The 2011 Honda Ridgeline RT is an interesting spin on the Pickup niche.  It has a crew cab, seats 5 people, and rides more like a car than a truck.  But it has a 5-foot bed that is more than capable for most light to moderate use.  It’s almost like having a family sedan that turns into a pickup when you need it to.  But will it convince enough buyers?

The Ridgeline RT is the base trim level of three.  It has a 3.5 liter, V6 engine that produces 250 horsepower.  It has 17-inch steel wheels, 4-wheel drive and a 5-speed automatic transmission.  It is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

For a base trim level, the RT has a lot of convenient features.  It has full power accessories, cruise control, standard air conditioning, a power-sliding rear window, and even a trip computer.  The sound system has 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.

The Ridgeline has anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, side front airbags, and side curtain airbags.  It got perfect scores in government testing under the 2010 standards, and perfect scores from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The Ridgeline has some cute touches.  The controls in the front are big.  Anything you need to adjust can easily be done with work gloves or bulky winter gloves on.  There is even a trunk under the pickup bed that will store 8.5 cubic feet.

It drives and rides like a big family sedan.  The suspension isn’t as stiff as trucks usually are.  This is great for passengers who want to say they are riding in a truck but not have to sustain the jolts a truck ride would normally entail.  The cabin is spacious, even in the back seat.  There is room for everyone to stretch out and be comfortable.

The engine, while not the strongest in the world, is adequate. It gives passable acceleration and can do light towing.  In general, the Ridgeline can handle most light to moderate demands on a truck.  It’s a kind of “tweener truck.”  It trades power and suspension for a little more gas mileage and comfort.

In a way, the Ridgeline is the perfect white collar truck.  It looks great, drives and rides nice, and will take care of light hauling duties with aplomb and grace.  Need a new desk or a copier for the office?  Check.  Pick up 1000 manuals at Kinko’s?  No problem.  And it won’t look out of place taking a date to a country concert, either.

Most of the negatives come from tradeoffs.  You can’t do heavy-duty towing or hauling in this truck.  Don’t even think about taking it off-road.  The mileage could be better for family or commuting use.  And there is no standard cab.

The verdict: if you are white collar but want to be a “little bit country,” this will work.