Honda Begins Producing Innovative Ridgeline Pickup

What's a fully integrated, closed-boxed frame? Nothing to do with the Pilot SUV, the Ridgeline's undercarriage boasts 93

"The Honda Ridgeline delivers all the capabilities of a truck with none of the traditional truck trade-offs," said executive vice president of American Honda Dick Colliver. (Photo: Honda Canada)

percent exclusive components, including two longitudinal frame rails and seven high-strength steel cross members for the fully boxed effect, plus a deep channel, ladder frame structure which is fully integrated into the upper body of the vehicle. The result is body bending rigidity more than 2.5 times stiffer than the best performing body-on-frame compact truck competitor and rear torsion rigidity more than 20 times stiffer.

That rigidity reportedly not only creates a truck more capable of hauling heavy loads and undergoing sizeable trailer weights, but also one that rides and handles better than the average pickup truck available.

"The truck market is evolving and we think Ridgeline is at the leading edge of the trend," said executive vice president of American Honda Dick Colliver. "The Honda Ridgeline delivers all the capabilities of a truck with none of the traditional truck trade-offs. It combines Honda innovation, Honda engineering and Honda's

The Ridgeline boasts a large cabin with the best rear legroom in the 4-door pickup class. (Photo: Honda Canada)

commitment to environmental and safety leadership in a next generation truck package."

Those buyers opting for Honda's entry due to its similar hauling characteristics to a conventional open bed truck, superior car-like driving dynamics achieved via a fully independent suspension, with standard Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Traction Control for safety's sake, an integrated cab and cargo box design, and excellent interior packaging, will also benefit from a large cabin with the best rear legroom in the 4-door pickup class, ideal for families not needing the third row of seats the brand's Pilot SUV offers, and alternatively needing exterior cargo capacity.