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OK, ask yourself this question: How many years have truck makers been building pickups and didn't think of including a locking trunk under the bed?
Well, credit Honda for thinking outside the bed.
Its new Ridgeline pickup has a large compartment under the lined bed that will lock shut, like a trunk. To get at it, you just need to flip the tailgate to the side like a door. Of course you can also swing it down like a regular tailgate too.
Honda isn't the first to think of this tailgate configuration, but combining it with the lockable trunk is a leap forward in pickups.
Oh, you can argue this isn't a heavy-duty hauler. But it'll seat four with extreme comfort and pull up to 5,000 pounds, which means at least a full two-place snowmobile trailer. Plus you will NOT find a quieter pickup. Ridgeline sounds like a luxury sport-ute inside, maybe quieter.
The Honda rides on a 122-inch wheelbase and is 216.8 inches long. That's a full 10 inches shorter in wheelbase than Ford's No. 1 selling F-150 in Supercab 4X4 trim. But it's only an inch shorter overall than that same F-150 with a short bed.
For comfort Honda's new all-wheel-drive truck is a gem, and for folks thinking it won't have any power because it only comes with a V-6, well, you're wrong.
Honda's 3.5-liter, VTEC V-6 delivers 255 horsepower and 252 foot-pounds of torque. That's more horsepower than Ford's Triton V-8, which has 231. Granted the Ford still has more pulling power with 293 foot-pounds of torque.
Like other Honda vehicles, the Ridgeline also is more refined and better finished than many competitors. That starts with its quietness, but includes the smooth shifts from its five-speed automatic transmission. Many trucks still have four-speeds. And Honda's shifts are nearly seamless.
Ride is like a well-controlled large sport-ute and firmer than most pickups. There isn't the roll and bounce over bumps that you expect in a pickup. Likewise handling is good. The truck turns into corners well with little to no body lean. I'd still firm up the steering wheel feel, but it's decent.
Braking is excellent too with four-wheel discs and anti-locks.
Looks are a matter of taste. Ridgeline looks too much like Chevy's Avalanche to me, with its extension beyond the rear window. However, Honda goes with an even more mechanical-look styling.
Still, the tested grayish silver Ridgeline RTL, the top-of-the-line model with navigation system and power sunroof, offers an attractive, upscale-look interior. This one was bathed in black leather and featured massive matte silver handles around the doorknobs. Those were great for pulling yourself into the truck and shutting its big doors.
The dash is well laid out with the three main gauges centered in front of the driver and ringed again with matte silver trim.
On the driver's door are the usual power buttons, plus one for the sliding power rear window behind the back seat. That's cool!
A cruise control on-off button and the power sunroof buttons also are to the left of the wheel while an all-wheel-drive button is to the right. That can be engaged if you're doing serious off-roading to lock the transmission in four-wheel-drive low. Otherwise all-wheel-drive is engaged fulltime.
Radio volume, channel and mode buttons are on the steering wheel hub and cruise control also is here. Plus there's a big navigation system screen in the center stack. It's easy to adjust and that screen also doubles as the readout for the satellite radio system. Again everything has the silver knobs that match the truck's interior trim and everything works well, but some buttons are small.
Below the radio and navigation screen is the dual climate control system that works fine. There also are two power outlets here; two-speed heated seat buttons; a big open tray; another that looks like an ashtray, but says it's not; and then a big open tray before you get to the two cup holders. Another tray has pen holders and there's also a large storage box/armrest.
Overhead the visors are uncharacteristically hard to unfasten and have no mirror or light for the driver. The passenger's side is fine. A HomeLink system is up there too.
Seating is particularly comfortable in the rear seat, quite unusual for a pickup. Front seats are fine too, but a bit too flat on the bottom cushion, while the seat back is more moderately contoured. Honda gives the truck power front seats, plus power lumbar support for the driver.
Gas mileage? I got 15.2 miles per gallon, which is nothing to shout about. The EPA says to expect 16 mpg city and 21 highway.
Pricing is up there, but not out of line with today's market. The base RT (all models are quad cabs and all-wheel-drive) starts at $27,700 and adds a $550 destination charge. The test truck started at $34,640, but other RTL models start lower when they don't include a navigation system or sunroof.
Ridgeline is impressive and will fill a lot of needs for the driver who wants more comfort and refinement while hauling people and sleds. Watch out Ford, Chevy and Dodge!