Honda claims cutting edge with Ridgeline

The Dual Action tailgate features a high-strength steel frame and can flip down or swing out, providing easier access for loading and unloading of bulky cargo or loose materials such as gravel or mulch. Ridgeline is also capable of carrying 4x8 sheets of building materials flat on the floor, which Colliver says is something no other ''compact or mid-size'' pickup can do.

The real trick part of the bed is that In-Bed Trunk, which you get to by lifting the hinged rear portion of the bed floor. It supplies 240 litres of secure, lockable and water resistant storage space.

Colliver claims that Ridgeline's powertrain is designed for excellent all-around performance, including towing, with class-leading fuel economy. The V-6 delivers 255 hp at 5,750 rpm and 252 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm, through a five-speed automatic transmission to a fully-automatic four-wheel-drive system.

Ridgeline's Variable Torque Management 4-Wheel Drive System is designed for ''excellent all-weather handling, traction and off-road ability,'' says Colliver, ''and can transfer up to 70 percent of available torque to the rear wheels.''

Ridgeline offers what Colliver calls ''honest towing,'' adding that it was designed to handle the kinds of towing and off-road duties most common to truck users.

Ridgeline's list of standard equipment geared to towing duties includes transmission and power steering coolers, pre-wiring for trailer connections, a dual fan radiator, heavy-duty brakes and an exclusive fresh air intake system. This gives Ridgeline the ability to tow 2,268-kg loads with two passengers and their cargo, with only the addition of a trailer hitch.

Inside, the Ridgeline seats five in a cabin with interior space similar to that of a full-size truck, Colliver notes, including the most generous rear seat legroom for a four-door pickup.

The second-row bench has storage space under the seat large enough to hold a set of golf clubs or other oversized items, and features a 60/40-split lift-up rear seat allowing for storage of even such bulky items as a full-size mountain bike.

Other interior highlights include large and easy-to-manipulate audio and climate control knobs, a steering-column mounted shift lever, and an optional voice-activated navigation system.

All Ridgeline models will come equipped with a long list of standard safety features, including four-wheel anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, and Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control.

Colliver says Ridgeline will be available in three well-equipped trim levels -- RT, RT-S and RT-L.

Pricing is not yet finalized, Colliver says but is expected to be in the range of US$27,000 to US$32,000, which probably makes it a $35,000 truck in Canada to start with.

Approximately 50,000 Ridgelines are expected to be sold in the first 12 months, Colliver says, which should mean about 4,000 in Canada.