A pickup truck that is efficient while being a comfortable workhorse and a towing rig with a car-like ride? The above may sound like oxymorons that cannot coexist but the engineers at Honda have worked hard to create a vehicle that acts as all of the above and more.

Enter the 2011 Honda Ridgeline, a Japanese-engineered pickup that is equal parts family hauler, workhorse and cottage cruiser. Setting itself apart from other pickups on the market, the Ridgeline is built on a stiff, unitized body structure as opposed to the ladder-style frames found on most competitors.

Advantages of the unitized body structure include reduced weight for optimized performance and fuel efficiency with all the toughness expected of a workable pickup. The Ridgeline’s body structure allows for optimal packaging of various vehicle components and enhanced interior space, as well as a more comfortable and car-like ride. Ultimately, it is all part of Honda’s goal of delivering a pickup truck that is just as comfortable hauling cargo or a trailer as it is working as a family carrier.

Many Ridgeline owners say they appreciate the easy entry and exit, which is enabled by a low step-in height and wide-opening doors. For kids and elderly passengers alike, the Ridgeline is easy to board and offers a comfortable interior. The cabin is generously stocked with storage and organization solutions and seating for five is available. The Ridgeline’s rear seats even flip up and out of the way in mere seconds when passengers are not on board, opening up a generously sized rear cargo hold for items that cannot be transported in the box.

Speaking of the box, it features a 5-foot-long composite cargo bed with eight tie-down locations. Payload capacity is rated at 1,100 pounds and the box features four cargo lights and a dual-action tailgate that opens sideways or downwards. The Ridgeline also gets a slick 8.5-cubic-foot trunk mounted beneath the bed. With a weatherproof, lockable cover, the Ridgeline is the world’s only pickup truck that also features a trunk. Our dealer also offers a range of accessories that can help owners easily accommodate motorcycles and ATVs.

“The Honda Ridgeline focuses on delivering the most-popular features and capabilities that a majority of recreational truck buyers typically use and need,” said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “As a company that also builds world-class motorcycles, ATVs, marine engines and power equipment, many features in the Ridgeline represent the best thinking from Honda.”

A 250-horsepower, 3.5-litre VTEC V6 engine, teamed to an electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission powers all models. Honda’s Variable Torque Management 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4) is standard. The VTM-4 system operates as a fully automatic, on-demand 4x4 system for all-purpose traction, though owners can lock the system into four-wheel drive for more intense off-road work or slippery driving conditions.

With advanced transmission controls, aluminum engine construction, VTEC and on-demand four-wheel drive, Honda’s engineering team for the Ridgeline worked extensively to maximize capability, performance and fuel mileage. For consumers who need a pickup truck with real-world capability without a fuel-swilling V8 engine or compromised performance, the Ridgeline makes plenty of sense.

Available or standard equipment includes a driver computer, premium audio, navigation with voice command, automatic climate control, heated leather seating, a sunroof and plenty more.

Interested in a test drive? Be sure to stop by our dealership today for a closer look at the Honda Ridgeline.