Full Test: 2006 Honda Ridgeline

Pickup trucks are supposed to be big, hulking, powerful beasts, like Bruce Banner when he gets angry. Real trucks climb mountains, haul loads and fling mud with reckless abandon.

Now that we've sufficiently hosed the page with testosterone, let's cut the bull.

Three million pickups rolled off dealer lots last year, but only a tiny fraction of them actually saw an off-road trail or a boat ramp. The rest are daily drivers that make an occasional trip to Home Depot for 2-by-4s and toilet pucks.

It was with this reality in mind that Honda designed the all-new 2006 Honda Ridgeline.

Uncommon Undercarriage
Honda started with the same platform that rides under the Acura MDX and Honda Pilot, but 93 percent of the components have been replaced or modified. The result is something of an oddity: a unibody pickup truck with a transverse-mounted V6, front-wheel drive and a flush bed built into the cab.

Typical trucks have a steel frame that provides strength, and the body and bed are bolted to it. Honda took a different tack, integrating the lower frame and upper body into a single structure. Seven high-strength steel cross members were added to the undercarriage, creating a fully boxed ladder frame integrated into the unibody structure.

The Ridgeline also has a four-wheel independent suspension, which is a unique attribute for a pickup. It's a combination of McPherson strut suspension up front and coil-sprung multilink suspension out back. Brakes are ventilated 12.6-inch front discs and solid 13.1-inch solid disc brakes in the rear, and are equipped with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Electronic BrakeAssist and ABS.

Honda's Variable Torque Management (VTM-4) four-wheel-drive system is also standard. VTM-4 channels power to the front wheels during highway cruising, but can automatically shift a variable amount of power to the rear wheels in slippery conditions. The system also transfers power to the back wheels under hard acceleration, so torque steer is never a problem. For a closer look at this unique drive setup, see the 4WD vs. VTM Sidebar.

V6 Only
The Ridgeline is powered by the same 3.5-liter, single-overhead-cam V6 found in the Pilot, MDX and the Odyssey minivan. The cylinder heads have been tweaked for more power, and variable-length intake runners help boost bottom-end torque.

Output is rated at 255 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 252 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm. A five-speed automatic transmission borrowed from the MDX was tweaked for truck duty, and a heavy-duty transmission cooler comes standard.

Comparing the Ridgeline's power to other pickups is tricky. The Ridgeline boasts 10 more horsepower than the Tacoma, but the Toy reaches max power at 5,200 rpm while the Honda needs to rev up to 5,750 for max power. Also, the Ridgeline's 122-inch wheelbase is shorter than that of most midsize trucks (the Tacoma's measures 127 inches), yet a hefty 4,492-pound curb weight means the Honda outweighs the Toyota by nearly 500 pounds.

Torque, which is more important for hauling loads, is a similar story. The Toyota makes 282 lb-ft at 3,800 rpm while the Ridgeline produces 30 lb-ft less at a buzzy 4,500 rpm. As a result, the Toyota feels much stronger down low, whereas the Honda picks up speed with a rush at the top of the tach.

At the track, this lack of torque showed. The Ridgeline ran from zero to 60 mph in 9 seconds and the quarter-mile in 17 at 83 mph. In contrast, the Tacoma that recently won our Midsize Truck Comparison Test ran from zero to 60 in 7.8 seconds and the quarter-mile in 16.2 at 87.2 mph.

A Better Body
Unlike most trucks that bolt the bed and the cab onto the frame in two pieces, the Ridgeline's body structure is one solid piece from nose to tail. Short overhangs, integrated flush-mount bumpers and a large billetlike grille also help the Ridgeline stand out. The shape of the bed reminds us of the awkward-looking Avalanche, but after a week we grew to like the Honda's boxy lines.

The Ridgeline's bed is equally innovative. The steel-reinforced fiberglass composite box is dent- and rustproof, eliminating the need for a bed liner. Honda raised the floor of the bed, creating a flat surface that can accommodate cargo without the intrusion of big bulging wheelwells. The bed is 5 feet long and over 4 feet wide, so it can easily swallow a standard 4-by-8-foot sheet of plywood with the tailgate down.

