2024 Honda Ridgeline Boosts Off-Road Capability With New TrailSport Trim

Honda is upping its pickup off-road game with the first-ever 2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport

The TrailSport trim, also available on the Pilot and Passport, amps up the Ridgeline's already rugged styling and adds more off-road capability to go with it.  New features include trail-ready, all-terrain tires, an off-road suspension and steel underbody protection.  Updated styling includes a sporty new mesh grille design up front and "RIDGELINE" stamped across the tailgate. 

"With every new TrailSport model we bring to market, Honda light trucks get more rugged than ever and the increase in Ridgeline's off-road performance continues that trend," said Lance Woelfer, assistant vice president of Honda Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Our more rugged Ridgeline will continue its strong momentum with sales up over 20% this year." 

Here's a more in-depth look at some of the TrailSport features:

Exterior

The Ridgeline TrailSport gets a unique grille with a more rugged mesh design, black door-pillar and exterior mirror trim, and a black crossbar atop the grille. TrailSport's front skid garnish is painted Pewter Gray, matching the finish of its new 5-spoke, 18-inch wheels. Orange TrailSport badges adorn its new grille and tailgate.

Exclusive to TrailSport models, a newly available Diffused Sky Blue paint color, which debuted on the all-new 2024 Pilot TrailSport. For narrow trails, Ridgeline TrailSport features power folding mirrors.

Tires

Trail-ready all-terrain tires take Ridgeline TrailSport's rugged capabilities even further. Honda says extremely capable on the trail, standard General Grabber™ A/T Sport tires (245/60R18) radically improve traction in dirt, sand, mud, rocky terrain and snow, while remaining quiet and comfortable on the road.

Standard AWD 

Tuned and tested the in some of the world's most challenging off-road environments, including the Imperial Dunes in Glamis, California, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Honda says its i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system greatly enhances Ridgeline's off-road ability. Standard on all Ridgelines, the i-VTM4 system enhances controllability and traction management in all conditions, automatically sending up to 70% of the engine's torque to the rear wheels and continuously apportioning 100% of that torque between the rear wheels based on driving conditions at each wheel. 

In off-road situations, i-VTM4 will continue to route torque where it provides the most benefit, helping maintain traction and stability in mud and deep sand. It even works in extreme conditions, such as when one rear wheel is off the ground, by sending power to the wheel in contact with the ground to pull the vehicle through and ensure momentum. For additional control, Ridgeline's standard four-mode Intelligent Traction Management allows drivers to customize the i-VTM4 system for different terrains, including sand, snow, mud and paved roads.

Cabin

The TrailSport cabin features orange ambient lighting and orange contrast stitching on the steering wheel, seats and door panels. The TrailSport logo is embroidered on the front seat headrests and molded onto its standard all-season rubber floor mats.  The cabin also features a new standard fully digital 7-inch instrument panel.

Safety

The Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies is standard on every Ridgeline, including the new TrailSport. On Ridgeline, Honda Sensing® includes Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). A rear seat reminder are also standard across the lineup.