Trucks exist that can tow a fifty-foot boat while hauling an ATV, seating five people and leaving enough room behind for a few cases of pop and some fishing gear.The Honda Ridgeline isn't one of them-- but for the day-to-day tasks many pickup owners face, it offers enormous flexibility, convenience and comfort.
Don't expect it to haul around skids of roofing shingles or crawl down any mountains, and you'll likely find it an ideal tool for both the daily grind and weekend family adventures. For 2009, Honda has updated their pickup with a few visual tweaks and a slight gain in horsepower, too.
It offers towing and payload ratings around 5,000 lbs. and 1,400 lbs. respectively, and there's more than enough interior room for a 4-adult road trip. Cubbies, compartments and cupholders are at reach everywhere, and a massive re-configurable centre console adapts to hold just about anything.
There's even a divided storage area built into the dashboard itself, and no less than 3 power outlets fall within reach of front-seat passengers. Ridgeline's cabin could out shine a top-of-the-line closet organizer any day of the week.
Priced at $43,490, the loaded tester included a sunroof, upgraded stereo, Bluetooth, navigation, a backup camera, and chill-busting heated leather seats.
Topped off with an auxiliary audio input and automatic climate control, no complaints arose from the level of equipment provided for the price.
Honda's engineers have worked to ensure maximum flexibility, comfort and fuel efficiency for Ridgeline drivers, and an extended highway road trip put their efforts to the test.
First, the rear seats flip up and out of the way to reveal a large and almost flat load floor.
Switching between 3 passengers people and, say, 1 passenger and a bookshelf takes just seconds. Plenty of room is available, though one occupant noted that rear seats were a touch too stiff and flat for napping on the go.
In back, Ridgeline's bed has a generous trunk beneath it that will readily swallow a couple of pack-sacks or some luggage. It's lockable, drainable and weather-proof, too.
The tailgate is even hinged at both the bottom and the side, allowing it to open flat or to the left depending on the task at hand. The word 'clever' comes up often here.
A relatively short wheelbase means Ridgeline isn't the smoothest-riding truck on the market, though it rolls without the heavy, jiggly sensation bigger pickups exhibit on rough roads. There's an easygoing and very car-like ride at work here, albeit a sometimes-stiff one.
Wind and road noise levels at speed are within limits, highway mileage cruising at around 115 km/h averaged between 11 and 12L / 100km. City mileage can jump to over 14L / 100km, partially at the hands of an aggressively-tuned five-speed automatic that's reluctant to shift up.
Ridgeline's 3.5 liter V6 delivers a strong intake note, operates with a great deal of smoothness, and delivers adequate thrust in nearly any situation. Listen closely, and you'll even hear the VTEC system engaging at about 4,200 RPM when the engine is pushed.
The V6 is the only engine option available-- so if 250 ponies aren't enough for your driveway, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Honda's Variable Torque Management (VTM) 4x4 system splits engine power between the axles automatically, running as a front-wheel drive until wheelspin kicks the rear axle into play. Traction is plentiful, automatic and seamless in any normal situation, though a 'lock' function can preemptively engage all four wheels when the going gets extra tough.
Getting sucked into some slop? Just feed in some more throttle to get the tires spinning themselves clear. With the snappy engine, intelligent traction and a good set of tires, Ridgeline is happy to play ball off of the beaten path as required.
Of course, it's built off of a unibody platform, like a car. This enables the appreciable comfort levels, but at the expense of a genuinely rugged and beefy 'big truck' feel off the beaten path. The Ridgeline is plenty capable, but it can feel a bit too much like a car when the terrain beneath deteriorates.
It's a matter of priorities after all, and most Ridgeline owners probably aren't looking at much serious off-road duty anyhow.
Ultimately, this isn't a Dodge Ram Hemi when it comes to horsepower or a Ford F150 where towing is concerned. However, if you value efficiency and versatility and you've got a pickup in your sights, the Ridgeline's got you in its sights, too.
Source;
http://www.canadaeast.com/wheels/article/666417
