Why the Honda Ridgeline is the 2017 North American Truck of the Year

At the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, the Honda Ridgeline took home the title of North American Truck of the Year. With a long-standing loyalty among its buyers and innovative redesigns, not to mention the 2006 North American Truck of the Year Award, it’s not surprising that this impressive vehicle took home the award. Want to know more? Read on to learn about our top four reasons why the Honda Ridgeline took home the 2017 North American Truck of the Year Award.

Body Features

The Honda Ridgeline is one of the most unique trucks on the market. Unlike conventional truck designs, the Ridgeline uses a unibody construction that gives it its distinctive appearance and allows for fantastic handling.

The unibody construction isn’t the only body feature that impressed the judges at the Detroit Auto Show. The Ridgeline has an in-bed trunk system that makes it easy to store items without worrying about them flying away or getting wet, not mention it’s the perfect place to stash items for a tailgate party.

After all, the Ridgeline’s truck bed is wider, longer, and rated to carry heavier loads than most other mid-sized trucks, and its dual-action tailgate makes it able to easily cross over from workhorse to tailgate party central with minimal effort. For those who want the full party experience, or extra tunes while they work, there are even available built-in truck bed speakers.

Solid Engine

It’s not all fun and games with the Ridgeline. Honda’s engineers have created a solid and powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, which also powers the Pilot models, putting out 280 horsepower. This allows the truck to easily tackle both difficult inclines and city driving with ease.

Superior Handling

One of the most noted features of the 2017 Ridgeline is its outstanding ride. The Ridgeline is equipped with all-wheel drive, not just part-time four-wheel drive, which has recently dominated the truck market. This move allows the vehicle to travel smoothly over even rough roads, as well as tackle inclement weather conditions. The unibody construction is matched with an independent four-wheel suspension to add to the smoothness.

The V6 engine also helps to smooth out rides and has a quiet but powerful response to quick pick-ups, excellent for highway driving and merging. Driving effort is subtle and accurate, and the vehicle feels stable and easy-to-control on the road.

Interior Comfort

The interior of the Ridgeline takes a few cues from the popular Pilot models, with comfortable yet supportive seats, and streamlined controls on the center console make it easy to control audio volume and cabin temperature without distracting the driver from the road. The infotainment display is cleverly organized for maximum efficiency and ease.

Thanks to the Ridgeline’s unique design, the interior of the truck is impressively quiet, and the independent suspension allows the truck to roll smoothly over road obstacles, perfect when you’ve got tired little ones in the back seat.

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline is an impressive truck that, thanks to its innovative design and thoughtful features, clearly deserved the North American Truck of the Year.

Image via Pixabay

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