2018 Honda Ridgeline

Pros: Unibody construction delivers smoother, better-composed ride and handling than traditional body-on-frame pickups; unique available features, versatile cargo bed

Cons: Only one engine and body style available; body-on-frame pickups offer better off-roading and towing capabilities

CG Says: The 2018 Honda Ridgeline is essentially unchanged after its redesign last year. The RTS models and the all-wheel-drive version of RT have been dropped. Unlike other compact pickups that have body-on-frame construction, the redesigned Ridgeline retains the four-door, five-passenger configuration and carlike unibody construction of its previous generation. A 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with a six-speed automatic transmission is the sole drivetrain, and front-wheel drive is available in addition to full-time all-wheel drive. The cargo bed is five feet four inches long and five feet wide; a four-foot-wide sheet of plywood will fit between the wheel arches. There is also a lockable storage well under the bed floor and the two-way tailgate can be opened either down (like a traditional pickup) or to the side. A novel “truck-bed audio” feature available on top-line models uses small electronic units mounted inside the bedliner that essentially turn the entire pickup bed into a speaker. Other available features include keyless access/starting, a navigation system, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated mirrors, heated front seats, and leather upholstery. Available safety features include forward-collision mitigation, lane-keep assist, road-departure mitigation, multi-view rearview camera, and Honda’s LaneWatch right-side camera. Honda’s new Ridgeline looks more like a traditional pickup truck than its predecessor, but it continues to offer SUV-like on-road ride and handling characteristics that are a bit more refined than its GM and Toyota rivals. Ridgeline also offers some clever interior and exterior cargo solutions that aren’t matched by its competitors. Unless you’re looking to do serious off-roading or towing, the Ridgeline will likely provide all the hauling versatility you’ll need, along with everyday driving manners and all-around sophistication that are a cut above its class competition.