Rockin’ Ridgeline

by Scott Corlett
The executives at Honda have decided to take a whack at one of Detroit’s few remaining segments of strong sales—the pickup market. Because Honda’s lineup lacked a pickup, a ready V-8 engine, or an existing body-on-frame vehicle, the company’s product planners were forced to start from scratch. A darn good thing since, unconstrained by the legacy of past designs, Honda’s team penned an innovative, highly functional, unibody truck, whose handling, we dare say, is class leading.
When we saw the 2006 Honda Ridgeline, which filled the entirety of our San Francisco driveway, we gave a low whistle. Although classified as a midsize truck, the Ridgeline’s blocky styling cues and high nose give this five-seater the commanding, can-do presence of a full-size hauler. We were itching to get the Ridgeline on the open road; but before we could do that, we had to check out the gee-how-do-they-do-that two-way tailgate. We first folded down the gate. No big deal. We closed the gate, and then, this time using the second, hidden handle (gotta look right and low), swung the gate open like it was the rear door of a hearse. Now that’s what you call versatile.

The Ridgeline’s myriad storage spaces are just as cleverly engineered. The composite truck bed is wide enough to pass the all-important do-it-yourselfer test: four-by-eight sheets of plywood or drywall will lie flat between the wheelhouses (though you’ll need red flags to mark the seventeen inches of building material that will overhang the folded down tailgate). But, as is the case in many a bedroom, under the bed is where the really interesting bits are. Lift the locking truck bed trapdoor and you’ll find a weatherproof, drainable storage box, which is large enough to fit a cooler and camping gear or luggage sufficient for a secure cross-country trek. The spare tire also resides here on a sliding tray that hides deep under the bed to further maximize cargo space. Inside the cab, the magic continues. The 60/40-split rear bench, under which is ample room for a golf bag, folds tightly up against the bulkhead with the simple tug of a handle, providing safe, dry space for a pack of big dogs or for a trove of tag-sale treasures.

Wishing we had a cowboy hat to top off the Brokeback moment, we rolled down the truck’s window, programmed the Honda’s super-easy-to-use touch screen navi, and set out from San Francisco. Before we reached the approach of Bay Bridge, we knew we had a hot one on our hands—the Ridgeline’s 3.5-liter, 255-hp V-6 zipped us over San Francisco’s hilly streets without problem. Yes, unfortunately, there is no V-8 engine option; however the V-6 mated to the only drivetrain offering, a five-speed automatic with on-demand four-wheel drive, can still either tow 5000 lbs or easily haul the rated 1100 lbs of cargo.
Exiting the eastern span of the bridge and finally breaking free of traffic, we put the Ridgeline to the test. Due to the truck’s heavily modified Odyssey unibody platform, the extra rigidity lent by the integral, steel-reinforced composite bed and storage box, and the unusual (for a truck) four-wheel independent suspension, the Ridgeline’s handling is solid and its ride comfortably firm. The steering is both communicative and precise, and is, in fact, better than that of some of Honda’s sibling sedans. Even while traveling at 80 mph, the Ridgeline’s cabin was surprisingly quiet—wind and road noise were decidedly untruck-like.

The Ridgeline’s functionality, innovations, and legendary Honda quality do not come cheaply—our decked-out test vehicle ran close to $35k, which is full-size, V-8 truck territory (the base RT version comes in at just under $28k). As we sat high on the Ridgeline’s (optionally) heated leather seats while crossing the coastal hills en route to the outer reaches of the Bay Area, we lamented that Honda does not offer domestic partner benefits. That’s too bad, because the Ridgeline is one truck that even a city boy could love.

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