Is the Honda Ridgeline a True 4×4? Modern AWD vs Traditional 4WD

If by “true 4×4” you mean a traditional truck with a selectable transfer case and 4-Low, the modern Honda Ridgeline does not fit that definition. Second-generation Ridgelines use Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring and Intelligent Traction Management rather than a conventional part-time 4WD system.

The previous AutoZonic article incorrectly claimed the Ridgeline had a two-speed transfer case, high/low ranges and a locking rear differential.

Why people call the Ridgeline a 4×4

All four wheels can receive engine torque, and Honda designed the system for poor-weather and moderate off-pavement traction. In casual usage, some owners use “4×4” to mean any four-wheel-driven vehicle.

Technically, however, Honda calls the current system i-VTM4 AWD, and it works differently from the transfer-case 4WD systems used by many traditional pickups.

What the modern Ridgeline does have

• Proactive i-VTM4 all-wheel drive
• Variable front-to-rear torque distribution
• Independent torque control for the rear wheels
• Intelligent Traction Management
• Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand modes on the 2021 Ridgeline
• Four-wheel independent suspension

What it does not have

• A conventional two-speed transfer case
• A mechanical 4-Low range
• A modern VTM-4 Lock button

What about the first-generation Ridgeline?

Honda itself described the original 2006 Ridgeline as using an advanced VTM-4WD four-wheel-drive system. That first-generation design included VTM-4 Lock for low-speed traction. So the terminology changes depending on which Ridgeline generation you are discussing.

Does this make the Ridgeline incapable off-road?

No. The modern Ridgeline has meaningful traction capability, especially on snow, mud and sand when conditions are within its ground-clearance and tire limits. But it should not be represented as equivalent to a dedicated low-range 4×4 solely because all four wheels can receive torque.

Related Honda Ridgeline guides

• Ridgeline AWD vs 4WD explained
• VTM-4 vs i-VTM4
• Ridgeline Sand mode
• Honda Ridgeline research hub

Sources

• Honda Information Center — i-VTM4 AWD
• Honda Information Center — traction modes
• Honda Global — original VTM-4WD Ridgeline

About this article

Updated August 9, 2026 by the AutoZonic Editorial Team. The previous AI-generated page invented a two-speed transfer case, 4-Low and other hardware. This revision explains the question by generation and by the technical meaning of AWD versus traditional 4WD.