The 2009 Honda Ridgeline was a mild facelift for the first generation of the Japanese pickup-truck that was launched in 2005 as a 2006 model. After the facelift, it was better equipped. In 2005, on the American market, a pickup-truck meant a V8 under the hood, a body-on-frame construction, and a solid rear axle. It was a true workhorse and the small versions built for daily driving was still a workhorse, but with a lower payload. Honda changed that when it showed the Ridgeline, which was built on a unibody, car-like, construction, with independent rear suspension and a V6 under the hood. For the 2009 facelift, there were some minor exterior changes to the grille. For the base trim level, named RT, it received standard 17” light-alloy wheels instead of steel as before. The top of the line RTL received standard 18” light-alloy wheels. Standard features on the Ridgeline RT include an integrated trailer hitch, a power-sliding rear window, remote keyless entry, a trip computer, and a six-speaker CD stereo with MP3 playback capability. The top-of-the-line RTL received a moonroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a 115-volt power outlet, and satellite radio. The drivetrain remained basically unchanged, apart from a slight increase in power. The 2009 Ridgeline received 3 extra horsepower, so there were no differences in performance data.