Midsize Pickup Segment
Highest Ranked: 2009 Honda Ridgeline
The 2009 Honda Ridgeline is the most appealing midsize pickup according to the results of the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 APEAL Study, ranking ahead of the No. 2-ranked 2009 Hummer H3T and the No. 3-ranked 2009 Toyota Tacoma , and retaining its top-ranked position in the category.
The Ridgeline, like the Chevrolet Avalanche , does not have a conventional cab separate from a cargo box. It is a crew-cab truck based on the previous-generation Honda Pilot platform, equipped with a 6-cylinder engine powering all four wheels through an automatic transmission. EPA fuel-economy ratings range from a low of 15 mpg city to a high of 20 mpg highway. Honda offers the Ridgeline in RT, RTS and RTL trim, and the truck’s most notable feature is its locking in-bed trunk, complete with drainage hole. Choose the Ridgeline RTL, and it comes equipped with leather, navigation, power moonroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, 115-volt power outlet, and other goodies.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ), the Ridgeline receives 5-star crash-test ratings for frontal- and side-impact protection, and a 4-star rollover rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ( IIHS ) calls the Ridgeline a “Top Safety Pick.”
In the 2009 APEAL Study, the Ridgeline performed particularly well in the Storage and Space, Exterior and Driving Dynamics categories.
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