Traditional truck owners have to choose between stowing cargo in the unsecured bed and stashing it in the cab. Honda eliminated the problem by incorporating an 8.5-cubic-foot locking trunk into the back of the bed, which is accessed by lifting a hatch in the floor. The trunk can hold a 72-quart cooler or three golf bags, and it locks with a key or the fob.

Bending over a tailgate to pull gear out of the trunk would be difficult, so the Ridgeline's tailgate is designed to open down or swing out sideways like a car door. Other innovative features in the bed include six steel tie-down hooks, four flush-mounted cargo lights and an optional power-sliding rear window.

Comfy Cabin
Although the base RT and midlevel RTS models provide all the features you need, our test truck was a high-line RTL model, which includes extras like leather, seat heaters, a moonroof, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat and an outstanding XM-equipped stereo. The front bucket seats are firm, well shaped and comfortable, and the door panels are covered in high-quality textured plastic typical of other Hondas.

The dash is textured and soft to the touch, and we love the big silver instrument binnacle filled with backlit, easy-to-read gauges. Dual-zone climate control makes finding the perfect temperature a breeze. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is easy to grip and features backlit stereo and cruise controls. Bonus features include oversize side mirrors, 12 individual storage compartments (including a brilliant expandable center console), six cupholders and four 12-volt power outlets.

Rear seats in pickup trucks are never very comfortable, and the Ridgeline's is no exception. The shape of the seat is too flat and it gets uncomfortable after about an hour. Rear legroom falls short of full-size trucks like the Ford F-150 or Chevy Avalanche, but at 36.4 inches, it bests that of most midsize pickups, including the Tacoma (32.4 inches).

The backseat splits 60/40 and folds up for increased storage space, and rear passengers get a fold-down armrest, two cupholders, two air conditioning vents and a power outlet.

On-Road
The Ridgeline is comfortable, quiet and easy to drive. Steering is sporty with just the right amount of resistance and feedback, and torque steer is never a problem. The brakes are firm and responsive, and consistent 60-mph-to-0 stopping distances in the low 130-foot range proved fade was not an issue.

The ride is very soft and carlike. Honda has managed to eliminate that annoying rear-end bounce most trucks get while rolling over speed bumps or potholes. On-road handling is very responsive for a pickup.

The 3.5 V6 is very smooth and offers plenty of power for cruising. It also sounds great when the throttle is floored. But the engine's need for more bottom-end power is undeniable when pulling away from a stoplight with four passengers packed in the cab.

Our test truck didn't come with a hitch, and Honda's trailer towing kit (the hitch and wiring harness) has not been released yet. However, the truck is rated to tow 5,000 pounds and can haul 1,550 pounds in the bed, so it falls in the gray area between the midsize and full-size categories.

Off-Road
We visited the same off-road trails we used in our recent Midsize Truck Comparison Test. Our standard loop includes a mile of flat and muddy trails, a mild twisting uphill climb and a steep, rocky downhill descent.

The Ridgeline had a hard time. It made it through the trails, but bottomed out repeatedly (it has 8.2 inches of ground clearance, the Tacoma has 9.5). We also had to keep the VTM locked and vehicle speed below 8 mph to prevent the truck from losing traction in the mud.

We should note that the Ridgeline's 17-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires are not conducive to off-road driving. When we tried climbing the hill, the undercarriage started groaning, so we abandoned the run and returned to dry pavement.

A Truck for the Truck-Allergic
Our test vehicle came loaded with every option except navigation, and it priced out at $32,640. That feels like a deal when you consider it has heated leather seats, fully independent suspension and a killer stereo.

The Ridgeline can't tow as much as a diesel dually or off-road like a Tacoma 4x4, but it is one of the smoothest, quietest and most comfortable pickup trucks we've ever driven. If you need the space of an SUV and utility of a pickup truck, but want nimble carlike handling, the Ridgeline is an excellent choice.