Nobody else but me complained about the Ridgeline’s front seat comfort. It should be noted, however, that nobody else but me spent six continuous hours in the saddle, and after that quarter of a day had passed, I couldn’t wait to get out of the thing. The front seats are wide and flat, designed to accommodate big American bodies, and my Ridgeline RTL had eight-way power adjustment that allowed me to find a perfect driving position with terrific thigh support. At first the driver’s seat felt firm and supportive, and anyone taking a test drive in the Ridgeline is likely to feel the same way. But after an extended period of time, it felt like it was filled with concrete. Two other issues only served to exacerbate my discomfort. The upper door panel, where I usually rest my elbow, was trimmed in hard plastic, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel was uncomfortably shaped, making it displeasing to hold after awhile. Additionally, I felt that Honda could stand to increase the front leg room for my 33-inch inseams, but that’s a minor point compared to the seats, door panel, and steering wheel. I won’t even detail the pain I endured when I smacked my right shin into the hard plastic lower dash getting into the truck one day.

Jumping into the back seat proved that I’d just rather not sit in the Ridgeline at all, so I grabbed the nifty handle mounted to the B-pillar and hoisted myself out. The backrest angle is perfect, the full head restraints help to keep occupants’ noggins from slamming into the rear glass during a hard hit to the back, and there was plenty of foot room for my size-12 Timberlands under the front chairs. But like the front cushions, the rear bench was hard and flat, and mounted too low to the floor for my taste. Additionally, my knees and shins were brushing the hard plastic front seatbacks. So while it is possible to haul three of your best buds into the woods for a little fishing, they’re not going to be crossing their legs in limo-like comfort along the way. At least the rear air conditioning and heating vents, a big center armrest, four cupholders, the optional DVD entertainment system, and the reasonably quiet interior at highway speeds should keep them from noticing any lack of leg room.