Honda has always had a talent for creating useful storage systems in its vehicles, and that trait will stand it in good stead with the Ridgeline pickup from Alliston, Ontario, that it will put on sale this March as a 2006 model.
Indeed, the storage space beneath the rear end of the tailgate -- called the In-Bed Trunk -- is the most memorable thing about this truck at first glance, followed closely by its remarkable resemblance to the Chevrolet Avalanche but without that bigger vehicle's removable mid-gate versatility.
The mention of size also raises a key question about the Ridgeline -- is it a compact, mid-size or full-size pickup? Since it's not as big as the full-size brutes from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and so on, it therefore qualifies for a mid-size designation.
Regardless of its designation, Ridgeline's a big vehicle by even North American standards. In base form, it weighs 2,064 kg, measures 5,253 mm from stem to stern on a wheelbase of 3,098 mm, and is 1,786-mm high and 1,976-mm wide. As I say, it's big.
This will help the Ridgeline to be accepted as a real truck, since Japanese pickups have had to battle the poseur label since the Toyota T-100 debuted almost a decade ago.
Honda actually likes to call Ridgeline a ''next generation truck,'' pointing to such attributes as a new body construction, a tailgate that swings and lowers, a steel reinforced composite bed, 2,268-kg towing capacity, and the first four-wheel, fully independent suspension system in the pickup segment.
''The truck market is evolving and we think Ridgeline is at the leading edge of the trend,'' says Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ''The Honda Ridgeline delivers all the capabilities of a truck with none of the traditional truck trade-offs.''
Colliver points to several features as being the reasons for Ridgeline's claim to segment-leading status, including:
The integrated truck frame with two longitudinal frame rails and seven high-strength steel cross members that create a fully boxed, deep channel, ladder frame structure fully integrated into the upper body of the vehicle is a big deal, Colliver says.
Body bending rigidity is said to be more than 2.5 times stiffer than the best performing body-on-frame compact truck competitor, and rear torsion rigidity is more than 20 times stiffer.
For hauling, the Ridgeline features a steel reinforced, 1,524-mm composite truck bed (1982-mm with the tailgate down) designed to carry up to a 500 kg of cargo.
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The mention of size also raises a key question about the Ridgeline -- is it a compact, mid-size or full-size pickup? Since it's not as big as the full-size brutes from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and so on, it therefore qualifies for a mid-size designation.
Regardless of its designation, Ridgeline's a big vehicle by even North American standards. In base form, it weighs 2,064 kg, measures 5,253 mm from stem to stern on a wheelbase of 3,098 mm, and is 1,786-mm high and 1,976-mm wide. As I say, it's big.
This will help the Ridgeline to be accepted as a real truck, since Japanese pickups have had to battle the poseur label since the Toyota T-100 debuted almost a decade ago.
Honda actually likes to call Ridgeline a ''next generation truck,'' pointing to such attributes as a new body construction, a tailgate that swings and lowers, a steel reinforced composite bed, 2,268-kg towing capacity, and the first four-wheel, fully independent suspension system in the pickup segment.
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Colliver points to several features as being the reasons for Ridgeline's claim to segment-leading status, including:
- a fully integrated closed box frame with unit body construction
- the integrated cab and bed
- the steel reinforced composite bed with dual action tailgate and In-Bed Trunk
- 500-kg bed loading capability
- a 255-hp, 3.5-liter SOHC VTEC V-6
- the towing capacity
- the independent front and rear suspension
- an advanced VTM-4WD four-wheel-drive system
- standard vehicle stability and traction control systems
- standard side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, front side airbags,
- and ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution
The integrated truck frame with two longitudinal frame rails and seven high-strength steel cross members that create a fully boxed, deep channel, ladder frame structure fully integrated into the upper body of the vehicle is a big deal, Colliver says.
Body bending rigidity is said to be more than 2.5 times stiffer than the best performing body-on-frame compact truck competitor, and rear torsion rigidity is more than 20 times stiffer.
For hauling, the Ridgeline features a steel reinforced, 1,524-mm composite truck bed (1982-mm with the tailgate down) designed to carry up to a 500 kg of cargo.