Honda is reportedly preparing to pause production of the Ridgeline for roughly 18 months as the midsize pickup undergoes a major powertrain overhaul. The break is expected to begin later this year and will reportedly continue until a heavily refreshed version arrives for the 2028 model year.
According to Automotive News, the production stoppage is tied to tightening emissions regulations. Honda’s aging naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 can no longer meet future standards in its current form, forcing the automaker to rethink the Ridgeline’s powertrain strategy.
Rather than killing the truck entirely, Honda appears ready to use the hiatus as an opportunity to modernize the Ridgeline with hybrid technology and updated styling. The refreshed model is expected to return with a redesigned V6 paired to Honda’s dual-motor hybrid system.
For Ridgeline fans, the news may actually be more encouraging than alarming. The pickup has long been praised for its comfort, practicality, and unibody driving manners, but many enthusiasts have argued that its aging powertrain was beginning to hold it back.
A Hybrid V6 Is On The Way
When the Ridgeline returns, it will use a newly developed V6 hybrid setup. Honda’s dual-motor hybrid system already appears in several of the brand’s passenger vehicles, though adapting it for truck duty would represent a major step forward for the Ridgeline.
Unlike many hybrid systems, Honda’s setup largely eliminates the need for a traditional transmission. Two electric motors work alongside the gasoline engine to deliver power more directly and efficiently.
Reports suggest the redesigned powertrain could improve efficiency by roughly 30 percent while also boosting full-throttle performance by around 10 percent. For a truck segment increasingly focused on torque, fuel economy, and drivability, those improvements could make the Ridgeline far more competitive.
Honda has not officially confirmed detailed specifications yet, but the company did emphasize that the Ridgeline “remains an important model” within its lineup.
The Current V6 Was Starting To Show Its Age
The current Ridgeline uses a version of Honda’s long-running J35 V6 architecture. While the engine has earned a reputation for reliability and smoothness, its roots stretch back decades, and rivals have increasingly moved toward turbocharged or electrified powertrains.
Ford offers turbocharged EcoBoost engines across much of its truck lineup, while Toyota now leans heavily on hybrid power for models like the Tacoma and Tundra. Even buyers traditionally skeptical of electrification have started embracing hybrid trucks because of the added low-end torque and improved efficiency.
The Ridgeline’s 280-horsepower V6 was never necessarily weak, but it increasingly looked outdated in a segment moving rapidly toward newer technology. Honda now appears ready to address that weakness directly.
A Major Refresh Could Change The Truck’s Identity
The refreshed Ridgeline is also expected to receive updated styling intended to give the impression of a “next-generation truck,” according to one report quoting an unnamed Honda employee.
That wording suggests the redesign may be more substantial than a typical mid-cycle facelift. Honda likely understands that the Ridgeline occupies a unique niche within the midsize truck segment and needs stronger visual differentiation moving forward.
Unlike body-on-frame rivals such as the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and Ford Ranger, the Ridgeline has always prioritized comfort and daily usability over off-road capability. A hybrid powertrain could actually strengthen that identity rather than dilute it. More torque, quieter operation, and improved efficiency all combine naturally with the Ridgeline’s existing strengths.
Honda Seems Committed To The Ridgeline’s Future
Despite the lengthy production pause, Honda does not appear interested in abandoning the Ridgeline altogether. Reports indicate the truck will remain part of Honda’s long-term plans, with an eventual fully redesigned next-generation model potentially arriving in the early 2030s on a new hybrid-focused architecture.
The upcoming refresh may therefore serve as a bridge between today’s Ridgeline and a more heavily electrified future. For now, though, the biggest takeaway is that Honda is not letting the Ridgeline quietly fade away. Instead, the company appears willing to give its unconventional pickup a much-needed technological reset at exactly the moment the midsize truck segment is becoming more competitive than ever.