Gadgetory

if Batman drilled a pickup truck I guess it would look like this except Batman likes to roll seen that style hmm let's drive the 2012 Honda Ridgeline sport and check the 10 think of the ridge line is sort of a lighter footprint version of a Chevy Avalanche or an Escalade EXT those of course both v8 trucks that weigh some 1,300 pounds more but the core idea is there an sut sport utility truck it's what sets them apart and this one even further so thanks to its dearth of gadgetry and cylinders but is that all a bad thing okay welcome to my high-tech lair inside the ridgeline Hartley there is no tech in this car I mean no tech well unless you call the aux jack tech that's like having a speedometer in this day and age and that's about as far as it goes yeah we got a CD slot there isn't even Bluetooth available on a Ridgeline Sport navigation not available rear camera not available bluetooth streaming haven't even got Bluetooth calling are you kidding this is the lowest tech ride I have ever reviewed for CNET if you want any of that kind of technology you've got to go up to what they call the RTL trim level it's kind of their luxo version of this thing but that's another review the sport is real simple the cabin design is kind of an interesting handsome but weird mishmash of round stuff and square stuff it doesn't appeal to me it doesn't turn me off everything's big those he can operate it with your gloves on it's a good truck thing and there are storage binnacle 'he's everywhere here's a place for canned vegetables over there you can run an adoption center out of this bin and the last thing I want to call out is the most charming check it out my 69 Lincoln has a column shifter that's the last time I handled one it connects to a one choice only 5-speed automatic and there's an overdrive lockout button right here it's a big lockout a drop ship from five down to three as your max gear note that you can only get buckets in the front no bed so that does cut your max seating capacity down to five bench in the rear buckets in the front now back here is evidence of why you might call the ridge line the thinking Hillbillies pick up it goes to way that's a magic gate down that way or reach down here for the secret lever ah now here in the engine bay is where the ridge line further raises the eyebrows of realtruck people because that motor as you may notice is transverse-mounted it's sitting sidesaddle real trucks go this way 250 horsepower on this car 247 foot-pounds of torque gets this 4500 pound beast up to 60 in about eight seconds while delivering myth 15 21mpg through that one choice only five-speed Automatic now driving a Ridgeline is definitely a full-size feeling truck experience it's got that kind of heavily sprung the suspension that you know is ready to take on a pretty good payload note this vehicle does have independent suspension on all four corners another very car light trait but to be honest your f-150s and Silverados and your ram trucks they've all tuned out that truck harshness though the markets just too competitive to ride like a truck even if you are one power is good not overwhelming honda says lead the thing in drive and don't engage anything unless you really get in trouble an extremely steep incline or you're just stuck in a hole or a big mud bog or something then you would turn on that variable torque management for lock button to get some rear locking up to about 18 miles an hour it's obviously a low-speed thing this is not like a jeep where you're gonna be out there doing as I understand it some really serious offroading this is more of a vehicle that can handle things so you don't get in trouble okay pricing a Ridgeline sports real easy just go by it it's 31,000 delivering you'll probably pay quite a bit less because typically they don't sell worth of dams of discounting is not unheard of in terms of tech options ha you can add XM radio for 300 bucks rear backup sensors for 450 both of those are dealer installed there are no CNET style factory options anything like moonroof nav rear camera bluetooth you have to go to the RTL trim level