2006 Honda Ridgeline Preview

The tactile quality of materials is pretty good for this class but not exceptionally so, while fit and finish seems to be

The tactile quality of materials is pretty good for this class, but not exceptionally so. (Photo: Honda Canada)

above average. The audio and HVAC dials and buttons appear large enough to be used with gloves, an important benefit this time of year, while the truck's steering-column mounted shift lever looks like a throwback to simpler times, although an available voice-activated navigation system quickly brings any thought of yesteryear back to today's reality.

Like the Pilot, the new pickup can be parked in an average size garage as well, not always true of conventional pickup trucks.

What's under the hood? Just like the Pilot and Odyssey, Ridgeline sports Honda's high-output 3.5-liter SOHC VTEC V6, making 255-horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 252 lb-ft of

Just like the Pilot and Odyssey, the Ridgeline sports Honda's high-output 255-hp 3.5-liter SOHC VTEC V6. (Photo: Honda Canada)

torque at 4,500 rpm. Along with what Honda deems "excellent performance", is best-in-class fuel economy at 14.7 L/100 km in the city and 11.2 on the highway, as well as an ultra-low (ULEV) emissions rating, the first pickup to meet ULEV standards in all 50 U.S. states, plus all ten provinces and three territories in Canada.

Its 5-speed automatic transmission, also unusual for the pickup truck class, is connected to all four wheels via a fully automatic Variable Torque Management 4-Wheel Drive System (VTM-4WD), which is capable of transferring up to 70 percent of its available torque to the rear wheels if necessary.