Let’s face it: there are days in the life of a crossover or SUV where you know you’re doing damage. You’re picking up lumber from Home Depot and trying to make it fit diagonally across the second-row seats. You’re hauling a Christmas tree, donating a couch, schlepping the hockey bag, firewood, a bicycle, a used appliance—all in the same vehicle that you’d rather keep looking pristine inside. Hell, you open the door to your nicely-appointed SUV and there it is: a scrape on the plastic trim, a tear in the leather corner, a scuff on the seat where said hockey bag’s zipper scraped.
If that scenario sounds familiar, read on—because the 2025 Ridgeline Sport AWD might just be the smartest play in the midsize unibody pickup class for the crossover buyer who must keep the cabin clean and the upbringing of the yen for interior luxury intact.
Why crossover-buyers must seriously consider the Ridgeline
If you don’t regularly carry 5-6-7 people (and the car’s third row isn’t essential), you should add the Ridgeline to your shortlist. Here’s why:
- It’s basically a luxury crossover in chassis and ride feel (think the Honda Pilot pickup truck).
- It keeps your cabin pristine: 5-passenger comfort, great infotainment, all the niceties.
- Meanwhile the bed outsources the dirty work—furniture, tree, lumber, recycle haul, dump run—you name it. Your upholstery and interior trim stays safe.
- And if you’re working with our friends at CarCostCanada or looking to exit a lease with LeaseBusters, this truck ticks those “smart life-transaction” boxes: strong resale, less interior wear, less cost in the long run.
Under the hood & on the road
The 2025 Ridgeline Sport uses a 3.5-litre V6 (24-valve, direct injection, i-VTEC) that delivers 280 hp @ 6,000 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm. It’s paired with a 9-speed automatic and Honda’s Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD system.
Driving it, yes—it feels like an upscale SUV. The uni-body construction gives you a smooth ride, minimal harshness, and precise steering that you don’t always get in body-on-frame pickups. On the highway there’s ample get-up-and-go, merging or passing feels effortless, and the braking is crisp and responsive. For the daily driver who wants “truck capability” without “truck ride,” it nails it.
Seat comfort is excellent—fronts are supportive even for long hauls, rear seats still roomy for adults, and you’re not sacrificing infotainment or connectivity. The dashboard doesn’t scream “worktruck”—it’s modern, clean, tech-forward with a mix of physical controls and touchscreen ease. If you’ve been using CarCostCanada’s lease & finance calculator at TheCarMagazine.com you know how important those tech-features and comfort levels are in how a vehicle holds its value and desirability.
Real-life practicality that crossover buyers undervalue
Okay, let’s talk scenarios:
- You pick up a 10-foot sheet of drywall. In your crossover, there’s damage risk. In the Ridgeline bed you just open the tailgate and slide it in.
- You donate an old couch – you got it, slide it in.
- You bring home a couple of bicycles or maybe firewood. The bed is designed for it.
- Your kid’s hockey bag smells like a locker room mixed with apple pie—do you really want that under the second-row seats of your crossover all week? In this truck, you park it in the bed, maybe in the in-bed trunk (more on that in a moment).
And while all that is happening, your interior stays looking showroom-fresh. Because you’re not dragging that stuff through the cabin—you’re using a genuine truck bed that’s built for work, while retaining SUV ride and polish.
Stand-out features: Lockable in-bed trunk & dual-action tailgate
Two features set the Ridgeline apart and really speak to the crossover buyer who wants utility without compromise:
- Lockable in-bed trunk – Under the bed floor you get a lockable, weather-sealed “garage” for valuables, wet gear, vests, tools, kids’ stuff, that stinky hockey bag, you name it. You never know when you’ll need that extra secure storage.
- Dual-action tailgate – You can open the tailgate conventionally (downwards) or swing it out sideways. Why is the swing-out useful? Because:
- It lets you access the bed easily in low ceiling parking stalls or your garage.
- In one swing-out format you’re not cleaning off the down-swing edge and you’re less likely to ding the bumper or lose control of where your gear lands.
These features give the Ridgeline a utility edge many crossovers simply don’t offer—and far more gracefully than typical body-on-frame trucks, which often sacrifice ride comfort.
Pricing & trims – what you’re getting
The Canadian MSRP of the 2025 Ridgeline starts at:
- Sport AWD: $51,490
- TrailSport AWD: $54,990
- Black Edition AWD: $57,490
All trims are four-door, five-passenger configuration. The bed size remains consistent across the range; major differentiators are wheel/tire packages, suspension tuning (on the off-road-flavored TrailSport), and aesthetic upgrades (for the Black Edition). For example, the Sport gets 18″ alloy wheels with all-season tyres; the TrailSport upgrades to A/T tyres.
Competitors? Kind of, but mostly not
Let’s be honest—some folks will argue the competition includes the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado or GMC Canyon. But here’s the key: those are traditional body-on-frame trucks meant for heavy towing, serious off-roading or work-duty. They’re built for a different buyer.
In contrast, the Ridgeline is aimed at the crossover buyer who needs occasional bed-use. The only true direct competitor in that niche is the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which likewise blends SUV comfort and truck utility—but the Ridgeline brings Honda’s reputation and a full V6 with proven performance.
To Sum it All Up
The 2025 Honda Ridgeline Sport AWD is the “LuxuryKeeper” pick for folks who love their crossover ride but recognize that life happens almost all the time; and you need more than just folding seats. With strong performance, SUV-style ride, advanced tech, and genuine truck bed versatility, it stands out. And when you add the smart buying/leasing tools from CarCostCanada and consider the exit-strategy options for your current lease through LeaseBusters, you’re looking at not just a fun vehicle—but a smart investment.
If you’re reading TheCarMagazine and you’re tired of the “pretty crossover + scratched interior” cycle, step out of the mold. The Ridgeline invites you to say: “Yes, I want luxe—and utility.” That’s a message worth keeping.
Now if you’ll excuse me—I’m off to pick up a Christmas tree, a hockey bag, and maybe a piece of drywall. And I’m doing it in style.
James Matthews is the President, General Manager and Co-Founder of LeaseBusters. James launched LeaseBusters in 1990 and is considered one of Canada’s leading experts on new vehicle leases, lease-take-overs and vehicle lease (re)marketing. James can be reached directly at jmatthews at leasebusters.com
