Test Drive Honda RidgeLine since 2009 Pickup

Honda Ridgeline.

Honda is famous for its innovative technical solutions and unusual car models. It is not surprising that when the company's specialists took up the development of a serial pick-up for the American market, they preferred to abandon many local canons. So the light appeared RidgeLine, which occupies a unique position in its segment.
The American Pickup Market cannot but attract managers of Japanese car companies. It can be judged by the annual sales of the most popular family of Pickups of America Ford F-Series. In 2006, they sold approximately 800 thousand copies. And this despite the tangible increase in fuel prices and not the best situation in the American economy as a whole. That is why immediately in several Japanese concerns are trying to take any significant position on this, it seems the limitless market. As we remember, Toyota and Nissan preferred when creating their models to rely on the American ideology. These companies have tried to prepare new pickups, combining their own high technologies with classical American standards in design and architecture. It is by such a recipe that Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra was developed. The result is known: both Titan, and especially Tundra of the new generation enjoy great popularity in America.
Obviously, such an approach to creating a pickup in Honda was considered too simple and boring. In the company with the RidgeLine model, went to a bold experiment. The first in the history of Honda Pickup for the American market is distinguished by innovative concept and feed. This is a kind of mini revolution from Honda. It seems that the company deliberately challenged the overseas pickups. It's too unlike our direct competitors turned out RidgeLine.
And at the same time, it impresses a harmonious serial car designed specifically for comfortable daily exploitation. Provocative segment for this segment and partly design should only intrigue, and not scare potential customers. It is significant that in a short period of time, RidgeLine has become one of the most popular new pickups supplied to Russia unofficially. Unlike Americans, we have no experience gained for several decades of acquisition of pickups, and therefore we treat new ideas without too much snobs. Especially if we are talking about such excellent solutions that Honds offer.
Body of a new generation
Probably fashionable now the term crossover as it is impossible to suit RidgeLine, because Honda engineers really made an attempt to combine the best qualities of pickups and passenger cars. RidgeLine is just as far from its architecture from classic American pickups, like Acura MDX from Chevrolet Tahoe. Honda has achieved success in America with many of their passenger models, including Civic, Accord and CR-V. On the one hand, this allows the company to go to a brave experiment with the RidgeLine deficit in the budget of the American part of the concern there is no and can not be. With another Dicken RidgeLine only strengthens the image of Honda as companies with innovative and bold views. Finally, it is possible that Honda really count on good RidgeLine sales results in America.
For a start in Honda, they made a bet on the bomb. This is: finally in America there was a serial mass pickup without a frame in habitual understanding. Honda engineers integrated power elements in body structure. About such freedom from semistle standards only dream of Toyota and Nissan. Also in Honda did not separate the passenger interior and the cargo platform into two independent blocks. Indeed, RidgeLine does not have a characteristic break between the cab and the body. Ridgeline's rear roof rack smoothly flows into the rear wings, and this single element reaches the rear bumper. Something similar now is now offered in their niche models and American manufacturers. And first of all I remember Chevrolet Avalanche. However, in the contrast with the Detroit Giants in Honda, RidgeLine is positioned not as a niche, but as a completely independent pickup, capable of opening a new one, is not a controvered segment in the huge market.
Unfortunately, in contrast with its frame rivals, RidgeLine cannot boast a variety of modifications. Conventional pickups are produced with several types of cabins and cargo platforms of different lengths. Their manufacturers can somehow combine the finished blocks of passenger compartments and body bodies. But for RidgeLine is provided only one cabin with four doors and a cargo platform 150 cm long. But in Honda, several other new solutions prepared for RidgeLine. For example, the rear door of the cargo compartment can either fold down, forming a flat plane with the floor, or to open. And in the actual body is hidden and a kind of sorcelinary sizes of a luggage box, located in the rear breath in the underground. It is not clear whether its existence of Honda specialists about the needs of smugglers can be considered, but it is obvious that it is great for transporting various valuable boosses in everyday traffic. And there is a lot of useful in this trunk at this trunk: its declared useful volume is 240 l!
Salon without surprises
