Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi have built pickup trucks, but Honda? Honda’s first real attempt was the Ridgeline, first released for the 2006 model year, and it definitely offered something different, from its independent front and rear suspension to its unibody construction.
Was it too soft for real truck buyers? Too hardcore for the rank and file?
In true disclosure, we bought one of those early Ridgelines. Verdict: We love it. It’s perfect around town, comfortable on the highway, and loaded with neat features—like the bed’s lockable trunk. It can also tow our Trailerworld aluminum trailer. No, the Ridgeline isn’t going to drag a fifth wheel up the Alps, but ours has towed Triumphs, MINIs, Miatas and more up and down the East Coast. And it’s covered more than 150,000 miles to date. We still love it.
Since that first Ridgeline, well, not much has happened. The Ridgeline has picked up a little more power and received a mild styling refresh, but the product cycle has been long—nothing like this since the S2000.
We recently drove a 2013 Ridgeline Sport. It’s not the most stripped-down model, but it’s a little less equipped than ours—no navigation or satellite radio.
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