Honda Civic, Ridgeline sweep car and truck awards

[Joey D]

Honda Civic, Ridgeline sweep car and truck awards
Source: www.autonews.com
Written by Dale Jewett

DETROIT -- Honda Division swept the 2006 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards on Sunday, with honors going to the redesigned Civic small car and the unconventional Ridgeline truck.

The Civic beat out the Ford Fusion sedan and Pontiac Solstice roadster for the Car of the Year award. Jurors gave the Civic 244 points out of a possible maximum of 490 points.

For the Truck of the Year award, the Ridgeline won out over two redesigned SUVs, the Ford Explorer and Nissan Xterra. The Ridgeline received 296 points out of a possible 490.

The awards were handed out Sunday morning during the first press preview day of the North American International Auto Show.

This is the first year that the Honda Division has won the award. The Honda Element was a truck of the year finalist in 2003, and the Honda Insight hybrid was a car of the year finalist in 2001. Acura, the luxury division of Honda Motor Co., won a truck of the year award in 2001 for the Acura MDX SUV.

The redesigned Civic, launched last autumn, is slightly bigger and heavier than the model it replaces. Under the hood is a lineup of new four-cylinder engines, ranging from a 140-hp, 1.8-liter unit to a 197-hp, 2.0-liter engine used in the reborn Si performance trim level. Honda also offers the Civic with natural gas-fueled and hybrid powertrains. Civic sales fell 0.3 percent in 2005 to 308,415 units.

Honda developed the Ridgeline to compete in the important pickup segment in the United States, even though it didn't have a body-on-frame platform. So the automaker started with the underpinnings of its Honda Pilot/Acura MDX SUVs. The Ridgeline's bed can swallow sheets of plywood and the four-door cab has seating for five. But it's the little touches that have grabbed the most attention, such as the covered storage well built into the truck bed. But for all the attention, Ridgeline sales haven't met Honda's initial expectations. Honda sold 42,593 Ridgelines in 2005. Power comes from a 247-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 engine.

The three finalists in each category were the top vote getters from a field of 14 cars and 14 trucks that were all-new or significantly redesigned and launched in 2005. Votes were cast by a panel of 49 full-time automotive journalists. The jury panel includes Automotive News Executive Editor Edward Lapham and Senior Writer Dale Jewett.

Each juror has 25 points to divide among the car of the year candidates, and 25 points for the truck of the year candidates. In each category, only one vehicle can get the maximum award of 10 points.

One year ago, the Chrysler 300 was named North American Car of the Year, and the Ford Escape Hybrid was named North American Truck of the Year.

Blazin's Note: I hate the Ridgeline, but really do like the new Civic. I won't get into the Ridgeline, but I will dive into the Civic. I think they did a good job with the design and they made it a small car worth buying. You get Honda reliability for a good price and good economy. I still like the Accord better, but the new Civic is great.

Also how in God's name is the Ford Escape Hybrid "truck of the year" when all it is, is a jacked up Focus with a hybrid engine, there is no truck in that thing.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

That's interesting, since Motor Trend did the same thing. I like the interior of the Civic, well except the steering wheel. I think Honda have really passed expectations with the new Civic.

 

[DuckRacer]

Motor Trend gave out the exact same rewards to to the exact same cars.

But the new Civic deserves it. I'm not so sure about the Ridgeline, though.

 

[Joey D]

The Ridgeline doesn't deserve it, the Tacoma and Tundra are far better Japanese trucks.

 

[YSSMAN]

The new Civic is much better than it's predecessor, but it is still a Civic. I'd rather spend my money on a MKV Golf or Jetta, but thats just me.

The Ridgeline isnt a truck... Its a Minivan turned SUV turned somewhat-truck that gets a lot of press for not doing anything spectacular. Anyone who has two cents in their head and are in the market for a new truck wouldnt give the Honda first glance... Being that the dealers are full of money-hungry jerkasses, I stay clear of most Honda products anyway...

 

[High-Test]

The ridgeline isn't even a truck.. The Honda civic, as overrated as I sometimes think it is, is one of the most utilitarian cars one cuold ask for. Not pretty, not fast, but not slow or ugly either.