But the interior of RidgeLine has not received many new solutions. Against the background of the salons of many newest crossovers, he looks hardly conservative. It feels that they cared about one most convenient and comfortable accommodation of all passengers. And originally spacious and high cabin just facilitated this task. Complain about the grindiness does not have to place with the margin and in front, and behind. Design in the cabin is subordinate to the functionality, which should only delight owners. Much up the design of the front panel. It consists of classic rectangular blocks and is practically devoid of bright details. Designers allowed themselves to reveal their capabilities only in a spectacular instrument shield with a speedometer located in the center in a deep well in almost motostyle. Another bright element in the cabin suddenly the inner handles of the front doors are unexpected. These large sparkling items cannot but cause surprise, and admire passengers. Otherwise, chose to do without surprises. Even the automatic transmission selector is filed in the best American traditions in the form of a stealing right lever.
Passenger genes
Also on contrast with competitors for RidgeLine is offered only one version of the engine gasoline V6 of 3.5 liters, which, until recently, was flagship in the American line of the company. Most recently, the new Acura MDX has already a 3.7-liter V6 with a capacity of 300 hp. Ridgeline, the engine gives 247 hp. It is fundamentally important that this V6 has received the legendary temperament of Honda motors. The markup of the tachometer will say a lot: the red zone begins with 6500 rpm! In fact, the engine is spinning with enviable excitement, only delivered by the corresponding settings of the automatic 5-range gearbox. With aggressive pressing on the gas pedal on each transmission, the tachometer arrow explicitly passes the mark of 6000 rpm, which is still unique for a pickup from the American market. Of course, the engine received a corporate distribution mechanism VTEC. Honda Motorists even in America are trying to oppose their high-tech units of larger engineering engines offered by rivals. Now the 3.5-liter V6 from Honda is forced to deal with 4 liter V6 from most competitors, including Nissan and Toyota.
According to RidgeLine dynamics, it is quite possible to compare with modern SUVs that have similar volume engines. From space up to 100 km / h RidgeLine accelerates easily, while the pace of acceleration practically does not fall and when 140 km / h is reached. It should be remembered that Americans for security reasons prefer to limit the maximum valves of many SUVs and pickups in the area of \u200b\u200b17,5180 km / h.
Of course, on behavior on the road, a pickup, even from Honda, cannot be a real rival of a passenger car or the newest crossover with a sports character. However, progress compared to frame pickups and SUVs is really impressive. After all, RidgeLine has an independent and front, and rear suspension. And in front of the McPherson tested, and behind the advanced multi-dimensional system. And thanks to the innovative power structure, the rigidity of the body in RidgeLine is several times higher than that of all frame classmates, which guarantees a smaller level of noise and vibrations. Add informative steering settings and get a pickup capable of delivering a lot of pleasure on any roads. RidgeLine has excellent currency stability and easy turns. It takes some time to get used to these unusual sensations: a hefty, in general, a pickup longer than 5 m is predictable and obedient! Moreover, the Honda Stabilization System with Trekshn-Control (VSA) is already included in the basic equipment. But RidgeLine has so intuitive habits that it is not so easy to achieve the triggering of the VSA system. In ordinary situations, even on wet coverage, the possibilities of the chassis and all-wheel drive transmission are quite enough to prevent crisis situations.
First meeting
RidgeLine actually combines the best qualities of passenger cars and pickups. This model seems to be between the two worlds, representing a sort of compromise. According to its functional qualities, RidgeLine will give odds to minivans and even large SUVs. It is ideal for outdoor activities, but at the same time allows transportation in the body of economic utensils and even building materials. You can imagine how easy there will be life with RidgeLine outside the city. He has an obvious advantage over ordinary pickups in behavior on asphalt roads. And it does not matter that on the Ridgeline speed of movement will be tangible above. The main thing is that on such travel, the driver and passengers will enjoy the comfort of a passenger car. That is why RidgeLine in Russia becomes for many first in the life of a pickup. After all, in its inner world and friendliness of all pickups, it is he who is closest to passenger cars.
Some specific characteristics of Honda Ridgeline
Dimensions, mm 5252x1938x1785
Curb weight, kg 2040
Base, mm 3098
Pitch in front / rear, mm 1704/1724
Clearance, mm 208
Tires 245/65 R17
Engine type gasoline V6
Working volume, cube. See 3471.
Max. Power, hp / rpm 247/5750
Max. Moment, nm / rpm 332/4500
Transmission Automatic 5-Range
The drive is permanent full VTM-4
Max. Speed, km / h 311
The acceleration time is 0-100 km, with less than 9.0
Tank volume, l 83
Fedor Oldin
Photo Vitaly Usova.
 
   
 
 

A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"