Honda Ridgeline - Trucks? From Honda?

Unit-body construction and a one-piece look

The Ridgeline has a great name. It conjures up images of the open country, a dirt road, and a rugged outdoor lifestyle. From a company that traditionally didn't sell trucks in the U.S., it's a whole different deal. But the Ridgeline is a little different from, say, a Ford F-150. It's more like an oversized Accord with a half ton payload and 5,000 pounds of towing capacity.

The Ridgeline holds five people easily--and they will be comfortable there. That's because, unlike your typical pickup, the Ridgeline is a unit body vehicle, rather than a body on a separate frame. It also has four-wheel independent suspension and front and rear stabilizer bars. Comfy.

You can tell there's something different when you look and see no division between the four-door cab and the five-foot bed. It's all integrated into one chunky piece. The sides taper back more gracefully than your regular truck.

Tailgate drops or swings to the side. Trunk holds 8.5 cu. ft.

The truck bed, protected by a steel-reinforced composite liner, offers a two-way tailgate that drops down or swings to the side--something from the old Ford station wagons. And even more exciting--there's a lockable 8.5-cubic foot trunk built right into the bed--so you can stash things safely away from prying eyes.

Honda gives the Ridgeline a strong 3.5-liter v6 that puts out 250-horsepower and 247 lb.-ft. of torque through a five-speed automatic transmission. I did not haul anything in the bed, so I can't say how that would affect performance, but the V6 seemed to move the 4,500 pound vehicle with alacrity if not exactly daintiness down the road. Honda claims 1,100 pounds of payload and comparable towing ability to the pickup market leaders.

The EPA's fuel economy numbers are 15 City, 21 Highway and 17 Average. I accumulated 16.1 mpg during my time with the truck, about right figuring on a lot of in-town (not dirt road) motoring. EPA Green Vehicle Guide numbers are 6 for Air Pollution--pretty good--and 2 for Greenhouse Gas--dismal. This is not the poster child for Honda's environmental efforts, for sure.

Inside, the rugged, no-nonsense mood of a truck prevails, but it still has those squared-ring door pulls with their grippy inside surface. There's a satisfying rectangular feel, with the edges nicely rounded. The center console has loads of space, and slides forward to create more. The "above it all" feeling of a pickup is part of the Ridgeline experience, as it should be.

The rear seat lower cushion folds up, so you can carry a substantial amount inside the truck, including, say, your mountain bike (with the front tire removed). The back window slides open with the push of a button.

You can buy the Ridgeline in four levels, from RT to Sport to RTS to RTL. The equipment levels move up as you might expect, with, for example, a move from steel to alloy wheels between the RT and RTS and leather seating in the top-level RTL (and numerous other upgrades). The Sport is a new model this year. My Crystal Black Pearl test Sport tester showed this off, with its black 18" alloy wheels, black honeycomb grille with black surround and black headlight and taillight housings. See a theme here? While this truck, with its all-wheel drive, would gladly drive on a mountain road, you may not want to get the black paint too dusty, either.

Prices start at $30,180 for the RT and top out at $38,110 for the RTL with navigation system. My Sport came to $30,925.

The real question is, who is choosing the Ridgeline over the top-selling (since forever) Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado or Ram 1500? Despite its company name, the Ridgeline is substantially American, assembled in Lincoln, Alabama, and it contains 70 percent North American parts, including the engine and transmission. Most Civics and Accords for American consumption are built in the U.S. these days as well; Honda opened its first U.S. plant 30 years ago in Marysville, Ohio.

But are pickup buyers still wedded to owning one of the American big three? How is this truck playing in the American heartland or rural areas of the U.S.? Satisfied Civic owners may step up to an Accord--or an Acura--but it seems that Ridgeline buyers will likely come from people who test drive the truck and appreciate its comfort and features--and don't care what the neighbors think.

Nissan Xterra is a Real Truck

In a world of crossover vehicles that look like SUVs but are really big cars, the Nissan Xterra isn't shy about being a truck. Based on the same platform as the company's Titan and Frontier pickups, it's long on utility and short on coddling. That doesn't mean it's uncomfortable to live with--not at all--but its mission in life is to haul you and your stuff to your next adventure.

The Xterra is named after an offroad triathlon race that Nissan was sponsoring at the time the vehicle was introduced in 2000. Right out of the box (no pun intended) it won Motor Trend's Sport Utility of the Year--and won again in 2006 with the second generation. This is only the second major release of the truck so far.

You can get an Xterra in the base X, midrange S or top-level PRO-4X model. I had the PRO-4X, in one of two new colors for 2012--Metallic Blue. No problem finding it in the parking lot--bright colored, 6-foot-3 and more than two tons of fun.

The Xterra comes with a roof rack, and in PRO-4X guise, has roof-mounted off-road lights and a gear basket. Since Xterra day one, this latter option has provided the perfect spot for those muddy clothes and boots from a day of exploring. If you do mess up the car, in S and PRO-4X versions you have the Easy-Clean Cargo Area surface. There are also ten utility hooks in the cargo area to hold your bike or other gear firmly in place.

I am not an adventure seeker, but the Xterra does find its way around town and on the freeway with no problem. The only issue here may be that the 4.0-liter V6's 261 horsepower and 281 lb.-ft. of torque are not really needed for picking up your dry cleaning or going to the train station. I averaged just 14.8 miles per gallon, while EPA numbers are 15 City, 20 Highway (average 17). I spent more time in town this week, as I was commuting by train to my work.

All Xterras have the same V6, but you can get it with a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission (only automatic in the base car). You also have the option of two-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive.

Pricing varies from the $26,035 for the base, two-wheel-drive X to the PRO-4X automatic, like my tester, at $32,245. Both prices include $825 for shipping. There are a few extra pieces you can add at the factory or port of delivery, including a handy iPod interface, special PRO-4X floor mats (worth the $120) and for the PRO-4X only, leather seats (although why you'd really need them is a good question).

Despite its poor fuel economy and parking challenges, I liked the rugged feel of the Xterra, and I'm sure it would be perfect for someone--just not me. It's the real deal for outdoor activities.