The Ridgeline is just friggin stupid. I want to puke evrytime I see one, and I was behind one at the do it yourself car wash, and it is a "poser truck". The man went to the trouble to clean his tires with armorall. I can't see what would fit into such a short bed. It is an attempt at another dumb idea, the explorer sport trac. But, somehow, the designers at Honda took a dumb idea and made it even dumber.

 

[a6m5]

Most "truck" people don't like the Ridgeline(I've met some who do). To a total car person like me, Ridgeline looks pretty cool. Only time I'd need it is for casual outdoor-ing. I don't need serious off-roading capability or big bed. I like these half-ass truck/SUVs like the Ridgeline, CX-7, Edge.

Civic is super nice. If it was little bit cheaper, I'd really want one. I don't like the fake LED-looking taillights though.

 

[niky]

The Ridgeline has the must unuseful bed I've seen on any truck... except for the Explorer Sport Trac. And AFAIK, nobody's buying it.

I think people could forgive the V6 if only the truck were more... truck-ish.

 

[Joey D]

All those trucks are useless, the Avalanche, the Sport Trac, the Ridgeline, the S-10 crew cab, and stuff like that. Trucks need at least a 6 foot bed to be of use.

 

[a6m5]

Depends on who you ask. I don't own any outdoor item that wouldn't fit in a 5.5' bed. Also, weren't there a cargo compartment underneath the bed? That's kinda cool(probably not to the "truck" guys like yourselves).

 

[Joey D]

If you need a not so useful, but secure bed in a truck, just buy a cap for the back with a lock rear window.

But if you are going to buy a truck at least make it rear wheel drive and body on frame. The little bed would be fine for someone who doesn't need a ton of space but for God sakes trucks are meant to be rear drive and with a frame.

 

[a6m5]

But if you are going to buy a truck at least make it rear wheel drive and body on frame. The little bed would be fine for someone who doesn't need a ton of space but for God sakes trucks are meant to be rear drive and with a frame.

Come on, Blazin. It's a Honda. You weren't really expecting a Ford Super Duty with a 7.3 Diesel, were you? j/k

 

[Joey D]

No but Toyota and Nissan managed a rear drive, body on frame truck...and I must say the Tundra is one of the better full sizes I've been in, much better then the current Silverado (GMT800). I figured at least RWD, a frame, and a decent Honda V6 (which it sorta has). They also need a V8 for it.

 

[a6m5]

No but Toyota and Nissan managed a rear drive, body on frame truck...and I must say the Tundra is one of the better full sizes I've been in, much better then the current Silverado (GMT800). I figured at least RWD, a frame, and a decent Honda V6 (which it sorta has). They also need a V8 for it.

You gotta be kidding me. People's been waiting over a decade for the V-8 to arrive for the NSX and the Legend/RL. Honda is a different company. They've always been. Good luck with your real Honda truck!

 

[niky]

That's something. Honda fervently believes in its smaller displacement engines. Their V6 may be a gem of an engine, but try telling that to the truck buying public.

Hell, try telling that to the supercar/sportscar buying public, for that matter.

 

[JCE]

You know what sucks, it's a little offtopic but I have to see and drive those cars everyday...and yes the Ridgeline is a ****ing car--it's a waste of sheetmetal the only thing worse is the damn Mitsubishi "truck" the Raider. Honda really needs to stop advertising the Element and Ridgeline as "trucks". Either one of my Focus' more of a truck than the damn Element and the underpowered Ridgeline couldn't tow a boat to save it's life. The only "truck" that's worse is the Raider with A FREAKING MASSIVE 230BHP V8! 230bhp V8? Wow, that's pathetic almost every real truck manufacturer makes more power from V6's--like the other Japanese manufacturers like Nissan and Toyota. /end rant Just had to let out some steam before work this week.

The only plus about working where I do is it's an income and I get to "drive the hell" out of every one of those things including S2000's and the Accord Coupe's which are very rewarding. I took an Odessey slaloming in the empty parking lot on Friday with the traction control off just for the hell of it.