2006 Honda Ridgeline
Nobody asked me but . . .
Honda is a late-comer to the pickup ranks and, Honda being Honda, it’s no surprise that the 2006 Ridgeline is as different in the truck segment as the Acura RL is in the luxury car market.
During the past 15 years light-duty pickups have evolved from work trucks into family lifestyle vehicles, used for everyday driving and recreational activities. And it is this buyer the Ridgeline hopes to appeal to with its emphasis on safety, comfort, handling and utility.
So let’s start by putting the Ridgeline into perspective. The midsize Dodge Dakota is about a foot longer in wheelbase and overall length. The new Toyota Tacoma, a “large” compact truck is about the same length overall. Inside, all three are close in head and shoulder room but the Ridgeline enjoys a considerable advantage in hip and shoulder room, resulting from a significantly wider track and 3–6 inches greater width.
Prices start at $27,700 (plus $515 destination charges) for the base but very well equipped RT model. Order “everything” and the $34,640 RTL comes equipped with leather seating, HomeLink, heated front seats, power moonroof, XM satellite radio and a navigation system.
A typical body-on-frame truck with a live rear axle suffers in the areas of structural rigidity and ride. With a unit body combined with an integral ladder frame and independent rear suspension, the only pickup on the market with IRS, the wide-track Ridgeline handles and rides more like an elevated, oversize Accord than a typical pickup truck.
The Ridgeline features a tailgate that can drop down conventionally or swing out from the side for better access to cargo or to what is probably the Ridgeline’s most innovative feature: a weather-tight storage compartment integrated into the floor of the bed that’s large enough to hold a 72-quart cooler or three golf bags.
Step up into the Ridgeline’s spacious interior and you’ll find Accord-like comfort, convenience and safety: Front, side and side head curtain airbags plus traction control and vehicle stability control are standard in all models. In addition, it’s the first four-door pickup to earn the government’s highest crash test safety rating, five stars for both frontal and side impact crash test performance from the NHTSA.
Powering all versions of the Ridgeline is a 3.5-liter 255-horsepower V-6 mated to a five-speed automatic and Honda’s Variable Torque Management (VTM) all-wheel drive. Like most Honda engines this one bristles with technology but lacks low-rpm pulling power. There’s adequate torque, but it peaks at a rather high 4,500 rpm. Honda says the Ridgeline can tow 5,000 pounds, but if I were going to use a pickup to haul a load that heavy, I’d look for a truck with a V-8. EPA estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, but those numbers don’t consider hauling heavy loads or going deep in the throttle a lot of the time.
Flexible in character but not in structure, exceptionally comfortable and well equipped, the Ridgeline fuses the capabilities of a truck, including towing, hauling and off-roading, with traditional Honda strengths such as high resale value, fun-to-drive performance, and exceptional durability, high quality, and reliability, along with industry-leading safety. All it needs is a bit more bottom-end grunt.
Pro (and con) logue
Ridgeline sales have not reached Honda’s expectations. So what’s the problem? Honda isn’t thought of as a truck manufacturer? No V8? Too expensive?
Truck . . . or not a truck!
The Carmudgeon’s inquisitive mind would appreciate your thougths.
Honda is a late-comer to the pickup ranks and, Honda being Honda, it’s no surprise that the 2006 Ridgeline is as different in the truck segment as the Acura RL is in the luxury car market.
During the past 15 years light-duty pickups have evolved from work trucks into family lifestyle vehicles, used for everyday driving and recreational activities. And it is this buyer the Ridgeline hopes to appeal to with its emphasis on safety, comfort, handling and utility.
So let’s start by putting the Ridgeline into perspective. The midsize Dodge Dakota is about a foot longer in wheelbase and overall length. The new Toyota Tacoma, a “large” compact truck is about the same length overall. Inside, all three are close in head and shoulder room but the Ridgeline enjoys a considerable advantage in hip and shoulder room, resulting from a significantly wider track and 3–6 inches greater width.
Prices start at $27,700 (plus $515 destination charges) for the base but very well equipped RT model. Order “everything” and the $34,640 RTL comes equipped with leather seating, HomeLink, heated front seats, power moonroof, XM satellite radio and a navigation system.
A typical body-on-frame truck with a live rear axle suffers in the areas of structural rigidity and ride. With a unit body combined with an integral ladder frame and independent rear suspension, the only pickup on the market with IRS, the wide-track Ridgeline handles and rides more like an elevated, oversize Accord than a typical pickup truck.
The Ridgeline features a tailgate that can drop down conventionally or swing out from the side for better access to cargo or to what is probably the Ridgeline’s most innovative feature: a weather-tight storage compartment integrated into the floor of the bed that’s large enough to hold a 72-quart cooler or three golf bags.
Step up into the Ridgeline’s spacious interior and you’ll find Accord-like comfort, convenience and safety: Front, side and side head curtain airbags plus traction control and vehicle stability control are standard in all models. In addition, it’s the first four-door pickup to earn the government’s highest crash test safety rating, five stars for both frontal and side impact crash test performance from the NHTSA.
Powering all versions of the Ridgeline is a 3.5-liter 255-horsepower V-6 mated to a five-speed automatic and Honda’s Variable Torque Management (VTM) all-wheel drive. Like most Honda engines this one bristles with technology but lacks low-rpm pulling power. There’s adequate torque, but it peaks at a rather high 4,500 rpm. Honda says the Ridgeline can tow 5,000 pounds, but if I were going to use a pickup to haul a load that heavy, I’d look for a truck with a V-8. EPA estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, but those numbers don’t consider hauling heavy loads or going deep in the throttle a lot of the time.
Flexible in character but not in structure, exceptionally comfortable and well equipped, the Ridgeline fuses the capabilities of a truck, including towing, hauling and off-roading, with traditional Honda strengths such as high resale value, fun-to-drive performance, and exceptional durability, high quality, and reliability, along with industry-leading safety. All it needs is a bit more bottom-end grunt.
Pro (and con) logue
Ridgeline sales have not reached Honda’s expectations. So what’s the problem? Honda isn’t thought of as a truck manufacturer? No V8? Too expensive?
Truck . . . or not a truck!
The Carmudgeon’s inquisitive mind would appreciate your thougths.
posted by The Carmudgeon at
10:28 AM
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