Detroit News Truck of the year: You guessed it

[Ridge1]

this just in:Wednesday, December 21, 2005


The 2006 Detroit News Truck of the Year is the Honda Ridgeline


http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...TO03/512210333

The 2006 Detroit News Truck of the Year is the equally impressive Honda Ridgeline, making the Japanese automaker the first company ever to sweep our top two awards. Where the Civic excels in nearly every respect, but breaks little new ground stylistically, the revolutionary Ridgeline stakes out new turf between conventional pickups and crossover utility vehicles.

We can safely say there is nothing on the market quite like the '06 Ridgeline, which is aimed at consumers who previously might not have considered buying either a standard pickup truck or a big SUV.

The premise is simple: Give buyers a plush and roomy cabin stuffed with amenities, plus a comfortable car-like ride, a powerful V-6 engine, the security of all-wheel drive and world-class safety features. Throw in a good-size pickup bed with a truly amazing twist -- a hidden, lockable trunk under the floor -- and you've got a winning formula with the potential to create a whole new market niche.

The exterior design is polarizing, and the premise of a car-based truck that's built in Canada likely won't appeal to fans of big Detroit pickups. But the Ridgeline remains in a class by itself, with the ability to attract new customers from minivans, sedans, wagons and SUVs. Prices start at $28,250.

[MittarFulgar]

Honda minivan with an Avalance type bed. Great poseurmobile for people who want a Honda Pilot that looks more like a truck with a bed.

[atomicshark]

I don't care how innovative or good this thing is. It is butt ugly.

[SobeSVT]

In the words of the Autoextremist

Originally Posted by Autoextremist 12/21/2005

Motor Trend, North American Truck of the Year Judges. From the "Frankly My Dear, We Don't Give a sh¡t" File comes word that the Honda Ridgeline was named Motor Trend magazine's "Truck of the Year." It was also named one of three finalists for the North American Truck of the Year, which will be announced on the opening day of the media preview days for the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS). "The Honda Ridgeline has taken the traditional understanding of a truck and completely redefined every aspect," said Angus MacKenzie, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend in a Primedia press release. "The Ridgeline is filled with innovation and clever solutions to everyday issues. As Honda's first foray into truck models in the U.S., the Ridgeline showcases a vehicle built on intelligent technology and impressive durability. This remarkable machine encompasses all necessities a truck should have and demonstrates what Motor Trend desires when naming Truck of the Year." That's nice, but we still don't get the Ridgeline. The automotive media (except us), fell all over themselves at last January's Detroit Auto Show trying to lavish praise on what is, after all is said and done, yet another entry in "The Answer to the Question that Absolutely No One is Asking" Sweepstakes. All this "pickup truck" accomplished is to prove yet again that Honda isn't infallible - even when they put their minds to something. For every new Civic they come up with that truly deserves praise, Honda manages to come up with a Ridgeline or yet another iteration of its Ass-imo robot that doesn't. But Honda loyalists and the honored media who have their company-issued Honda Kool-Aid patches firmly attached don't have to believe us, just take a look at the market place, which is the ultimate judge of success. And it's there that the reception for the Ridgeline has been decidedly lukewarm. And that gets our award for the biggest non-surprise of the year.

LINK

[Tiger]

Oxymoron this thing is I tell yah!

[bouda]

WTF! It's not even a real truck. It's like a tall all-wheel drive wagon with a little box on it.

[paul8488]

Where the Civic excels in nearly every respect, but breaks little new ground stylistically, the revolutionary Ridgeline stakes out new turf between conventional pickups and crossover utility vehicles.

We can safely say there is nothing on the market quite like the '06 Ridgeline, which is aimed at consumers who previously might not have considered buying either a standard pickup truck or a big SUV.

Nothing on the market like it? I disagree. I don't HATE the Ridgeline as much as most here, but I don't think it deserves THAT much credit. The SportTrac did SUV-with-a-bed first, and the Avalanche took it a step further. A lockable trunk under the bed is interesting, but so is being able to fold away the back wall of the cab and open up even more cargo room. Or slide the roof away so that you can put taller items in your SUV (Envoy XUV). I fail to see exactly what trail the Ridgeline blazed. Is it because it's not on a traditional truck chassis?

[giagastormer]

Above all, it's a Honda.

[griswold44]

Good god, what's with all the reposts??????????? WE GET IT, PEOPLE.

[TahoeMikeZ71]

Yesterday I saw the Ridgelin my first time driving around and saw a couple more, and I asked my self who would buy this so called truck?, it looks like it is a messed up art project.

[Ridge1]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Nothing on the market like it? I disagree. I don't HATE the Ridgeline as much as most here, but I don't think it deserves THAT much credit. The SportTrac did SUV-with-a-bed first, and the Avalanche took it a step further. A lockable trunk under the bed is interesting, but so is being able to fold away the back wall of the cab and open up even more cargo room. Or slide the roof away so that you can put taller items in your SUV (Envoy XUV). I fail to see exactly what trail the Ridgeline blazed. Is it because it's not on a traditional truck chassis?

Nothing on the market like it? I disagree. I don't HATE the Ridgeline as much as most here,

That's good, hate is an irrational and generally not a healthy thing.

but I don't think it deserves THAT much credit. The SportTrac did SUV-with-a-bed first, and the Avalanche took it a step further. A lockable trunk under the bed is interesting, but so is being able to fold away the back wall of the cab and open up even more cargo room.

Yep, the mid-gate feature of the Avalanche is a very cool feature, but safety wise, I can't help but think what would happen to cargo like plywood and 2x4's in a high speed collision turning those cargo items into spears and guillotines flying through the cabin at very high velocities. I still like the feature though and probably would be willing to live with the risk if the RL had it. I disagree, I think there is nothing else like the RL. The combo of the 2 way opening tail gate and the grocery cart sized trunk is something that may have to be lived with for you to truly appreciate it. It makes the truck (any truck) much more flexible.


I fail to see exactly what trail the Ridgeline blazed. Is it because it's not on a traditional truck chassis

I think it's a combination of features that when combined (though these features have existed on vehicles in the past) blaze a bright trail that will be obvious years from now when these controversial features are adopted by other truck makers.

These features are: IRS (major improvement in ride and handling), 2 way opening tail gate (much better access to the bed), inbed trunk (well, you'll just have to have one to understand) and the unibody on frame construction (major improvement in off road handling and the way a load rides in the truck). That's why there's nothing else like it. It's just the kind of engineering you'd expect from a former GM engineer that is unhampered by pencil pushers trying to cut corners.

[FightingChance]

Actually, the IRS and unibody construction prevent it from being adopted as a work truck. Current materials and metallurgy don't allow those kinds of designs to take the abuse that solid axles and a body on frame construction can.

That said, Ridgeline is probably the best 'on paved roads' truck out there right now.