As a unique entrant in the half-ton pickup truck segment, the mid-sized Honda Ridgeline provides a number of innovative and industry-exclusive features with its 8.5 cubic-foot In-Bed Trunk, a smooth and responsive four-wheel independent suspension, and standard safety equipment that includes side-curtain airbags and vehicle stability assist (VSA). For 2008, a new wheel design with "machined styling" appears on the Ridgeline RTS and RTL, and the fabric interiors on the Ridgeline RT, RTX, and RTS change from dual-tone styling to a contemporary single tone style

Ridgeline is powered by a 247-horsepower 3.5-liter VTEC V-6 engine, a 5-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission, and a Variable Torque Management four-wheel-drive system (VTM-4). Maximum towing capacity is rated at 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The four-door, five-passenger Ridgeline is built on a closed-box unit-body frame that combines the characteristics of a ladder frame with the handling and packaging advantages of a unit-body design. Standard comfort and convenience features on the Ridgeline RT include air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, power windows and door locks, power sliding rear window, cruise control, keyless entry, automatic heated wiper zone, six-speaker, 100-watt audio system with CD player, 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under seat storage, and all-weather floor mats. In addition to the features on the Ridgeline RT, the Ridgeline RTX exclusively provides a standard trailer hitch and 4- and 7-pin trailer wiring, along with alloy wheels, an accessory grille, and body-color painted door handles.

In keeping with the Honda "Safety for Everyone" initiative, all Ridgeline trucks are equipped with standard anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, brake assist, advanced dual-stage, dual-threshold driver and front passenger SRS airbags, front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System(OPDS), and two-row side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor. A tire pressure monitoring system is also standard.