Honda's Ridgeline pickup stands tall among the rest

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Looking back, it's remarkable to consider how Honda has carved itself a major portion of the automobile market pie in California.

Its passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles have filled Golden State roadways over just a couple of generations.  The names are familiar to all: Civic, Corolla, Pilot CR-V.

And yet, often overlooked in the Honda story is its capable pickup -- the midsize Ridgeline. For 2024, Honda added a rugged trim level, which I recently tested: the 2024 Honda Ridgeline AWD TrailSport.

Rest assured that it upholds Honda's standards for fit, finish and engineering ... and is a muscular off-road-leaning warrior to boot. The base price is $44,980, just about right (and actually, a bit of a bargain) in today's competitive pickup segment.

Power comes from s 3.5-liter V-6 engine rated at 280 horsepower. On trail and highway, performance is solid for all conditions.  And the truck can be set to manage surfaces as well, including dirt, sand, mud, rocks and snow.

The TrailSport edition is aimed at the motorist who doesn't mind getting his/her pickup dirty, and maybe even dinged. The pickup is equipped with an off-road tuned suspension and underbody protection designed to shield its oil pan from sharp rocks and other off-road hazards. All-terrain tires are also part of the package.

While Honda touts the pickup's appeal to "youthful weekend adventurers," I found the Ridgeline to be a comfortable, enjoyable vehicle for the extended road trip.  The rugged exterior package is set off by an extensive list of in-cabin comfort and convenience features, plus state-of-the-art safety technology.

Bonus: Max five-star federal government safety ratings, including the overall score.  Fuel mileage is fair at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.

Overall: The Ridgeline might get lost in the shouting for Ford, Chevy and Ram pickups, but this TrailSport deserves its day in the sun -- on road and off.