Purposeful, utilitarian, strange – these are the adjectives conjured by the 2006 Honda Ridgeline’s cabin. Thankfully, the design works. What could be a mind-numbing amount of medium gray plastic is nicely complemented by light gray pillar trim and a woven cloth headliner. Silver plastic accents add a touch of visual interest, and the Ridgeline RTL’s leather seating is decorated in two-tone trim for a more upscale appearance. At the floor, heavy-duty all-weather rubber floor mats speak to the Ridgeline’s mission in life. The end result is an interior that is industrial in design yet tasteful in style.

Honda’s got safety covered, too. Dual-stage front airbags with a passenger’s side occupant detection sensor are standard, along with front side-impact airbags. Outboard seating positions benefit from side-curtain airbags that include rollover sensors to remain inflated for an extended period of time if the Ridgeline flips. Also, three-point seatbelts and head restraints are located in all five positions. The result is a five-star rating in each of the NHTSA’s frontal- and side-impact crash tests.

One of the 2006 Honda Ridgeline’s critical flaws, however, is the lack of a pass-through to the cargo bed like the Chevrolet Avalanche has. Sure, there’s a power sliding rear window through which you can slide eight-foot pieces of lumber that will poke and tear and rip your truck’s headliner, but who needs that hassle? Over at Chevy, you can buy a truck that opens the whole rear of the cab to the bed, creating a large enough opening to carry more than just lumber. Even the unloved Subaru Baja’s bottom half can accommodate long flat items through a small but wide pass-through. In our opinion, Honda missed the boat on this useful feature.