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Innovative Honda Ridgeline Pickup Delivers Best-in-Class Rollover Rating

First Pickup Truck to Offer a Trunk Under the Cargo Bed is also Least Likely to Roll

Hondas new Ridgeline pickup truck, produced in Alliston, Ontario, just earned the best rollover resistance rating of any vehicle in its class when tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Ridgeline achieved industry-best ratings for both the NHTSAs Static Stability Factor (SSF), in which it earned a rating of 1.29, as well as the Dynamic Rollover test, and in so doing factored a better calculated result than every rival pickup tested. Hondas pickup didnt experience any "tip-up" during the dynamic test either. 

This result comes after a previous acheivement, when it became the first four-door pickup to ever receive the NHTSAs five-star crash test rating, the highest

Hondas Ridgeline just earned the best rollover resistance rating of any vehicle in its class when tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

safety rating possible, for both frontal and side impact crash tests.

This news comes on the heels of a model that is already making waves in the segment for its innovative 8.5 cubic foot car-like trunk. But the trunk isnt all that separates it from the conventional pickup truck crowd, it also features something Honda calls a Dual Action tailgate, a truly unique feature that integrates a high-strength steel frame and has the ability to flip down or swing out.

While

The Ridgeline can do more than light-duty hauling, it can manage more than half-ton payloads (actually 500 kilos or 1,100 pounds) and 2,268 kilos (5,000 pounds) of trailer weight. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

it might look to be derived from the brands midsize Pilot SUV, which rides on a modified Odyssey architecture that itself is developed off of the Accord chassis, the Ridgeline can do more than light-duty hauling. Actually, it can manage more than half-ton payloads (actually 1,100 pounds and 5,000 pounds of trailer weight thanks to a steel reinforced composite bed hooked up to a fully integrated, closed-box frame. This unique undercarriage gives it much greater body rigidity than conventional compact or midsize pickup trucks, while still featuring a functional 5-foot bed. But whats a fully integrated, closed-boxed frame? Nothing to do with

"The Honda Ridgeline delivers all the capabilities of a truck with none of the traditional truck trade-offs," said executive vice president of American Honda Dick Colliver. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

the Pilot SUV, the Ridgelines undercarriage boasts 93 percent exclusive components, including two longitudinal frame rails and seven high-strength steel cross members for the fully boxed effect, plus a deep channel, ladder frame structure which is fully integrated into the upper body of the vehicle. The result is body bending rigidity more than 2.5 times stiffer than the best performing body-on-frame compact truck competitor and rear torsion rigidity more than 20 times stiffer. That rigidity reportedly not only creates a truck more capable of hauling heavy loads and undergoing sizeable trailer weights, but also one that rides and handles better than the average pickup truck available; results which give it greater stability during accident avoidence measures and in this case, extremely high NHTSA scores.

"The truck market

The Ridgeline boasts a large cabin with the best rear legroom in the 4-door pickup class. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

is evolving and we think Ridgeline is at the leading edge of the trend," said executive vice president of American Honda Dick Colliver. "The Honda Ridgeline delivers all the capabilities of a truck with none of the traditional truck trade-offs. It combines Honda innovation, Honda engineering and Hondas commitment to environmental and safety leadership in a next generation truck package." Those buyers opting for Hondas entry due to its similar hauling characteristics to a conventional open bed truck, superior car-like driving dynamics achieved via a fully independent suspension, with standard Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Traction Control for safetys sake, an integrated cab and cargo box design, and excellent interior packaging, will also benefit from a large cabin with the best rear legroom in the 4-door pickup class, ideal for families not needing the third row of seats the brands Pilot SUV offers, and alternatively needing exterior cargo capacity.

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