Midsize Pickups

Honda Ridgeline's comfort and unique features put it on top

For many buyers, the capabilities of a full-size pickup may be overkill, according to many experts. Smaller pickups may be better suited to more middle-of-the-road duties, and reviews say that the midsized, all-wheel-drive 2011 Honda Ridgeline (Base MSRP: $29,150 to $34,730) is a less traditional pickup truck that offers lots of practicality and everyday livability.

The Ridgeline's 250-horsepower V6 gives it enough muscle to tow up to 5,000 pounds or haul 1,500 pounds in its 5-foot bed. Inside, the Ridgeline embraces its truckiness and presents drivers with easy-to-use controls. Edmunds.com editors say, "No need to pull off the work gloves; just reach down and grab a couple fingerfuls of A/C blower. There's something charming in the Ridgeline's rugged, work-ready eagerness to please."

The rear seat cushions are split 60/40 and fold up and out of the way to create additional storage, and a feature unique to the Ridgeline is a lockable 8.5-cubic-foot trunk in the pickup bed itself. Edmunds says that it's "large enough to hold a few sets of golf clubs, though long drivers may pose a challenge." Tailgaters may appreciate the trunk's drain plugs, which allow it to double as a cooler, too.

What the Ridgeline isn't is a heavy-duty off-roader. It lacks the torque and low-range gearing to excel off the beaten path. Overall, however Edmunds.com editors summarize the Ridgeline as a pickup that "combines the ride quality of a sedan with workhorse utility" and say that it may be "all the truck many pickup buyers will ever need."

Specs and other details on the 2011 Honda Ridgeline (Base MSRP: $29,150 to $34,730) can be found in our dedicated report.