A few changes have been made by Honda for the 2012 model year to its Ridgeline compact pickup truck. Some of these changes include a new trim (Sport), as well as a new grille, headlights and gauge configuration. These changes will allow Honda to keep pace with competitors such as the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma.

Five trims are available for the 4-wheel drive (4WD) 2012 Honda Ridgeline: RT, RTL, RTL w/Navigation, RTS, and Sport. All are equipped with a 250-hp 3.5-liter 24-valve SOHC VTEC V6 premium gasoline engine. Each is paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission and achieves 247 lb-ft of torque, and this drivetrain is estimated by the EPA to get 15 mpg city/21 highway.

All trims for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline are equipped with a 5-foot bed that has 8 heavy-duty tie-down cleats secure up to 1,100 pounds of cargo and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Each trim comes standard with an integrated closed-box frame with unit-body construction, integrated Class III trailer hitch prewired for a trailer harness and heavy-duty tow hooks both front and rear. Additionally, one of the best features found on all trims is the Ridgeline’s in-bed trunk, which is accessible through a hinged section of the truck bed. This lockable section has 8.5 cubic feet of space not found in any of the competitor’s pickups. A full-size spare tire is also found here as well.

For the RT trim, standard equipment includes air conditioning with an air-filtration system, steering-wheel-mounted cruise control, power windows with auto-up/down driver's window, power-sliding rear window, 60/40 lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage, a rear-view mirror with compass, 100-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with 6 speakers and MP3/WMA playback capability, dual-action tailgate, variable intermittent windshield wipers with automatic heated wiper zone, remote entry system, folding power side mirrors, integrated bed lights with an auto-off timer, multireflector halogen headlights with auto-off and 17-inch alloy wheels.

For those choosing the RTS trim, additional standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control with an air-filtration system, power driver's seat with 10-way power adjustment, including power lumbar support, steering-wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, security system, a 160-watt AM/FM/6-CD in-dash changer audio system with 7 speakers including subwoofer and an MP3/auxiliary input jack. Upgrading to the RTL trim adds standard equipment such as a power moonroof, leather-trimmed seats with heat in the front, Homelink Remote system, Sirius XM radio with a 3-month trial subscription and 18-inch alloy wheels. The RTL w/Navigation trim also gets Honda’s satellite-linked navigation system with voice recognition and a rear-view camera and the Bluetooth HandsFreeLink phone system. Finally, opting for the Sport trim gets 2012 Honda Ridgeline buyers additional standard features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, fog lights and a black mesh grille with Sport emblem.

Numerous standard safety features are found on the 2012 Honda Ridgeline, including dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, front side airbags with passenger-side occupant position detection system, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, driver's and front passenger's active head restraints, head restraints at all seating positions, side-impact door beams, tire pressure monitoring system, power-assisted ventilated front disc/solid rear disc antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, and daytime running lights.

The Ridgeline’s comfort factor is what strikes most owner’s initially, with many commenting on the pickup truck’s excellent steering response, minimal body roll and comfortable, controlled ride. Many owners feel that the Ridgeline skirts a fine line between pickup and SUV, with decent towing capacity and good handling in rough and slick driving conditions.

The Honda Ridgeline’s standard features, such as 4WD, set it apart from most other competing pickup trucks—as does its sticker price, which is a few thousand dollars higher than similar-size pickups. The Ridgeline should not be the first truck you look at if you are looking for a workhorse work truck. But, if you are looking for something that makes a smooth transition from weekend outings to weekday work truck, the Ridgeline is more than capable of meeting your needs.