One of Honda's major goals for the G2 RL was to claim it had the highest mpgs of any gas-powered midsized pickup. They made compromises to meet that target...and still only beat the competition by 1 mpg in city/hwy combined rating. Everything was considered in light of fuel efficiency. More drag from taller height and increased underbody turbulence does affect mpgs, at least to some extent. Tucking the wheels into the wells with limited clearance is another nod to fuel efficiency. Their market studies indicated that most US pickup owners rarely if ever take their trucks off-road, so "about 8 inches of ground clearance" was considered "ample" (yes, they even used that word in advertisements).
I agree that plenty of US truck buyers would consider the RL too low for off-road travel, especially with its vulnerable under-belly. But the lower center of gravity contributes to the RL's amazing handling characteristis and reduced rollover risk. I understand Honda's logic but decided I needed more clearance and would accept the trade-offs. I went with the JS 1.5/0.75" lift and 255/65R17 AT tires and have no regrets. WIth light-footed driving, I am getting 25 mpg hwy/20 mpg combined and enjoying the improved "soft-road" capabilities.
