Chevrolet used to build something called an El Camino, essentially created by replacing the back seat and trunk of a Malibu with a pickup bed. Presto! Chevy dealers had a car that could work like a truck, or a truck that drove like a car – take your pick. The El Camino (and it’s twin, the GMC Caballero) departed the market more than 25 years ago, but Honda has picked up where General Motors left off, putting a modern spin on the concept. Equipped with unit-body construction, four-wheel independent suspension, seating for five, and a trunk (just like a car) as well as full-time 4WD, a 5,000-pound towing capacity, a 1,100-pound payload capacity, and a 5-foot open cargo bed (just like a truck), the 2009 Honda Ridgeline is to suburban do-it-yourselfers today what the venerable El Camino was to the same crowd back when everyone was doing The Hustle.

Here is a summary of the changes to the 2009 Honda Ridgeline:
• Revised design elements, inside and out
• More powerful V-6 engine
• Standard class III trailer hitch
• Standard MP3/WMA-compatible audio system
• Standard active front head restraints
• Standard daytime running lights
• Two additional tie-down cleats added to bed
• New auxiliary input jack for Ridgeline RTS and RTL
• New 7-pin wiring harness for Ridgeline RTS and RTL
• New Bluetooth HandsFreeLink wireless connectivity on Ridgeline RTL
• New reversing camera feature on Ridgeline RTL
• New 115-volt power outlet on Ridgeline RTL
• New 18-inch alloy wheel design on Ridgeline RTL
• New fog lights standard on Ridgeline RTL
• New accessories include a motorcycle bed extender and a bed-mounted bicycle attachment
• New cloth material for Ridgeline RT and RTS
• New Black interior color
• Three new exterior colors
• RTX model is discontinued

The 2009 Honda Ridgeline is available in RT, RTS, or RTL trim, each equipped with standard all-wheel drive and Honda’s unique In-Bed Trunk, which offers weather-tight, locking storage underneath the pickup’s cargo floor. The Ridgeline RT is equipped with the basics: air conditioning, stereo with CD player, cruise control, power windows (including the rear sliding glass), power mirrors, power door locks with remote, a tilt steering wheel, a class III trailer hitch, and 17-inch steel wheels.

The Ridgeline RTS features alloy wheels, a 7-pin trailer wiring connector, upgraded exterior trim, a premium 160-watt audio system with an in-dash CD changer and an auxiliary audio input jack, a security system, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, privacy glass, and all-weather floor mats.

The 2009 Honda Ridgeline RTL is the top-of-the-line model. It has leather seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, unique 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, a power moonroof, a 115-volt power outlet, XM satellite radio, HomeLink programmable remote, carpeted floor mats, and a compass embedded into the rearview mirror. The RTL is exclusively available with a voice-recognition navigation system with Bluetooth HandsFreeLink technology, and a reversing camera display. The RTL with navigation also has an enhanced tire pressure monitoring system with data for each individual wheel, and a programmable multi-function display system.

The 2009 Honda Ridgeline is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine driving all four wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. The Ridgeline’s V-6 generates 250 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 247 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm, and is rated to tow as much as 5,000 pounds. Fuel economy ratings are 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway burning regular unleaded. This compares well with our Ridgeline RTL review vehicle, which averaged 15.7 mpg in mixed driving.

Honda’s Variable Torque Management 4WD (VTM-4) is standard on every Ridgeline, delivering the majority of engine power to the front wheels when cruising under low load conditions on dry pavement. VTM-4 automatically reapportions power to the rear wheels when accelerating, towing/hauling, and driving in low-traction situations like mud, ice, and snow. A VTM-4 Lock button allows the driver to maintain continuous power delivery to the rear wheels in the first two gears up to 18 mph.

Unlike most pickup trucks, the Honda Ridgeline has a four-wheel independent suspension that, according to the automaker, “contributes to a smooth ride and responsive handling.” The five-foot composite cargo box contains a locking, underfloor trunk with 8.5 cubic feet of space, and is rated at half-ton payload capacity thanks to its ability to carry 1,100 pounds of stuff.

Standard safety equipment on the 2009 Honda Ridgeline includes dual front airbags, side-impact airbags for the front seat occupants, and side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors that can remain inflated for an extended period of time for added protection. Additionally, the Ridgeline comes standard with four-wheel-disc ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist; stability control; and traction control.

J.D. Power and Associates says the 2009 Honda Ridgeline competes against other midsize pickups such as the Chevrolet Colorado, Dodge Dakota, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma.