Honda Ridgeline or Honda Pilot: which fits Egg Harbor Township families?
Choose the Honda Pilot if your family needs three rows of seating and an enclosed cargo area, and the Honda Ridgeline if it needs an open truck bed. Boardwalk Honda in Egg Harbor Township sells both new, and you can reserve a test drive of each online or by phone.
Seat count usually settles the question first, and the figures that follow start there. Each model then gets a clear test on cargo, towing, price and fuel economy.
Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Egg Harbor Township. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.
Choose the Honda Pilot for three rows, the Ridgeline for an open bed
The Pilot is the choice when a family needs three rows of seats, and it seats up to 8 people. The Ridgeline is the choice when the load belongs in an open truck bed. Honda rates every Ridgeline trim in this comparison at 5,000 pounds of towing.
Reserve a test drive of each before you decide. Test drives can be reserved online or by phone, and Boardwalk Honda is at 6807 Tilton Rd, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234.
How many passengers fit in the Honda Pilot and the Ridgeline?
The Pilot seats its passengers across three rows and the Ridgeline seats five across two rows. Every Pilot trim seats up to 8 except the TrailSport (AWD), which seats 7 in Honda’s figures.
The third row is the difference that matters for a family with more than two children or a full carpool. The Pilot Sport gives its second row 40.8 inches of legroom and its third row 32.5 inches. The Ridgeline gives its second row 36.7 inches, and it has no third row to seat anyone.
Truck bed or enclosed cargo area: what does each Honda carry?
The Pilot carries its cargo inside an enclosed body. The Pilot Sport (2WD and AWD) holds 87.0 cubic feet behind row 1, 48.5 behind row 2 and 18.6 behind row 3, up to 111.8 cubic feet with the rows folded down.
The Ridgeline is built around an open bed. A family that hauls lumber, bikes or a load that should stay out of a closed cabin will use the bed. A family that wants luggage out of sight will use the Pilot.
How much can the Honda Pilot and Ridgeline tow?
Honda publishes a maximum towing figure for each trim. The Ridgeline tows 5,000 pounds in every trim listed, and the Pilot tows 3,500 pounds in 2WD and 5,000 pounds with AWD.
If towing is part of the plan, the drivetrain decides the Pilot’s number. Choose AWD on the Pilot to reach 5,000 pounds, the same figure as the Ridgeline.
What does a new Honda Pilot cost compared with a Ridgeline?
Honda’s 2026 starting prices run from $40,795 for the Ridgeline Sport to $47,895 for the Ridgeline Black Edition Two-Tone. The Pilot runs from $42,395 for the Sport (2WD) to $55,195 for the Black Edition (AWD). The Pilot’s AWD Sport starts at $44,495, and the Pilot EX-L (AWD) starts at $46,795.
Sales tax on a new vehicle in New Jersey is 6.625% of the purchase price (New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2026). A trade-in lowers the amount that tax applies to, because the dealership excludes the credit given for the trade (New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2026). A secure finance application can be filled out online, so you can see your financing options before you pick a trim.
What do the Honda Pilot and Ridgeline offer a family, spec for spec?
Honda’s published 2026 figures for the Pilot and Ridgeline sit side by side here.
| Spec | Pilot Sport (AWD) | Ridgeline Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $44,495 | $40,795 |
| Seating | Up to 8 | 5 |
| Second-row legroom (in) | 40.8 | 36.7 |
| Third-row legroom (in) | 32.5 | None |
| Max towing (lbs) | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| EPA combined mpg (AWD) | 21 | 21 |
Who should skip the Honda Pilot, and who should skip the Ridgeline?
Skip the Ridgeline if your family needs a third row or an enclosed cargo area. Skip the Pilot if the work requires an open bed.
Fuel economy is the other filter. The EPA’s combined figure weights the city number at 55% and the highway number at 45% (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2026). The Pilot FWD leads the group at 19 city, 27 highway and 22 combined. The Pilot AWD and the Ridgeline AWD are both rated 21 combined, and the two TrailSport models, one from each line, are both rated 20. A family that wants all-wheel drive on every trim will find it on the Ridgeline, while the Pilot also offers a front-wheel drive model with the highest combined rating.
Frequently asked questions
Can I test drive both the Honda Pilot and the Ridgeline at Boardwalk Honda?
Yes. Test drives can be reserved online or by phone. Boardwalk Honda is at 6807 Tilton Rd, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234, and the sales number is 609-428-4400.
Can Boardwalk Honda order a Pilot or Ridgeline in a trim or color it doesn’t have in stock?
Yes. We offer custom factory orders for new Hondas, and that includes the Pilot and Ridgeline. Ask our sales team which trim and color you want and how the order works.
Can I apply for financing online before I choose between the two?
Yes. A secure finance application can be filled out online. Doing it first lets you compare payment levels for the Pilot and the Ridgeline before you visit.
Does Boardwalk Honda offer a lease on the Honda Pilot?
Yes. We offer Honda leases, and our lease deals include the Pilot. The same lease deals also cover the HR-V, Odyssey and Passport.
What warranty comes with a new Honda Pilot or Ridgeline?
Honda’s 2026 warranty booklet gives both models the same coverage. Both models carry basic coverage for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Powertrain coverage lasts 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, and corrosion coverage lasts 5 years with no mileage limit.
Can I get a loaner or shuttle when I service my Honda at Boardwalk Honda?
Yes. Certified Honda service includes a shuttle service and loaners if you need one. Ask when you book whether a loaner is ready for your visit.
Is the Honda Odyssey another three-row choice for a family?
Yes. Boardwalk Honda sells the Odyssey new and offers lease deals on it. Honda lists the Odyssey EX-L at $42,795, the Sport at $43,895, the Touring at $47,495 and the Elite at $51,695, and every Odyssey trim seats 8.
See the Pilot and Ridgeline side by side at Boardwalk Honda in Egg Harbor Township
Boardwalk Honda is at 6807 Tilton Rd, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234. Across 4,565 Google reviews, Boardwalk Honda holds a 4.7-star rating, and 88 in 100 of those reviews are five-star (Google, 2026).
In a March 2026 Google review, William C. wrote: “Very nice and accommodating didn’t force anything on me or make me get anything I didn’t want”
Start with a test drive of each. You can reserve one online or by phone at 609-428-4400, and you can browse the new and used Honda inventory online before you visit.
Boardwalk Honda answers this question against the specific vehicle in front of you rather than the model in general. Value your trade and get pre-approved online, then see us at our Egg Harbor Township showroom, or call 609-428-4400.
Disclaimer: Vehicle features, specifications, pricing, options, and availability may vary based on production timelines and dealership inventory; images are for illustrative purposes only. Starting MSRP figures are national and exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Standard and available equipment varies by trim, configuration, and model year; confirm the specification of the individual vehicle before purchase. Maximum towing and payload ratings depend on cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment configuration; see the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual and trailering guide for limits. Electric range and charging times vary with battery, configuration, temperature, terrain, load, and driving habits. Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Financing and pre-approval are subject to credit approval. Contact Boardwalk Honda for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.
