Honda Ridgeline,
the back for grip that does not have to rely on supplementary braking.
Where the system really shines is in the four, driver selectable modes – Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand.
At the Ridgeline press introduction outside San Antonio, Honda set up several exercises including towing, acceleration and off-roading against competitive mid-size pickups.
On the off-road portion, I drove through sand, forded streams, went up and over hills to test hill holding and drove at speed over a washboard surface and all in “Normal” which surprised me.
But what stood out was the torque vectoring. On sandy soil the instructor told me to take it up to 50 mph on a corner and hold it, where usually by 30 mph I would have been already on the brakes.
Not only was the rear not even close to stepped out; I actually was able to accelerate through the apex with full control.
Honda has kept the towing limit at 5,000 lb with a seven-pin connector and the payload is 1,584 lb. Trailer Stability Assist is standard.
Standard equipment is extensive, including heated front seats and outside mirrors with wiper de-icer, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, HondaLink emergency response system, and most important, the Honda Sensing suite of safety systems, which is one of the most comprehensive in the industry.
It is also one of the quietest trucks I’ve driven to date with only a whisper of noise coming from the tires, which, I found out, are specially made by Firestone for the Ridgeline to combine high performance in all weather conditions and loaded handling as well.
The 3.5-litre is up to the job in terms of acceleration when passing on the highway, but you must remember Ridgeline is heavier than a crossover so you shouldn’t treat it like one, especially with a full bed or at the tow limit.
The Ridgeline is not a working pickup but it fills an interesting niche for an owner who wants the drivability of a car but more utility than a crossover.
Ridgeline is also interesting in that it is one of the first of the 96 per cent of vehicles Honda plans to replace between now and 2019.
Thus Ridgeline sets the stage for good things yet to come from Honda.