2020 Honda Ridgeline Upgraded With 9-Speed Automatic And More

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline will arrive next year with some big upgrades, including a nine-speed automatic to replace the current six-speed gearbox. The first of the improved trucks will arrive in showrooms on December 16.

The exterior of the Ridgeline now benefits from a remote-locking tailgate. In addition, the rear doors can now open wider.

All 2020 Ridgelines also get the Honda Sensing active safety assist suite. The features include collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, and lane-keeping assist.

Rather than being a feature of the RTL-T trim, all 2020 Ridgeline trims now get an eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

Honda also expands the pickup's available options. Buyers can add LED low beams for the headlights, an eight-way power driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support, and ambient interior lighting.

The Ridgeline's sole engine continues to be a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 280 horsepower (209 kilowatts) and 262 pound-feet (355 Newton-meters). Customers can choose between front- and all-wheel drive.

Honda is also simplifying the Ridgeline trim levels from six grades currently down to four for the 2020 model year. The base RT and mid-level RTL-T variants are no longer available, and this leaves the Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. Since the entry-level version is no longer available, the starting price rises to $34,995 instead of $31,085 for the 2019 model.