Honda's next Ridgeline might finally ditch its most controversial design choice

Honda’s next Ridgeline could move away from the design choice that has drawn the most criticism since the model’s debut: its unibody platform. The original 2006 Ridgeline, revealed in 2005 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, used a unibody construction unlike the body-on-frame approach common across trucks such as the Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, and Toyota Tacoma. That architecture delivered benefits like a smoother ride, better handling, and improved fuel economy, but also cost Honda credibility with buyers who wanted a “real truck” look and feel. After a difficult first generation, a redesign arrived in 2017 and the current 2026 Ridgeline traces its architecture to 2021. Honda confirmed a third-generation Ridgeline is expected within two years and teased it on July 23, 2026.