2009 HONDA RIDGELINE: Everything to Everyone

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/09/2009 (6156 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There has always been a soft spot in my heart for machines that are capable of doing more than one thing.

My favourite example is the dual-purpose motorcycle. These marvels of modern engineering share the characteristics of both dirt and street motorcycles. They are equally capable of cruising down the highway or scrambling through a wooded trail. It’s like getting two bikes for the price of one, and many motorcycle riders swear by them.

One can’t help but think that Honda had these very folks in mind when they created the Ridgeline.

Make no mistake about it, the 2009 Honda Ridgeline is a truck, but it also offers up a healthy dose of car-like characteristics that results in the motoring equivalent of the Swiss Army Knife.

With a roomy and comfortable four-door interior that easily accommodates five adults, a nifty pickup-truck box with a massive concealed trunk, decent towing and cargo capabilities and an all-wheel-drive power train that is well-mannered on the highway and sure-footed off-road, the Honda Ridgeline may just be everything to everyone.

The Ridgeline made its debut in 2006 and represents Honda’s first foray into the North American pickup-truck market. The 2009 model received a minor facelift that includes a few subtle cosmetic changes to the front fascia that makes it look more like the newly redesigned Honda Pilot. The grille and headlights are more integrated and the front and rear bumpers and more-pronounced wheel flares give the Ridgeline a more masculine look. Many commented that it reminded them of a slightly smaller version of the Chevrolet Avalanche.

The 3.5-litre V6 engine is a carryover from the previous model and blends a surprising level of fuel efficiency with a spirited power band. Honda’s VTEC system does an excellent job maximizing torque at lower engine speeds and boosts the horsepower as engine speed increases. Honda boasts that, when combined with its fresh-air intake system, engine output remains strong even in high-temperature, heavy-duty driving and towing conditions. The engine pumps out a respectable 250 horsepower, and although I never had the opportunity to do any towing, mashing the gas pedal on the Ridgeline resulted in a satisfying growl from the exhaust pipe and spirited acceleration.

All Ridgelines come equipped with all-wheel-drive, thanks to Honda’s sophisticated variable torque management four-wheel drive system that instantly directs power to the wheels with the best traction. The Ridgeline also features a fully independent suspension that is curve-hugging on the highway and really softens out the bumps in moderate off-road driving.

Here in Canada, the Ridgeline is available in three trim levels, the DX, VP and EX-L. My tester was a black beauty equipped with the middle-of-the-road VP package that blended a nice level of comfort with a healthy dose of utility. The comfortable fabric seats are both wide and supportive and all of the switches and controls, including the steering wheel-mounted cruise control, are uncluttered and easy to operate. The 100-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA audio system with six speakers is more than adequate and, when you choose either the VP or EX-L trim package, an auxiliary input jack for your iPod is also new for 2009. Another key feature is the numerous well-designed interior storage bins that keep items like cell phones and cameras out of sight but in easy reach.

Normally, all of these features would simply add up to a well-appointed SUV. But it’s what takes place behind the Ridgeline’s rear doors that really make it a pickup truck, and a unique one at that.

While Honda certainly didn’t invent the concept of blending car-like comfort with pickup-truck utility, (think El Camino), the Ridgeline’s truck box is among the most innovative I’ve ever experienced. It’s a real truck bed that’s more than adequate for trips to Home Depot or hauling the family camping gear around. For quick access you can even swing the dual-action tailgate to the side. With the tailgate closed the five-foot-long bed is a bit on the short side but, when extended, that rear gate adds an additional two feet of length and boasts a 300-pound weight capacity.

In its brochure, Honda features a pair of dirt bikes perched in the bed that conjure up images of the ultimate vacation. The best feature is Honda’s innovative, lockable in-bed storage trunk. Beneath the Ridgeline’s bed, are 241 litres of secure storage space that you won’t find on any other pickup. This compartment is both cavernous and concealed, and is the perfect spot for tools, coolers or camping and fishing gear. All Honda Ridgelines are also equipped with a trailer hitch pre-wired for a trailer brake controller and boast a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds — more than adequate for a trailer loaded with a pair of snowmobiles or a fair-sized boat or camper.

On the road, the Ridgeline is well-mannered and has more than enough power to make a safe pass on a two-lane highway. On a recent road trip to Dauphin, my wife and I found it to be both comfortable and quiet on the highway and confident on the gravel back roads we toured in Riding Mountain National Park. We were only gone for a weekend and we didn’t even come close to taxing the Ridgeline’s massive cargo capabilities.

If you’re in the market for a new car, SUV or minivan, but can’t help but think that it would also be handy to own a pickup truck, the Ridgeline is definitely worth a second look. This unique machine blends so many classes of vehicles that it’s really best described as being in a class all its own.

The fact that you can haul around a pair of dirt bikes in the back is an added bonus that was not lost on this aging adventurer.

willy@freepress.mb.ca

THE SPECS

Body style: 4-door truck

Layout: Front engine, four-wheel drive

Engine: 3.5 L 250 hp V6

Transmission: 5 speed automatic

Wheelbase: 122 in (3099 mm)

Length: 207 in (5258 mm)

Width: 77.8 in (1976 mm)

Height: 70.3 in (1786 mm)

Fuel capacity: 22 US gallons (83.3 L; 18.3 imp gal)

Fuel economy-city / highway (L/100 km): 14.1/9.9