Honda Ridgeline test drive since 2009 pickup

Honda Ridgeline: New generation pickup

Famous by unusual machines exploding the world public, Honda once decided to create a car for the American market, a significant segment of which is occupied by pickups.

These cars, for the most part produced in the USA, are usually very simple in design. Archaic suspension, a primitive, but powerful engine of a huge volume. Such a car is bended to have colossal dimensions. Pickups in America are a whole culture, a kind of national trait that does not go out of fashion. Many cars of this type are acquired only for the sake of style and carry air in their huge bodies in the summer and, accordingly, snow in the winter. The Japanese have long looked at this segment for themselves, and offer the Americans a number of models that are fully consistent with overseas picaparate traditions. However, Honda decided to go a different way.

Honda Ridgeline is a very bold solution; This is a quite modern and stylish machine, despite the utilitarian orientation. There is no traditional frame at the heart of the pickup, but special power elements were introduced into the structure of the supporting body, so the strength was not affected. The Honda Ridgeline has no border between the passenger interior and the cargo platform. The roof smoothly passes into the rear wings. The length of the cargo platform is 150 cm, and on it you can transport, for example, an ATV.
The salon does not surprise anything special. Its design is quite conservative and pretty. Honda engineers tried to glory, trying to provide the driver and passengers with a decent level of comfort. It is spacious both in front and behind, all devices are convenient and informative, the gear lever is made in the American style it is located under the wheel. Everything is convenient and functional.
The Honda Ridgeline engine has a power of 247 hp. with a volume of 3.7 liters. It provides a rather big car with good dynamics. In terms of controllability, Honda Ridgeline will give a hundred points forward to any pickup of American (and not only) production. On the move, he is closer to passenger cars light and obedient.

The car has already found its buyers in Russia. And although he, of course, is not destined to become mass, but each of its owner will always use increased attention. Honda auto parts are not rare in Russia, and it will not be difficult to buy spare parts for foreign cars for this kind of lover of extravagant exotic. This is a great choice for a person with original thinking, aware of the advantages of a car and pickupa, which Honda was able to combine in one car.

 

A source: Wheel magazine [June 2010]