2026 Honda Ridgeline Sport: O’Fallon Buyers Guide

Quick Answer: 2026 Ridgeline Sport

The Sport is the cheapest way into a new 2026 Ridgeline. $40,795 MSRP, plus $1,495 destination. You still get the real stuff: the 280-hp V6, i-VTM4 all-wheel drive, a 9-speed automatic, full Honda Sensing, and a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, new this year. The dual-action tailgate and lockable in-bed trunk are here too, same as every trim. What’s missing next to the RTL: leather, heated front seats, an 8-way power driver’s seat, remote start. EPA says 18 city, 24 highway, 21 combined. Payload’s the best in the lineup at 1,583 lb.

2026 Honda Ridgeline Sport in Lunar Silver Metallic driving through a shallow river crossing
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline Sport, with i-VTM4 all-wheel drive standard. Photo: Honda.

The base trim doesn’t feel like a stripped one

A lot of entry trims quietly cut drivetrain or safety gear to hit a lower number. Not the Sport. AWD is standard here, not something you pay more for later. There’s no front-wheel-drive Ridgeline anywhere in the lineup, so nobody’s accidentally settling for less capability to save a few thousand dollars. Adaptive cruise, forward collision warning, lane-keeping, road departure mitigation. All standard, all the same as the trims above it.

What you give up is comfort, not capability. Cloth seats instead of leather. No heat in the front seats. No remote start, so no warming the cabin up from inside on a cold morning. The stereo’s the standard unit, not the upgraded one. That’s really the whole list.

The touchscreen did get a real upgrade for 2026, and it applies to the Sport same as everything else. Wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto. No more plugging in a cable every single time you get in the truck. Small thing. Adds up daily.

What the RTL actually buys you over this

Step up to the RTL, $43,595, roughly $2,800 more, and the seats go to leather. Front seats get heated. Driver’s seat goes power, 8-way. Remote start shows up. Audio gets upgraded. The engine, the drivetrain, the touchscreen, the safety suite: none of that changes between Sport and RTL. It’s a comfort decision, not a capability one. The truck underneath does the same job either way.

Living with the Sport around St. Charles County

At 1,583 lb, the Sport carries more payload than any other 2026 Ridgeline trim. No extra leather, no extra audio hardware weighing it down. That matters if the bed’s actually going to see regular loads and not just the occasional trip to Lowe’s. Tow rating’s the same 5,000 lb as every other trim, so a trailer of ATVs headed toward the Ozarks doesn’t require stepping up a trim level first. The lockable trunk under the bed floor is standard here too, and it matters more than it sounds like the first time a St. Louis downpour hits and everything underneath stays dry anyway. One buyer put it simply after comparing the Ridgeline to other trucks in the segment: “I chose the Ridgeline over other brands because it fit my needs better than the other brands” (David L.).

Frequently asked questions

Does the Ridgeline Sport come with all-wheel drive standard?

Yes. Every 2026 Ridgeline, Sport included, runs Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel drive standard. There’s no front-wheel-drive Ridgeline at any trim or price point.

What’s the payload capacity on the Ridgeline Sport?

1,583 lb, the highest in the four-trim lineup. It drops a bit on each trim above it as comfort and audio equipment add weight. Tow rating stays flat at 5,000 lb no matter which trim you pick.

Is wireless Apple CarPlay standard on the Sport?

Yes, and it’s new for 2026. Earlier model years needed a USB cable. Every 2026 trim, Sport included, supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly through the standard 9-inch touchscreen.

What doesn’t the Sport have that the RTL does?

Leather seats, heated fronts, an 8-way power driver’s seat, remote start, and upgraded audio. Everything else, the V6, the transmission, AWD, the touchscreen, Honda Sensing, is identical between the two.

Does the Sport qualify for Frank Leta Honda’s Lifetime Warranty?

Yes. New gas Ridgelines, Sport included, qualify for Frank Leta Honda’s Lifetime Warranty, parts and labor, for as long as the original owner keeps the truck. It excludes diesel and electric vehicles, which doesn’t touch the Ridgeline. Ask the sales team for the current written terms before signing anything.

See the Sport in person

The Sport rotates through Frank Leta Honda’s new inventory at 500 Auto Mall Drive in O’Fallon. Stop by during posted hours, or call (636) 339-3361 first to see what’s actually on the lot.

All 2026 Honda Ridgeline guides

MSRP excludes the $1,495 destination charge, taxes, title, registration and dealer-installed accessories; Frank Leta Honda sets the actual selling price. Tow and payload figures are manufacturer estimates for a properly equipped vehicle. EPA fuel-economy figures are estimates from fueleconomy.gov; real-world mileage varies. Lifetime Warranty terms and financing approval depend on the current written program and individual creditworthiness; confirm details with the dealership. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Frank Leta Honda.