I'm not sure that's fair to call that a "Truck", perhaps a Honda Ranchero? I love how the back half has a cut in it to imply it's a BoF vehicle rather than the very bland Avalanche rip-off the previous generation looked like. Then again it just looks like they cut the back of a Pilot off and stuck a bed on it, a lot of that looks like a Pilot now that I look at it more.
I know Honda is really proud that it's got the widest bed width in it's segment (I'm surprised they even let it play in the same segment as other mid-sized pick-ups), but it's obviously because they have no travel in the rear and they raised the bed very high (ah the irony, it's a damn unibody minivan, but the bed sits at a height you'd see on a BoF truck; at least the Odyssey has a nice long, wide, and low cargo area.)
Of course it will be FWD with a very mild AWD system, I've never really been impressed by Honda's AWD set-ups (then again, there's only a couple AWD Toyota's that bother to garner my interest as well.) I don't see the appeal of what is essentially a Honda Odyssey with the back cut off, why not just buy the minivan it is and enjoy your firewood being dry in the winter (oh, that's right because Honda doesn't make an AWD minivan...)?
I don't know... I guess if you don't want a minivan because it doesn't look "cool" and you have no use for even a cheapy four banger Tacoma this fits the bill? It just seems more like a failed Chinese clone of the Ranchero than anything worth while.
Something I found while looking up more pictures of the Ridgeline, it's not entirely true; but it's pretty funny none the less:
This time around, i think that Honda learned its mistake from 1st gen...the truck needs to have a traditional look to get more buyers. The 1st get was too extreme...almost Aztec like that alienated many.
Although unibody by nature, remember, that many unibodies nowadays have frame rail-like reinforcements to further strengthen the unibody. Land Rover does this. Honda does this too.
You don't think Honda's AWD system is any good? My Acura MDX SH-AWD would argue with you!
This AWD system in the new Ridgeline is not SH-AWD, but at least has torque vectoring which makes it better than most Toyota system to date. I believe that this AWD activates with any acceleration, cornering, and of course slippage. That is plenty good for me (and my needs). But, yeah, i wish that they had put in SH-AWD in there because SH-AWD is full-time AWD. But oh well, this Ridgeline system probably saves a few more pennies in gas. And b/w a part-time 4wd system vs. AWD with TQ Vectoring, i will pick AWD all day long for my on-road/foul weather needs.
For the rest of your post, i think that you are clueless...with all due respect! Answer me these questions:
1. Do you currently own a minivan?
2. Do you have kids?
Let me answer the questions on my end. I still own a 2008 Sienna...so, obviously, i am not cool since i own one!
I will probably buy another Sienna when this one dies. (I also own a MDX for daily driving...Sienna is my "weekend" car.) I have 3 kids...all under 10.
How do you carry firewood, dry wall, etc. in a minivan if your kids are in it? Even if kids are at home, it is a PIA to take out the car seats AND the 2nd row captain chairs (I have Limited). And then after carrying the lumber, etc. you have to clean the WHOLE MINIVAN to keep the kids from having allergy attack from the dust!
Or how about carrying home a large plant or small tree? How do you fit that into a minivan? Again, see above argument regarding room and dust/dirt. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED IT in real life? I doubt it. I have. Trust me when i say this...you have no clue dude!
Cheap Tacoma 4-banger? Ok, so, instead of this Ridgeline, you want me to buy a gutless wonder on the highway who sucks more gas than the Ridgeline on a bad day?!!! And i wonder why 4-banger trucks don't sell well! Oh yeah, because they get the same damn mileage as their 6-cylinder brother! Why didn't i think of that?!
For me, this Ridgeline is going to replace my MDX, not my Sienna.
