2012 Honda Ridgeline

To reinforce the message that this really is a tough truck-not some kinder, gentler pansy pickup-Honda designers gave it an exterior that looks as if it were designed with Lego blocks.

...with 49.5 inches between the wheelhouses, the Ridgeline is the only midsize pickup in which 4x8 building materials can lie flat on the floor. They do stick out the back, though, as there's no GM-style mid-gate to extend the cargo box.

The center console alone is so labyrinthine you could easily lose a Big Mac in there for weeks.

Because the Ridgeline's independent rear suspension takes up far less space than a live axle, Honda was able to add a large compartment under the truck bed, providing a clean and dry home to the spare tire (either the standard mini-spare or available full-size) and, more significant, an 8.5-cubic-foot trunk. At last: secure, weatherproof, outside-the-cab cargo space in a pickup.

Stability control and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS are standard, though grippier tires would help both handling and braking.

And while this wouldn't be your first choice as an autocrosser, ...you might pick it ahead of any other offering in the class for on-road cornering stability.

It might be the most car-like pickup ever made.

Inside you find the Honda ambience you'd expect. The Ridgeline seats five as comfortably as a [Honda] Pilot and comes with as many features, from dual-zone climate control and power moonroof to available DVD entertainment and satellite nav with voice recognition.

Unhindered by rocks or trailers, the Ridgeline felt nearly sprightly, by truck standards. Its independent front and rear suspension (yes, an independent rear) kept all four wheels on the ground very nicely.

...at 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway [the Ridgeline] is rather middle-of-the-(truck)-pack.

Towing, at 5,000 pounds, tops what Toyota offers in its basic Tacoma models. However, Toyota offers a towing package that raises the Tacoma's capability above the Ridgeline's.

There is no driver-side vanity mirror and no power adjustment to the passenger seat - though for this kind of money there should be.

...the engine lacks the deep torque of a V-8 for strong off-the-line pulling.

The ride is comfortably quiet...Rubber isolates front and rear subframes to help keep road harshness out of the cabin. Lightweight, noise-absorbing materials are used for the dashboard insulation, carpet and behind the rear seats.

The incredibly high stiffness and strength of this body and chassis combination and the isolation of the drivetrain and suspension from the cab make the Ridgeline a joy to drive.

The cargo bed features a tailgate that opens normally but also opens like a door, with a hidden latch on the lower right side and hinges on the left, so users don't have to lean across the tailgate to store or retrieve items in the bed or in the storage trunk.

The Ridgeline is one of the nicest midsize trucks we've driven in terms of comfort and ease of use, though some of the others in this class have a bit more dash and flash inside.

We found the driver and front passenger seats to be roomy, comfortable and supportive, with plenty of adjustment range for rake and travel.