2017 Honda Ridgeline release date, specs: All-new truck offers more than heavy-duty driving

2017 Honda RidgelineHonda

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline may just be the answer for motorists who wish to use their pick-up trucks for more than just their heavy-duty driving needs.

According to The Car Connection, Honda's mid-sized truck would be a smarter purchase for those who want to do more with their hard-working vehicles than just meet their extreme requirements. The review says it is more efficient and user-friendly, has pretty good road manners and its mid-size truck bed was cleverly designed.

Honda's new Ridgeline looks like the Honda Pilot SUV, only with a truck bed at the rear. Its exterior has curves in the right places, with the bed walls and the roofline sporting a boxy appearance. Its interior, meanwhile, boasts fine materials and finish, providing enough comfort for its passengers and has some room for cargo inside.

For the driver, a touchscreen is situated at the center of the controls and the gearbox sports a shift lever instead of the push-buttons on the Pilot. They can also fit a 400-watt AC power inverter in the bed, as well as an in-bed audio system.

Under the Ridgeline's hood is a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and it boasts 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It can tow up to 5,000 pounds and bear 1,584 pounds of payload. While not exactly a match against the Ford F-150 or Ram's trucks, the new Ridgeline can be on par with the Nissan Frontier, the GMC Canyon, and the Chevrolet Colorado.

The front-wheel drive truck is EPA-rated at 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 22 combined, while the all-wheel-drive model is at 18 mpg city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The base model, which is priced at round $30,000, has cruise control, a USB port, Bluetooth audio streaming, air conditioning, and a two-way tailgate and in-bed trunk. The higher trims, which can cost more than $40,000, provide additional safety features like blindspot monitors, forward cruise controls, and others.