2024 Honda Ridgeline vs 2025 Chevrolet Colorado

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline, while not traditionally known for its striking appearance, had undergone some styling updates that gave it a more commanding presence. The second-generation model, still in production, featured a blunt nose, tall hood, and new tailgate lettering for 2024, which helped it blend in better with its peers. The TrailSport trim added all-terrain tires, enhancing its rugged appeal. Inside, a redesigned center console with a wide armrest and a large storage bin replaced the previous tray, making the interior feel more like a pickup truck. The addition of a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with improved features further modernized the cabin. The Ridgeline was available in four trims, all powered by a 280-horsepower V6 engine with torque-vectoring AWD, offering a family-friendly pickup option with prices ranging from $39,750 to $46,350, plus a destination charge.

In contrast, the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado's exterior varied significantly based on the trim level. The WT trim had a utilitarian look with a black plastic grille and steel wheels, while the LT added body-color elements and nicer wheels. The Trail Boss trim catered to off-road enthusiasts with a suspension lift, larger tires, and skid plates. The Z71 offered off-road capability with a fancier grille and recovery hooks. At the top, the ZR2 stood out with unique wheels and a muscle car-inspired hood. The ZR2 Bison package added beadlock-capable wheels and additional off-road features. Inside, the Colorado featured a digital gauge cluster and an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The cabin was comfortable, with cloth seats standard and leather available in higher trims. The Colorado's design focused on practicality and off-road capability, appealing to adventure seekers.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline was equipped with a reliable 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and Honda's i-VTM4 AWD system, allowing up to 70% of power to be directed to a single rear wheel. The Ridgeline's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, which was less than its body-on-frame competitors, but its payload capacity of 1,583 pounds was competitive. Off-road, the Ridgeline struggled with shallow approach, breakover, and departure angles, and its ground clearance of 7.6 inches was unimpressive. However, on-road performance was where the Ridgeline excelled, offering a smooth powertrain, quick acceleration, and responsive handling. The TrailSport's off-road suspension felt firmer on pavement, and the all-terrain tires emitted a faint whir. The automatic transmission had a minor issue with rolling when parked, requiring careful use of the parking brake. Fuel economy averaged 19.4 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 20 mpg.

The 2025 Chevrolet Colorado came standard with a 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder engine delivering 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the engine provided quick power delivery with minimal lag. The Colorado's towing capacity was an impressive 7,700 pounds, tying with the Jeep Gladiator for best-in-class status. Its payload capacity was also class-leading at 1,846 pounds, depending on the trim. Off-road, the Trail Boss offered 9.5 inches of ground clearance, while the ZR2 boasted 10.7 inches, with the ZR2 Bison reaching over a foot of clearance. The ZR2 and ZR2 Bison featured Multimatic DSSV shocks for excellent off-road performance. The Colorado's off-road models included selectable drive modes for various terrains. The ZR2 Bison's locking differentials and chunky tires provided ample traction, ensuring it could handle challenging trails with ease.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline prioritized comfort and practicality, making it easy to enter and exit. The interior featured supportive cushions, perforated leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel in the TrailSport trim. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, while the front passenger seat was well-positioned. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed adequate legroom, padded seatbacks, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Ridgeline's interior was equipped with numerous storage options, including shelves, trays, and bins. The rear seat cushion could be flipped up for additional cargo space, and the TrailSport's rear window power slid open for ventilation. The cargo bed offered 33.9 cubic feet of space, with a weatherproof and locking trunk providing an additional 7.3 cubic feet.

The 2025 Chevrolet Colorado featured a four-door crew cab and a five-foot, two-inch short bed. Inside, the controls were easily accessible, and the digital gauge cluster provided clear and customizable information. The front seats were comfortable, with sufficient headroom for tall occupants. The Colorado's narrower width made it easy to reach storage compartments. However, the rear seat was more cramped, with limited legroom for taller passengers. The ZR2 Bison's suspension lift made entry and loading more challenging, though bumper steps helped. The ZR2 Bison's payload and towing capacity were reduced compared to other trims, at 1,445 and 6,000 pounds, respectively.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a volume knob, tuning buttons, and steering wheel controls. The system was updated with a faster processor and improved navigation graphics. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone charging. The Ridgeline Sport benefited from these upgrades, while higher trims offered additional features like SiriusXM satellite radio and an eight-speaker premium sound system. The 7-inch digital display in the gauge cluster was well-executed and user-friendly.

The 2025 Chevrolet Colorado's infotainment system was built on Google software, offering an 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google apps and services integration. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with voice recognition and Alexa Built-In connectivity. The dashboard featured numerous buttons, dials, and switches, providing tactile controls for audio and climate settings. The Colorado's infotainment system was user-friendly and well-suited to the truck's design.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline Sport included a standard blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, joining the Honda Sensing suite of ADAS. This package included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. While the ADAS performed adequately, it lacked smoothness and confidence in heavy traffic. The Ridgeline's Road Departure Mitigation system was overly sensitive, causing unnecessary braking. The IIHS rated the Ridgeline as Acceptable in the small overlap frontal-impact test, while the NHTSA awarded it five-star ratings, except for a four-star rollover rating.

The 2025 Chevrolet Colorado had not been rated by the IIHS at press time, but the NHTSA gave it a four-star frontal crash-test rating, five-star side-impact rating, and three-star rollover rating, resulting in an overall four-star safety rating. The Colorado came with standard Chevy Safety Assist, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and more. Additional safety features like rear pedestrian alert and a 360-degree camera system were optional. Chevy's Teen Driver technology was standard across all models.