If you're hunting for a truck that doesn't ride like a piece of farm equipment, you've likely been eyeing the 2022 honda ridgeline trim levels to figure out which version belongs in your driveway. Let's be honest: the Ridgeline has always been the "black sheep" of the truck world, but in the best way possible. It uses a unibody construction, which is just a fancy way of saying it's built more like a sturdy SUV with a bed than a traditional body-on-frame pickup. This makes it incredibly comfortable for daily driving, and for the 2022 model year, Honda kept things simple by offering four distinct trims.
Every 2022 Ridgeline comes standard with a 280-horsepower V6 engine and, thankfully, standard All-Wheel Drive (AWD). Gone are the days when you had to pay extra just to get power to all four wheels. Whether you're looking for a basic workhorse or a luxury cruiser with speakers in the truck bed, there's a specific flavor here for you.
The Entry Point: The Sport Trim
The Sport is the starting point for the 2022 honda ridgeline trim levels, but calling it a "base" model feels a bit unfair. Honda didn't strip this thing down to the bare bones. You still get the core features that make a Ridgeline a Ridgeline—like that famous dual-action tailgate that swings open like a door or drops down like a traditional tailgate.
Inside the Sport, you're looking at cloth upholstery. Some people actually prefer this because it doesn't get scorching hot in the summer or freezing in the winter. You also get tri-zone automatic climate control, which is a lifesaver if your front passenger is always cold while you're cranking the AC. The infotainment is handled by an 8-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Safety isn't an afterthought either. Even at this level, Honda includes their "Honda Sensing" suite. This gives you adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and collision mitigation braking. If you just want a solid, dependable truck without a bunch of fluff you'll never use, the Sport is a very compelling choice.
Moving Up to the RTL
If you ask most Ridgeline owners which of the 2022 honda ridgeline trim levels offers the most "bang for your buck," they'll probably point you toward the RTL. This is where the truck starts feeling a bit more "grown-up" and premium.
The biggest upgrade here is the interior. You swap out the cloth for leather-trimmed seats, and the front seats become heated. The driver's seat also gets power adjustment with memory settings, which is great if you share the truck with a spouse and hate constantly readjusting your mirrors and seat position.
You also get a power moonroof and a power-sliding rear window. That rear window is a small detail, but it's fantastic for getting some airflow through the cabin without the buffeting noise you get from side windows. On the safety front, the RTL adds Blind Spot Information, which is arguably one of the most useful features for a truck given the inherent blind spots when merging on the highway.
The Tech-Heavy RTL-E
For those who want all the bells and whistles, the RTL-E is usually the target. When looking at the 2022 honda ridgeline trim levels, the RTL-E is where Honda throws in the "party tricks."
The most famous feature here is the Truck-Bed Audio System. Yes, the actual walls of the truck bed turn into speakers. It's perfect for tailgating or working outside. To keep the party going, you also get a 150-watt/400-watt power outlet in the bed, allowing you to plug in a TV or a small power tool.
Inside, the audio gets an upgrade to a 540-watt premium system with eight speakers. You also get a heated steering wheel (a blessing in northern climates), wireless phone charging, and blue ambient LED lighting that makes the cabin feel a bit more upscale at night. The headlights also get an upgrade to auto-high beams, and you get parking sensors in both the front and rear to help navigate tight parking lots.
The Bold Look: Black Edition
The Black Edition sits at the top of the 2022 honda ridgeline trim levels, but it's important to note that mechanically, it's identical to the RTL-E. You're essentially paying for a specific aesthetic package.
As the name suggests, everything goes dark. You get 18-inch black alloy wheels, black chrome accents on the grille and window surrounds, and blacked-out trim everywhere else. Inside, the leather seats feature a red contrast stitch and red perforated leather, and the ambient lighting shifts from blue to red.
It looks mean, and for a truck that sometimes gets teased for looking "too soft," the Black Edition gives it some much-needed attitude. If you like the "murdered-out" look straight from the factory without having to deal with aftermarket shops, this is the one for you.
Choosing the Right One for Your Lifestyle
Deciding between these trims usually comes down to how you plan to use the truck. If this is a secondary vehicle meant for weekend hardware store runs and dump trips, the Sport is more than enough. It has the same towing capacity (5,000 lbs) as the most expensive trim, so you aren't losing any utility by saving money.
However, if the Ridgeline is your primary vehicle, the RTL is hard to pass up. The jump in comfort from cloth to leather and the addition of the blind-spot monitors make it feel significantly more modern and easier to live with on a daily basis.
The HPD Package: A Wildcard
While not a "trim level" in the traditional sense, you can't talk about the 2022 honda ridgeline trim levels without mentioning the HPD (Honda Performance Development) package. You can add this to any of the four trims.
It adds those awesome bronze-colored wheels, a unique grille pattern, and some flared-out black fender flares. It doesn't change the suspension or engine, but it completely changes the "vibe" of the truck. A Sport trim with the HPD package looks much more aggressive than a standard RTL-E, which is something to consider if you want the looks without the high-end price tag.
Performance Across the Board
One thing that's nice about the 2022 lineup is that you don't have to worry about engine envy. Every trim uses the 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6. It's a smooth, reliable engine that's been around in various forms for years. It's paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission that shifts cleanly.
The standard i-VTM4 AWD system is also pretty clever. It's not just for snow; it's a torque-vectoring system that can send power to specific wheels to help you turn better on dry pavement. It makes the Ridgeline feel surprisingly agile for something that can haul a half-ton of mulch in the back.
Interior Comfort and Storage
Regardless of which of the 2022 honda ridgeline trim levels you pick, you're getting the same spacious cabin. Unlike many mid-size trucks where the back seat feels like a penalty box, the Ridgeline has plenty of legroom. The rear seats also flip up in a 60/40 split, revealing a flat floor where you can store a bike or a flat-screen TV out of the rain.
And we can't forget the "In-Bed Trunk." This is a lockable, 7.3-cubic-foot space under the floor of the truck bed. It even has a drain plug, so you can fill it with ice and use it as a cooler. It's one of those features that makes you wonder why every other truck manufacturer hasn't copied it yet.
Final Thoughts
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline remains one of the most practical vehicles on the road. It bridges the gap between a family SUV and a traditional pickup perfectly. While the Sport offers great value and the Black Edition offers a sinister look, the "sweet spot" usually lands on the RTL or RTL-E.
Whether you need the leather and sunroof of the RTL or the bed speakers and power outlets of the RTL-E depends on your budget and how often you plan on tailgating. No matter which you choose, you're getting a truck that's easy to park, comfortable to drive, and remarkably capable for the vast majority of truck owners' needs.