A macho pickup with a moderate level of oestrogen
2006 Honda Ridgeline LX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
Toyota first launched its first full-size pickup in 1993, which made little waves and was called the T100. With its redesign came a new name in 2000, the Tundra. The Tacoma has grown in size and power last year. Nissan also launched its biggest pickup ever in 2004, the Titan, and their Frontier also bloated in 2005. Even Subaru tried its luck with the somewhat unusual concept of sawing the back portion off an Outback. The result is the hugely unsuccessful Baja which will be discontinued after the 2006 model year. Now, Honda takes a chance with its own pickup, their first one on North American soil.
I'm pretty sure you know at least one person who owns a pickup but doesn't really use it to its full potential. A lot of people will fall in love with
2006 Honda Ridgeline LX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
So what happens when a Japanese brand attempts to make its mark by offering a pickup that's a little less, say, masculine?
The 2006 Ridgeline is about the same size as the Tacoma and fractionally bigger than the Frontier. It's also a little smaller than Dodge's mid-size Dakota. But Honda's effort is a little different. It's built in a single stamping, instead of a separate cab and bed bolted to the frame.
Once in a while, it's nice to get base-trim press cars, instead of the usual top-of-the-line, fully-loaded model that ends up costing more than its typical customers are willing to spend. Of course, manufacturers want us to try out all the bells and whistles. I should mention, however, that this Ridgeline LX is hardly a stripper. We picked up this silver truck with only 27 km on the odometer.
Power is provided by the same powertrain that you'll find in the Pilot. The 3.5-litre, 24-valve V6 develops 255 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 5-speed automatic. It doesn't make the Ridgeline a road rocket, nor does it need to be. This engine is just right; it's powerful
2006 Honda Ridgeline LX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
Driving this truck is really a no-brainer. It has standard four-wheel drive with Variable Torque Management (VTM-4) and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). All these gizmos help you go in the direction you intended. The VSA can be turned off and you can lock the axles at the touch of a button.