect the fuel economy which in the current version is 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with the all-wheel drive.
The Ridgeline Black Edition will come with the all-wheel drive by default and will also employ drive modes for Normal, Mud, Snow, and Sand road conditions.
2020 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition: Release, Price
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition should appear on the market by the end of the year. The price of the range-topping Ridgeline should remain around $43, 200.
The unibody Ridgeline hasn’t performed very well on the market since the introduction of the current generation for the 2017 model year. Honda sold a total of 30, 592 units in 2018 which puts the Ridgeline at the bottom of the class behind the GMC Canyon which achieved 33, 492 ratings. The old-school Nissan Frontier also performed better than the Ridgeline with 79, 646 sold units in 2018.
