The 2011 Honda Ridgeline carries over unchanged from the 2010 Honda Ridgeline. It continues as a one-of-a-kind pickup, rejecting the truck-traditional body-on-frame formula for car-type unibody engineering. The 2011 Ridgeline is usefully strong, cleverly versatile, remarkably comfortable, and wincingly ugly.The 2011 Honda Ridgeline returns with a long list of standard and optional features but, per Honda custom, it doesn’t offer individual options. Rather, Honda compels you to ascend the model line to acquire additional amenities. That doesn’t seem to be much of a problem for Ridgeline buyers: Honda says the best-selling model in the line is the generously equipped RTL, which is priced around $35,000. Standard on each 2011 Ridgeline are head-protecting curtain side airbags for both seating rows; they deploy in side collisions or when sensors detect an impending rollover. Also included on every trim level is a trip computer that calculates instantaneous and average fuel economy; air conditioning; tilt steering wheel; power windows and locks; a power sliding rear window; cruise control; keyless entry; and a 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage. The 2011 Ridgeline RTS adds to the RT alloy wheels; body-color door handles; painted inner grille surfaces; dual-zone automatic climate control; an eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support; deep-tint windows; and all-weather floor mats. The 2011 Ridgeline RTL adds to the RTS the 18-inch alloys and fog lights, plus leather upholstery with heated front seats, a moonroof, remote garage-door controls, carpeted floor mats, and a compass in the rearview mirror. A satellite-linked navigation system with voice recognition is available only on the RTL; it includes Bluetooth cell-phone linking and a backup camera. The Ridgeline RT’s audio system is a six-speaker, 100-watt unit with a single-disc CD player. Other 2011 Ridgeline models have a seven-speaker 160-watt system with subwoofer and six-disc in-dash changer, plus steering wheel audio controls and an auxiliary input jack. RTL models add XM satellite radio, but a USB interface for iPods is unavailable.
