Honda Ridgeline Review

2008 Honda Ridgeline RTL Crew Cab Shown

Although millions of pickup trucks are sold each year, only a fraction of them actually see an off-road trail or a boat ramp. The rest are daily drivers that make an occasional trip to Home Depot for 2x4s and patio furniture. For those consumers who desire a friendlier pickup that can still handle those occasional jobs, there's the Honda Ridgeline. This four-door ("crew cab") pickup truck has a number of distinctive features and, true to Honda's philosophy, is a vehicle that makes sense for the great majority of people shopping in a given market segment.

Current Honda Ridgeline

Introduced for the 2006 model year, the Honda Ridgeline pickup is available in just one four-door body style. There are three trim levels: base RT, midlevel RTS and leather-lined RTL. A few key features of all Ridgelines include a hidden trunk in the cargo bed that doubles as an ice chest, a dent-proof bed liner, a four-wheel independent suspension (for a smoother ride and more agile handling) and a power sliding rear window.

Rather than having a separate cab and bed, the Ridgeline's body unites the two. Underneath, the Ridgeline uses an architecture that combines the techniques of both unibody and full-frame construction. Although it shares some of its running gear with the Honda Pilot, fully 90 percent of the Ridgeline is unique and should not just be considered the pickup version of Honda's SUV.

The Ridgeline's sole powertrain is a 255-horsepower (later re-rated to 247 hp due to new SAE testing procedures) V6 mated to a five-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is standard. In all but the most taxing situations, performance is respectable, and on the open highway the Honda Ridgeline is an effortless and quiet cruiser. As such, it is an ideal road trip vehicle, especially when said trip involves carrying bulky items.

Comfortable seats, plenty of storage cubbies, sound ergonomics, smooth, quiet performance and a relatively manageable size make the Honda Ridgeline a viable option as the sole family vehicle. While the cabin provides sedan-like comfort, the cargo bed effortlessly transports things such as camping gear or lawn supplies. On the debit side is the Ridgeline's aversion to off-road adventures, where its lack of a low-range gear and a tendency to bottom out don't help when tackling the more rugged trails.

True, a traditional V8-powered domestic-brand pickup might be more appropriate for a small slice of the population. But in the real world, most people would be better served by the Honda Ridgeline. If you need the passenger space of an SUV and the utility of a pickup truck, but want nimble carlike handling, the Ridgeline is an excellent choice.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.