2019 Honda Ridgeline RTL-T AWD

Of the midsize pickup trucks currently on the road, the 2019 Honda Ridgeline may seem like the least trucklike of them all. Yet, it's for that very reason that it's one of our favorites. It can accomplish much more than you might expect. The 2019 Honda Ridgeline is a distinctive choice for a midsize pickup truck. Rather than going with the crowd and opting for a traditional body-on-frame design, Honda uses a more carlike unibody construction and a fully independent suspension for the Ridgeline. These design choices give this truck class-leading ride comfort and excellent handling. You don't miss out in terms of utility either. The Ridgeline can still tow up to 5,000 pounds (3,500 pounds with front-wheel-drive models), which should be enough for a light trailer and some gear. It can also fit 4-by-8 sheets of plywood in the bed thanks to a flat load floor — a feature that no other midsize truck currently offers. It also has useful features such as an in-bed cargo storage system that doubles as a cooler and a stereo system made for tailgate parties that uses the bedliner as audio drivers. Inside, the Ridgeline is spacious and quiet with plenty of room for passengers or cargo in the back seat. This is a well-rounded package built for the majority of users rather than a specialized tool for just one task. It's one of our favorite trucks on the road today. The midlevel Honda Ridgeline, and the one we recommend, is the RTL-T. It offers most of the functional equipment we like without the cost of the top-level creature comforts. You can get it with front- or all-wheel drive (we prefer AWD for the added towing capacity), and it comes with the upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, additional USB ports, Honda's LaneWatch blind-spot monitoring system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.