It’s rare but it does happen. Some people don’t like trucks but find themselves in a situation where they need one. So, what kind of truck is the best fit for a pickup truck un-enthusiast?

The Honda Ridgeline may fit the bill

Why is it a good choice? The Honda Ridgeline is unique in the truck market because it’s pretty much a Pilot crossover with a pickup bed. Instead of the body-on-frame construction of most trucks, it utilizes a car-like unibody. The body is rigid, which makes for easier driving and parking as well as a quality ride experience.

The Ridgeline’s suspension is similar to a car’s. It handles very well on the pavement where most driving occurs. The same all-wheel-drive system used for the Pilot is used for the Ridgeline, which further enhances on-road handling.

The system includes Honda’s i-VTM4 torque-vectoring feature, which shunts the torque from side to side and helps with cornering. You lose off-roading with this setup. But if the buyer isn’t a truck fan, chances are this won’t be a loss for them.

Ridgeline offers secure storage space, with a lockable in-bed trunk to secure valuables. There’s an offered in-bed audio system in case you want to have tailgate parties or a trunk-or-treat. The tailgate can open sideways or down for extra flexibility when it comes to loading and unloading cargo.

This pickup truck is safe, too

The Ridgeline has impressive safety features. It earned a five-out-of-five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It’s also the only pickup truck with the honor of being a 2018 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). 

The Honda Ridgeline offers a rearview camera as a standard feature. Other available options include Honda LaneWatch for blind spots, additional blind-spot monitoring, and a rear-cross traffic alert system. There are also front and rear parking sensors.

With the Honda Sensing driver assistance suite, you get adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and road departure mitigation. Many of the top-shelf safety features come with the RTL-E and Black Edition trims.

One of the best cabins of pickup trucks in its class

The Honda Ridgeline, according to U.S. News, offers a roomy cabin with quality materials for great comfort. You can seat five and Ridgeline is only available as a crew cab. The front seats provide solid support and good forward visibility. There’s lots of rear passenger space for all ages and sizes. 

It’s a quiet interior with upscale materials. The controls are organized and easy to access. There’s a push-button start, two USB ports, Bluetooth, a five-inch center stack display screen, and seven-speaker audio set up for quality sound wherever the road takes you.

Other available features include Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a moonroof, a power-sliding back window, satellite radio, Siri Eyes Free, and tri-zone automatic climate control. There’s an eight-inch touchscreen audio system with navigation. The infotainment system frustrates some drivers. Still, there are many smartphone connectivity features and you can operate the system in gloves. 

The Ridgeline has ample cargo space, and the rear seats flip up to give you even more space for storage. The versatile truck bed is wide enough to fit cargo as much as four feet wide between the wheel wells. There’s an available AC power outlet available.

For those who need them, there are three sets of LATCH car-seat connector system that received an acceptable rating from IIHS. The system is relatively easy to use. One important thing to note is that the tether anchors are difficult to find with the lower anchors positioned too deep in the seats for use with some car-seats.

The Honda Ridgeline handles like a car with a smooth ride; it offers a quality cabin and has great safety ratings. For those who don’t normally like driving trucks, the Ridgeline may be the solution you seek.