After years in the "pickup" doldrums, Honda, the smart maker of small, well-engineered and fuel-efficient vehicles, has produced the Ridgeline, a most unusual version of a pickup truck – no V-8 engine, no raised suspension, no rattling diesel and no bone-shaking ride. This is a smooth- riding, quiet, four-door, space-efficient truck.

Unlike the Dodge Ram, Ford F series, or Chevy/GM truck, the Ridgeline lacks "monster/brute" cachet. It is creating a market of its own in the driving population – people who prefer cars but want the utility that a pickup offers.

This good-looking vehicle is powered by a 247 hp, 3.5 liter, 24-valve V-6 engine and the power gets to the wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission through a Variable Torque Management four-wheel-drive system with locking rear differential. Power is directed to the front wheels under normal highway conditions, but as soon as the front wheels experience slippage, power is directed to the rear wheels. If necessary, the rear differential can be locked by pressing a button on the dash.

The 2008 Honda Ridgeline

The Ridgeline’s "unibody on frame" construction is unusual for trucks, which normally have the bed and the cab separately mounted to the frame.

This pickup, which has a rear independent suspension, drives and handles like a car with almost "sporty" driving characteristics. Although the acceleration is brisk and will get you on the freeway quickly without drama, the normally silent motor lets you know that it’s doing the best it can. The interior is quiet for a truck and road noise is fairly muted.

Honda has done some interesting things with storage space, which is voluminous. The base of the pickup bed pulls up to reveal a cavernous space like a large car trunk. The bed itself is almost as long as a standard pickup bed and the rear seats fold up and out of the way to create a huge space.

The EPA estimated fuel consumption is 16 city/21 highway on regular gas. This tester was unable to verify these numbers, but many owners report in consumer reviews an overall fuel consumption of around 14 to 16 mpg. If true, that’s a pity. One would expect a V-6 in a lighter pickup to be significantly better than the V-8 competition.

Honda offers a three-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile power train warranty.

Honda markets this truck in four liveries, the RT, RTX, RTS and RTL. All have the same motor – no option is offered – and all are technically the same. Standard equipment includes remote entry system, heat rejecting privacy glass, folding power side mirrors, four integrated bed lights with auto off function, heavy-duty tow hooks front and rear, power door locks, power windows including rear sliding window and adjustable steering wheel with integrated controls.

In true Honda fashion, any available options are installed by the dealer. The four models all have different standard equipment. The $27,800 RT and the $28,300 RTX are almost identical with the RTX sporting a chrome grill. The $30,275 RTS has a dual-zone automatic climate control, an upgraded 160-watt AM/FM/XM Ready, six-disc in-dash CD changer with seven speakers and eight-way power driver’s seat. The $32,940 RTL has a power moonroof, Homelink Remote System, ambient console lighting and leather-trimmed heated front seats. The RTL also is available for $34,940 with a navigation system.

The 4,500-pound pickup is tow rated for 5,000 pounds and has a 1,550-pound payload capacity.

This is the first four-door pickup to be awarded five-star safety ratings for both front and side impacts by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. An added safety factor is Honda’s Vehicle Stability Control, which is designed to keep you out of trouble on the highway.

Before you decide on a domestic or a Japanese standard pickup, test drive the Ridgeline.

Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 55 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today’s ABS systems. Lynas can be reached by e-mail at austin@sandiegometro.com.