2006 Honda Ridgeline LX (Video Clip)

A macho pickup with a moderate level of oestrogen

2006 Honda Ridgeline LX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123)

Drive down to the U.S., especially in rural areas, and you'll notice that pickup trucks are as common as the American flag. The domestic manufacturers are battling it out each year; GM, Ford and Dodge sell about 1 million full-size pickups together. And the pickup segment has become pretty lucrative in the last 20 years. So much, that everyone wants in.

Toyota first launched its first full-size pickup in 1993, which made little waves and was called the T100. With its redesign came a new name in 2000, the Tundra. The Tacoma has grown in size and power last year. Nissan also launched its biggest pickup ever in 2004, the Titan, and their Frontier also bloated in 2005. Even Subaru tried its luck with the somewhat unusual concept of sawing the back portion off an Outback. The result is the hugely unsuccessful Baja which will be discontinued after the 2006 model year. Now, Honda takes a chance with its own pickup, their first one on North American soil.

I'm pretty sure you know at least one person who owns a pickup but doesn't really use it to its full potential. A lot of people will fall in love with

2006 Honda Ridgeline LX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123)

the high seating position and the heavy duty demeanour. Pickups are rough, tough. Pickups are macho.

So what happens when a Japanese brand attempts to make its mark by offering a pickup that's a little less, say, masculine?

The 2006 Ridgeline is about the same size as the Tacoma and fractionally bigger than the Frontier. It's also a little smaller than Dodge's mid-size Dakota. But Honda's effort is a little different. It's built in a single stamping, instead of a separate cab and bed bolted to the frame.

Once in a while, it's nice to get base-trim press cars, instead of the usual top-of-the-line, fully-loaded model that ends up costing more than its typical customers are willing to spend. Of course, manufacturers want us to try out all the bells and whistles. I should mention, however, that this Ridgeline LX is hardly a stripper. We picked up this silver truck with only 27 km on the odometer.

Power is provided by the same powertrain that you'll find in the Pilot. The 3.5-litre, 24-valve V6 develops 255 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 5-speed automatic. It doesn't make the Ridgeline a road rocket, nor does it need to be. This engine is just right; it's powerful

2006 Honda Ridgeline LX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123)

enough, can tow up to 2,268 kg (5,000 pounds), and won't make you break down in tears next to the gas pump. I averaged a little more than 16 L/100 km, more than EnerGuide's city figure of 14.4 L/100 km. But I spent some time in the fields and sand quarries. I was, uh, testing the Ridgeline's build quality and off-road abilities. I am not disappointed. However, no V8 engine is offered: Oestrogen factor #1.

Driving this truck is really a no-brainer. It has standard four-wheel drive with Variable Torque Management (VTM-4) and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). All these gizmos help you go in the direction you intended. The VSA can be turned off and you can lock the axles at the touch of a button.