2006-2008 Honda Ridgeline: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Honda's first pickup truck was a compact-class five-passenger, four-door crew cab with a five-foot cargo bed. Several Ridgeline design features were unusual in the pickup market, including an independent rear suspension rather than a solid axle, and unibody construction as opposed to traditional body-on-frame. Made of dent-resistant plastic, the cargo box had a steel-reinforced floor that incorporated a locking "trunk" bin at the rear. The two-way drop-down/swing-out tailgate also set Ridgeline apart from the pack. Six tie-down cleats in the bed are capable of holding 350 pounds each. Competitors included the Dodge Dakota and Toyota Tacoma, but Ridgeline had a shape and feel all its own, distanced from traditional domestic-model pickups. Sole powertrain was the same 255-horsepower V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission used in Honda's Pilot SUV. Ridgeline borrowed the Pilot's VTM-4 all-wheel-drive system, too. The system normally powers the front wheels and engages the rear wheels when the front tires slip. Though Ridgeline was not designed for severe off-road use and lacked low-range gearing, a dashboard button could lock in a 50/50 front/rear power split for extra traction. RT, RTS, and top-of-the-line RTL models were offered. Exclusive to RTL versions were such features as leather upholstery, heated front seats, a sunroof, and navigation system. All models had front bucket seats and a 60/40-split rear bench, with cushions that flipped up to increase in-cab storage space. Antilock four-wheel disc brakes, antiskid/traction control, and 17-inch wheels were standard. So were front torso side airbags and head-protecting curtain side airbags. Covering both seating rows, the curtains were designed to deploy in a side impact or when sensors detected an impending rollover. Ridgeline's transmission shift lever was mounted on the steering column. Between the front seats, a center console could slide fore and aft by several inches, to customize storage space.