Cars House

DETROIT - The Honda Ridgeline has been named the 2006 truck of the year by Motor Trend magazine, an award that could help boost the pickup's lackluster sales.

It's the second time this year that a Honda vehicle has won the magazine's top award. Motor Trend last month named the newly redesigned 2006 Honda Civic its car of the year. The 2006 Nissan Xterra was the publication's sport utility vehicle of the year. The designation is important to automakers, who often use Motor Trend's endorsement in their advertising.

This is also the second straight year that a Japanese maker has won Motor Trend's truck of the year. Last year's winner was the 2005 Toyota Tacoma.

The Ridgeline, which went on sale in the spring, is Honda's first entry in the pickup market. Motor Trend said innovative features set it apart from other trucks in its class, including an 8.5-cubic-foot trunk under the pickup's bed, four cargo lamps that illuminate the bed and a rear gate that opens like a door or swings down.

"The Ridgeline showcases a vehicle built on intelligent technology and impressive durability," Angus MacKenzie, editor of Motor Trend, said in a news release.

Finalists for the truck of the year were four large trucks _ the Dodge Ram 1500, Dodge Ram Mega Cab, Lincoln Mark LT and the Ridgeline _ and two compact trucks, the Isuzu i350 and the Mitsubishi Raider. Only new or substantially redesigned trucks were considered, and all had to be on sale to the public by Jan. 1, 2006.

The Ridgeline was the unanimous pick of Motor Trend's editors after thousands of miles of testing in a variety of weather conditions. Motor Trend evaluates the vehicle's finish and materials, engineering, handling and response, safety and power.

Motor Trend also takes into account the truck's value for its price. The Ridgeline starts at $27,700, according to Edmunds.com, an online vehicle research site. By comparison, the Isuzu i350 starts at $16,989, the Dodge Ram 1500 starts at $20,090, and the Lincoln Mark LT starts at $38,680.

Despite the accolades, the Ridgeline may not meet Honda's sales targets this year. Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., said in January that Honda expected to sell 50,000 Ridgelines this year. As of the end of November, Honda had sold 36,000.



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2003 Honda Civic EX Sedan, 5 speed - 104k miles
2007 Honda Pilot LX AWD(wife's car) --------- Motor Trend Names 2006 Truck Of The Year
With two full weeks of thudding over concrete, howling around tight curves and bouncing over rocky roadways, Motor Trend editors unanimously awarded 2006 Honda Ridgeline to be Truck of the Year.
December 20, 2005

Motor Trend

Motor Trend magazine, the world's automotive authority and part of the PRIMEDIA Consumer Automotive Group, today announced the selection of the Honda Ridgeline as the 2006 Motor Trend Truck of the Year.

"The Honda Ridgeline has taken the traditional understanding of a truck and completely redefined every aspect," said Angus MacKenzie, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend. "The Ridgeline is filled with innovation and clever solutions to everyday issues. As Honda's first foray into truck models in the U.S., the Ridgeline showcases a vehicle built on intelligent technology and impressive durability. This remarkable machine encompasses all necessities a truck should have and demonstrates what Motor Trend desires when naming Truck of the Year." With two full weeks of thudding over concrete, howling around tight curves and bouncing over rocky roadways, Motor Trend editors unanimously awarded 2006 Honda Ridgeline to be Truck of the Year. The Honda Ridgeline is a revelation for all trucks, with independent rear line suspension that frees weather tight cargo space in the below bed, four cargo lamps which illuminate the bed's trunk, and a rear gate that opens like a door or swings down. Honda has made it a point to take into account all of the driver's desires.

This year, the editorial staff of Motor Trend conducted testing on 6 new models, searching for the truck that best represents exceptional value, superiority in its class, and the most significant development on the new-truck scene for 2006. This year's field, included vehicles that ranged in price from just over $17,000 to almost $50,000. Only truly new or substantially revised trucks were considered with the condition that they be available for public sale by January 1, 2006.

The 2006 Motor Trend Truck of the Year competition included the following models: Dodge Ram 1500, Dodge Ram Mega Cab, Honda Ridgeline, Isuzu i350, Lincoln Mark LT, and Mitsubishi Raider.

"The truck market is booming with new designs and new manufacturers entering the category. The diversity continues to grow and brings dynamic, unique vehicles into the marketplace," said MacKenzie. "Motor Trend continues to evaluate and analyze vehicles in the automotive industry, in the most effective, impartial way. We are committed to our readers, and recognize the significance and importance these awards are in the automotive industry."

The Motor Trend Evaluation Process
Each year, the editorial staff of Motor Trend evaluates eligible vehicles based on three key categories: Significance, Superiority, and Value. Significance refers to impact on the market and looks for mastery and innovation in engineering, technology, design, safety and packaging. Superiority levels the playing field and looks for class-leading levels of performance, style and functionality within its specific competitive set--not among all new vehicles. Finally, the all-important Value question asks, "What does this vehicle deliver in relation to what the consumer has to pay to purchase and own it?"

In making the selection, vehicles are taken to task through thousands of miles of on-track and on-street driving, in a wide variety of weather and road conditions to evaluate many factors, including styling and design; fit, finish and materials; engineering and technology; interior; safety; performance; and value. Additional aspects evaluated included handling balance, response, predictability, and power delivery.

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2003 Honda Civic EX Sedan, 5 speed - 104k miles
2007 Honda Pilot LX AWD(wife's car) --------- Cue the whiners who will now trash Motor Trend and how they're a bunch of biased idiots who don't know jack about automobiles...5...4...3...2...1...

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"Through some strange and powerful principle of "mental chemistry" which she has never divulged, nature wraps up in the impulse of strong desire, "that something" which recognizes no such word as "impossible," and accepts no such reality as failure." --------- I don't understand how a vehicle thats not a truck can win "Truck of the Year" --------- Pretty stiff competition the Ridgeline was up against this year. --------- Wow Ridgeline is a Truck?? The funny thing is that I bet within two years the Ridgeline will be discontinued due to poor sales. I just can't see this thing making any significant impact for Honda in the truck market. I'm sorry I'm not sold on this minivan turned truck idea.

200)?200:this.scrollHeight); overflow: hidden;"> If it don't make sence It's gotta make Dolars!! ---------