Honda Ridgeline Wins 2006 Canadian Truck of the Year Award [2.15.6]

[T Mac]

Honda Ridgeline Wins 2006 Canadian Truck of the Year Award
- Honda Sets A New Record -

TORONTO, Feb. 15 /CNW/ - In an early morning press conference at the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the Honda Ridgeline was declared the 2006 Canadian Truck of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

The Ridgeline was chosen the overall truck winner from amongst 12 eligible vehicles in the Best New Pick-up and Best New Sport Utility classes.

AJAC's 2006 Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY) chair, Paul Williams, commented: "In my opinion, the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year awards are based on the most objective, informed and thorough evaluation process you'll find. The evaluations are based on back-to-back testing in real-world situations. They're a uniquely Canadian resource for people looking to buy a new vehicle".

Dennis DesRosiers of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants agrees: "As car awards go I personally believe that the Automobile Journalists of Canada (AJAC) serve our industry very well. Their testing process is very thorough and fair involving journalists who evaluate a very wide spectrum of vehicles through the year and thus know how to evaluate a complex product. They come together once a year to evaluate these specific vehicles and their choices are almost always right on the mark."

Jim Miller, Executive Vice President of Honda Canada, was on hand to receive not one but both of the overall top prizes. Honda's Civic Sedan also won the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year. Miller was pleased at winning both of the major awards particularly because both vehicles are built in Canada at Honda's Alliston, Ontario assembly plant.

Although a manufacturer has won both overall Car and Truck awards before (Nissan in 2003), it is the first time in the history of AJAC's Car of the Year Awards that a manufacturer has won six of the 15 awards. Civic variants were previously named Best New Economy, Sports and Performance, and Alternative Power vehicles, and the Ridgeline took Best New Pickup honours.

The Car of the Year vote results are posted to the AJAC web site for use by consumers as a resource buying guide. The results show comparisons between all 11 category winners as announced on December 6, 2005. In addition, consumers will also find comparative test data - acceleration, braking, manoeuvrability, cargo capacity - on over 180 new models representing the 62 entries in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year Awards. The data derives from the journalists' annual "TestFest". It's a rigorous four-day team testing program that includes "real world" driving on public roads -- where consumers drive.

CNW Group is the official newswire and photo service of AJAC.
(*)Conducted by Maritz Research, Automotive Research Group, June 2005

For further information: on the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year Awards,
either visit our AJAC web site (www.ajac.ca), call the AJAC office at
1-800-361-1516, or send us an email: erin@ajac.ca

[Hez]

Chaulk up another one for our babies!

[Steve Smith]

As Bart Simpson would exclaim "Aye carrumba"!

[aphid]

Heard on the radio this morning that the awards would be announced today and new we would all be validated yet again.Further proof to allay any fears about making the right decision to buy a ridgeline.I am still very happy i did!

[cdepuydt]

While I don't care what the media has to say about my choice in vehicles....I would have bought an RL no matter what the "professional" reviews say.....it is kinda nice to have my purchase validated by multiple media outlets.

[fightingmink]

Ridgeline falls short of MotorWeek's 2006 Driver's Choice Award, but Civic wins Best Small Car and Best of the Year

[Alfer]

Sounds good to me for a truck built right down the road in Aliston, Ont. Even after having the truck since Oct. I still can't get over driving around and people allways stop to look and ask about the great truck.

The big 3 will see that "H" in the rear view mirror getting bigger ...

ALfer