People don’t “sort of” want a truck. You have a truck either because you need one or because you want one. Unfortunately, the best thing you can say about the Ridgeline is that it’s “sort of” a truck. It drives like a car, but has neither the durability nor the towing capacity of a truck. This is Honda’s first take on an American-style truck, so it isn’t all that surprising that it retains many car-like attributes. Perhaps the best way to describe the Ridgeline is as a “truck-like alternative.”

The array of updates for 2009 is cosmetic at best. A trailer hitch is now standard on all models, but so what? What kind of truck doesn’t start off with a trailer hitch?

Part of the problem is that the Ridgeline is based on an SUV chassis, which is fine for an SUV, but can’t hold up to the demands of an actual truck. There’s a step up in terms of design and functionality from a utility vehicle to the utilitarian vehicle that is a truck, and the Ridgeline just doesn’t quite make it.

The engine is a V6, with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Mileage per gallon is 15 in the city and 20 on the highway, which is less than its larger and more powerful competitors – actual trucks. Even with these things in mind, the Ridgeline drives like a car. It’s responsive, smooth, and gives good feedback, although the down side is that you can’t pull a heavy load. The V6 engine makes a lot of noise, but can’t deliver the power.

In addition, tall drivers may not like the fact that the steering wheel doesn’t telescope, but the Ridgeline does have good leg room for folks sitting in the rear. There’s some versatility for passengers, and you can haul up to five passengers with this crew cab truck. Which is nice, because passengers are just about all this truck is good for hauling.

The base RT level includes 17 inch steel wheels, a power sliding rear window, air conditioning, full tilt steering wheel, power accessories, a trip computer, cruise control, and a 6 speaker audio system with MP3 play back. The RTS model includes 17 alloy wheels, privacy glass, dual zone automatic climate control, a power driver seat, an in-dash 6 CD changer, an audio input jack, and controls for the audio system mounted on the steering wheel. In addition, the RTL model upgrades the alloy wheels to 18 inches, adds fog light and a moon roof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a 115 volt power outlet and satellite radio. A navigation system and back up camera are available on the RTL model as well.

In crash testing, the Ridgeline did get a perfect 5 star rating in side and front impact, which you’d expect on a vehicle this large.

Another interesting feature is the hidden, lockable truck space underneath the bed, which unfortunately means that you have to unload the entire truck to get to the spare tire if you have a flat – which is inconvenient at best, and impossible at worst.

Whether you want a truck or need a truck, you need an honest-to-God machine that will haul around your family, your dog, and whatever else you want to throw in before you hitch up the boat and head to the mountains. You don’t want a vehicle that just looks like a truck, but really looks and functions more like a car. Unfortunately, that’s what you get with the Ridgeline.

Honda makes cars – you could even say that Honda makes wonderful cars. But they should stick to cars and stop dressing them up in a truck’s clothing.