2026 Honda Ridgeline Sport: Staten Island Buyers Guide

The base trim that doesn't feel like one

Plenty of "base" trims in this segment mean cloth seats, a small screen, and a driver-assist suite you pay extra to complete. The Sport doesn't play that game. Every piece of Honda Sensing, collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, road departure mitigation, blind spot monitoring, comes standard, and so does the i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD system that used to be an upcharge on some rivals' base trucks and simply isn't optional here at all. The new-for-2026 wireless phone mirroring removes the one real annoyance an owner of an older Ridgeline would recognize instantly, no more digging for a cable every time you get in.

What separates Sport from the trims above it is comfort equipment, not capability. The seats are cloth, not leather; there's no heating built in; the driver's seat adjusts manually rather than with 8-way power. For a truck that spends its life hauling mulch, kayaks, or a weekend's worth of gear rather than commuting a leather-seat crowd, that's a rational place to save roughly $2,800 against the RTL.

Where the Sport actually wins

Curb weight is the quiet advantage here. Because the Sport skips the heavier leather seating, upgraded audio, and trim-specific hardware of the pricier grades, it carries the highest payload rating in the 2026 lineup at 1,583 lb, about 70 lb more than the Black Edition. For a contractor or a weekend project owner who actually loads the bed to its limit regularly, that's not a rounding error. Tow rating doesn't change with trim, every 2026 Ridgeline is rated to 5,000 lb, so the Sport gives up nothing there.

One recent buyer's review of the dealership, while describing an all-around smooth purchase rather than the Sport specifically, captures the tone reviewers use for straightforward Ridgeline deals here: "great people, great team. Cannot stress enough how impressive the entire team was at [Honda of Staten Island]." That's the experience a Sport buyer, often the most price-conscious shopper on the lot, tends to value most: no pressure toward options they didn't come in for.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Ridgeline Sport come with standard?

The 280-hp V-6, 9-speed automatic, i-VTM4 AWD, full Honda Sensing, a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 18-inch wheels, the dual-action tailgate, and the lockable in-bed trunk. What it doesn't include, leather seats, seat heating, power driver's seat adjustment, is what the RTL adds.

How much does a 2026 Ridgeline Sport cost?

$40,795 MSRP before the $1,495 destination charge and New York taxes and fees. The pricing guide covers the out-the-door math.

Does the Sport have all-wheel drive?

Yes, standard, i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD comes on every 2026 Ridgeline trim. There is no front-wheel-drive configuration to choose or avoid.

Is the Sport a good tow vehicle?

It's rated to the same 5,000-lb max as every other 2026 trim, so the Sport tows exactly as much as the Black Edition. If towing capacity is the deciding factor between trims, it isn't one, the comfort features above it are.

Where can I find a Ridgeline Sport near me?

Search new Ridgeline inventory at Honda of Staten Island. The showroom at 250 Parkinson Avenue is open seven days a week.

The bottom line

The Sport is the Ridgeline for buyers who want the full mechanical package, V-6, AWD, Honda Sensing, wireless CarPlay, without paying for leather they might cover in seat protectors anyway. It's also the highest-payload trim in the lineup, worth remembering if the bed does real work. If comfort features matter more than saving the difference, the RTL guide is the next read.