2006 Honda Ridgeline EXL-NAVI Road Test

Covering All the Bases and a Lot More

Call it Darwinian, but you had to know that Honda would evolve to eventually include a pickup truck among its diverse line of

You had to know that Honda would evolve to eventually include a pickup truck among its diverse line of vehicles. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

vehicles, thanks to a North American market that is as patriotic about pickups as it is about flags. I just didn't think that Honda's new life-form would resemble Chevy's big Avalanche in appearance. But outward appearance is where resemblance ceases and Honda practicality takes over.

At 5,253 mm (206.8 in) in length, the Ridgeline is considerably smaller than the 5,631 mm (221.7 in)-long Avalanche. It's also considerably lighter with a maximum curb weight of 2,064 kg (4,550 lb), versus the big Chevy at 2,466 kg (5,437 lb), all of which means the Honda can be adequately powered by a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine than the Avalanche. Also in stark contrast to the Avalanche is the Ridgeline's closed-box uni-body design in place of the

The absence of a cumbersome, heavy ladder frame allowed Honda to locate a huge storage compartment beneath the rear portion of the Ridgeline's cargo bed. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

conventional pickup truck ladder-on-frame architecture, a first for this class of vehicle.

The Ridgeline's body structure incorporates its cargo box and integrated bumpers, something you are unlikely to see with traditionally- engineered pickups. The absence of a cumbersome, heavy ladder frame allowed Honda to locate a huge storage compartment beneath the rear portion of the Ridgeline's cargo bed. The deep well is sealed against water penetration and is lockable. It can easily ingest several sets of golf clubs or a large cooler, which adds a new dimension to pickup truck convenience. A two-way tailgate, which drops flat or swings to the side, makes accessing the storage trunk ultra-convenient.