The Honda Ridgeline Will Die To Make Room For A New Hybrid

Hodna will stop Ridgeline truck production for around 18 months while the midsize pickup awaits a new powertrain. The refreshed Ridgeline will be assembled starting in the third quarter of 2028, according to Automotive News. The updated truck will include plenty of changes, but the biggest change will be a new V6 to help the truck meet more stringent emissions regulations.

The truck is still alive, according to Honda, which told the outlet it would not comment on future product plans, saying the truck continues to "play an important role" for the brand. Honda is extending the life cycles of some more popular models, like the Odyssey and HR-V, while it updates others for emissions compliance. In short, Honda is paying the price for not modernizing its powertrains with hybrid technology. The brand is also being punished for canceling its EVs as tighter emissions regulations go into effect, despite some walkbacks from the Trump Administration. Some automakers like Honda continue to bet on the current short-term shift towards gas vehicles, which are much cheaper to produce. Many will be left high and dry when the American political machine inevitably shifts once again towards more typically Democratic emissions and environmental policy post 2028.

The 2028 Ridgeline will arrive and buy time for an "advanced large-vehicle hybrid architecture" that will arrive in the early 2030s. Allegedly, the new system will be based around Honda's V6 engine, offering electric motors and a new, lower-cost battery pack. The powertrain should improve on key metrics like fuel economy, power, and towing capacity. The latter is a weak point of unibody trucks like the Ridgeline, which often cannot hope to match the towing figures of traditional body-on-frame trucks. According to a source, debate over the Ridgeline's figure and a shift away from resources previously reserved for EV development resulted in the 18-month production gap.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 9:47 AM.