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2009 Honda Ridgeline: 50 significant changes make this truck a must-see
 The Honda Ridgeline gets a long list of improvements in 2009, including a new interior and exterior style. SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
Updated for 2009 with a total of 50 significant changes and new features, the Honda Ridgeline takes on a bolder look and feel with new exterior and interior styling along with a more powerful engine. A trailer hitch becomes standard on every model, and newly-introduced premium features include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and a rear-view backup camera on Ridgeline RTL models equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System. The Ridgeline continues to be the only pickup truck available with a spacious In-Bed Trunk that provides hidden, dry and secure storage capable of swallowing luggage, tool boxes and coolers. Front and rear styling updates combine to create a more-chiseled overall appearance with revisions to the grille, bumpers, and headlight and taillight color combinations. Inside, styling updates include revised three-dimensional style meters, a new steering wheel design, and enhanced controls, buttons and displays for the air conditioning, audio, cruise control and headlights. New technology-friendly features include the addition of a 115-volt power outlet on the Ridgeline RTL, MP3/auxiliary input jack on the Ridgeline RTS and RTL, and all audio systems become MP3/WMA compatible. New safety features include active front seat head restraints and daytime running lights. Capable of accommodating 4-foot wide sheets of plywood between the wheel wells, the composite cargo bed, gains two cargo tie-down points (eight total). “The Ridgeline channels the company’s vast experience with motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs, marine engines, personal water craft, power equipment and automotive products,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The end result is a truck designed to best meet the needs of people who take family, work and recreation seriously. All-around, it’s the right tool for the job.” ENGINEERING The four-door, five-passenger Ridgeline is built on a closed-box, unit-body frame that combines the strength characteristics of a ladder frame with the packaging and handling advantages of a unit-body design. All 2009 Ridgelines are powered by a 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter VTEC V-6 engine. A 5-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission and a Variable Torque Management 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4) are standard. The EPA rates city/highway/combined fuel economy at 15/20/17. A fully-independent suspension with MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link suspension design in the rear contribute to a smooth ride and responsive handling. Standard equipment for towing includes an integrated tow hitch, transmission and oil coolers, heavy duty brakes, dual radiator fans and a wiring harness for a 7-pin trailer hook up (pre-wiring only on RT). Maximum recommended tow capacity is 5,000 pounds. CARGO A 5-foot-long composite cargo bed provides a half-ton payload rating of 1,100 lbs. Four cargo area lights illuminate both the bed and the in-bed trunk. A dual-action tailgate opens down for traditional access to the cargo area or to the side for ease-of-access to the lockable In-Bed Trunk. New accessories for 2009 include a motorcycle bed extender and a bed-mount bicycle attachment, in addition to a wide variety of existing accessories that are designed to accommodate motorcycles and ATVs. POWERTRAIN The all-aluminum, 60-degree, SOHC 3.5-liter VTEC engine produces 250 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 247 lb-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm. The Ridgeline’s variable valve timing enhances low rpm torque while extending high rpm horsepower for a broad, confidence-inspiring power band. For 2009, the engine produces three more horsepower and a torque curve that is up to 10 lb-ft. broader at RPMs as low as 2,500 - while maintaining the same EPA-rated fuel economy as 2008 and its CARB Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle certification. The majority of the additional power is achieved through a new camshaft profile tuned for maximum torque, larger intake valves and a revised dual-stage intake manifold capable of a higher flow rate. Upgrades have also been made to the starter motor, now more powerful and quick-starting. Cranking time has been reduced to the point where full engine ignition occurs in ultra-quick succession from the point where the key reaches the start position.
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