The look of the 2006 Honda Ridgeline may well appeal to many people, but it does take a little getting used to. It twists and melts the classic truck lines and changes the design we expect to see into a futuristic design that is instantly intriguing, daring and, well, strange. From the back, the Ridgeline looks sharp, with the angled top of the bed slamming down from the back window and carrying its line to the bed of the truck. The front is aggressive and bold, with an extra large H grille, integrated headlights and a hood that represents a strong front profile for the Ridgeline. This part of the truck really does look like it was stamped out of metal. The sides also express strength and power, though the high, slanted bed is what gives the eye pause. Give Honda credit for building something that’s an interpretation of what has traditionally been a boring, three-box design, for merging the boxes and coming up with something daring. Chances are, the Ridgeline’s look will appeal to the core market for this truck – suburbanites who want something more rugged than a SUV with which to haul their lifestyle, yet one not as impractical as a work truck that gets bad gas mileage and can’t fit in the local store’s parking spaces. Time, and sales, will tell. In the meantime, go ahead and call it a wedge. Say it has been stamped out of a block of aluminum. Claim that it looks strong and bold. It still looks strange to me.
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