Honda puts five multi-use vehicles in the 2006 lineup of wagons and each differs in size, organization and purpose. The collection includes the mid-size Pilot sport-utility vehicle, CR-V compact crossover wagon, boxy Element the cargo-hauling van and Odyssey, a minivan with room for eight passengers. Then make room for Ridgeline -- Honda' s first pickup that's described as a SUT, or sport-utility truck.

Ridgeline brings attributes of a powerful full-size pickup as well as a high-hiked SUV. It's substantial in size with a four-door cab and a rear truck bed designed to carry outdoor sports equipment. The cabin holds two rows of seats for five beneath an optional moonroof. Honda builds Ridgeline on a unibody structure also used for Pilot the SUV. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) system aboard every Ridgeline senses when four-wheel traction may be needed and shifts engine torque electronically from front to rear wheels.

A dashboard locking switch allows the driver to hold torque on rear wheels to work through a difficult traction situation at slow speed. Ridgeline also provides plenty of muscle, thanks to the aluminum-block 3.5-liter V6, which produces 255 hp through an electronic five-speed automatic transaxle. Honda casts Ridgeline the SUT in three trims -- well-equipped RT, full-featured RTS and luxurious RTL with leather upholstery.

Honda's mid-size SUV scores an update for 2006 with many new standard features aboard plus the option of a two-wheel-drive (2WD) version with the V6 engine using Honda's variable cylinder management (VCM) to trim the number of cylinders firing when a power boost is not required. Other Pilot issues carry a smart AWD system that's permanently engaged and directing the engine's muscle to all wheels to maintain traction. Standard powertrain is Honda's 3.5-liter V6 with output this year of 244 hp. Safety equipment increases with all trims stocking frontal and side air bags this year plus curtain-style air bags for three rows of seats. Pilot's cabin capacity extends to eight in an arrangement with twin buckets on the first row, a bench for three on the second row and a third bench for three children. Sporty new wheels mount on LX and EX trims.

Honda's cubistic wagon brings a wash-and-wear cabin with four seats plus a powerful stereo system. Check out the flat-sided double doors: Front one's hinged up front but the rear door has hinges on the tail side and both doors open wide in pillar-less fashion to stuff gear aboard. Inside, the flat floor is covered by a urethane-coated surface that sweeps out fast and four flip-and-fold seats in the cabin are designed for quick cleaning.

For locomotion, Element stocks a twin-cam 2.4-liter in-line-four engine that reaches 156 hp and mates with the standard manual five-speed or optional automatic four-speed transaxle for FWD traction or a version with Honda's intelligent AWD system. This year there's a new top trim on tap -- the Element EX-P with premium gear from the EX edition plus body-colored painted side panels and exclusive paints like Tango Red Pearl or Tangerine Metallic. (CONTINUED...)