2011 Honda Ridgeline

The 2011 Honda Ridgeline built with a unibody structure and independent front and rear suspensions, the Ridgeline combines the ride quality of a sedan with workhorse utility.

The Ridgeline’s V6 puts down 250 horsepower and a modest 247 pound-feet of torque. While the 2011 Honda Ridgeline is all the truck many pickup buyers will ever need, it’s not for everybody.

The 2011 Honda Ridgeline midsize pickup truck is offered in a single four-door crew-cab body style with seating for five. The entry-level RT is reasonably well equipped with standard features that include 17-inch steel wheels, a power-sliding rear window, air-conditioning, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat with under-seat storage, full power accessories, cruise control, a trip computer and a six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo with an auxiliary audio jack.

The RTS adds 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat and an upgraded seven-speaker audio system with a six-CD changer and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. The 2011 Honda Ridgeline offers only one engine choice, a 3.5-liter V6 generating 250 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. Power flows through a five-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel-drive system. EPA estimated fuel economy is 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined, which is mediocre considering the truck’s modest power. The Ridgeline can handle payloads up to 1,550 pounds and tow trailers up to 5,000 pounds, both of which are a little below average for a V6-powered midsize pickup.

Every Ridgeline comes standard with antilock brakes (with brake assist), stability control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor and front seat active head restraints.

The 2011 Honda Ridgeline has not been rated using the government’s new, more strenuous 2011 crash-testing procedures. In Edmunds 60-0-mph brake testing, the Ridgeline required 141 feet to stop, a disappointing figure for its class.

Controls and surfaces inside the 2011 Honda Ridgeline run big — as in Tonka big. There’s something charming in the Ridgeline’s rugged, work-ready eagerness to please.