Toyota Tacoma vs Honda Ridgeline

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma, though newly redesigned, retained a familiar aesthetic that echoed its predecessor. The updated hexagonal grille gave it a more aggressive look, and the overall design leaned towards a blockier and more angular style, yet it still maintained the recognizable Toyota truck appearance. The base SR trim came with standard 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims like the TRD Sport and Limited featured 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Tacoma underwent a more noticeable transformation, drawing inspiration from the Ford F-Series. The dashboard was reimagined with squared-off sections, and the gear shift knob adopted a geometric design. MOLLE panels were strategically placed throughout the cabin, emphasizing a functional approach over form. Even the Limited trim, with its heated and ventilated SofTex-trimmed seats, featured prominent plastic grids, highlighting Toyota's focus on practicality and accessory attachment.

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline stood out among pickups with its unique unibody platform, unlike the body-on-frame construction of its competitors. Its exterior styling, with a snub nose and curvaceous lines, set it apart from other midsize trucks, giving it a distinct appearance reminiscent of older Honda crossovers. Despite updates like a blockier grille and stamped tailgate lettering, the Ridgeline's design felt somewhat dated compared to the rugged makeovers of the Pilot and Passport. The Ridgeline was available in Sport, RTL, TrailSport, and Black Edition trims, with the TrailSport offering off-road-focused features like all-terrain tires and a front skid plate. Inside, the Ridgeline's interior was predominantly black with plastic materials, but it boasted excellent fit and finish, durability, and standard features like tri-zone automatic climate control. The cabin was designed for practicality, making it suitable for work and play.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma introduced an all-turbo lineup, featuring a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine branded as "i-FORCE." This engine produced 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque on most trims, while the base Tacoma SR was tuned for 228 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. The Tacoma offered both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) options, with an eight-speed automatic transmission replacing the previous six-speed auto. The transmission provided smooth shifts, although there was some turbo lag when accelerating from a stop. A six-speed manual transmission was also available, but it had a high bite point, making it challenging to manage in tight spaces. Toyota emphasized differentiation among trims, with various suspensions tailored to each model. The TRD Sport featured sport-tuned shocks, while the TRD Off-Road had monotube Bilstein shocks. The top Limited trim offered an adaptive variable suspension for enhanced ride comfort. The i-Force Max hybrid powertrain promised maximum capability, with the TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims featuring specialized shocks and partnerships for off-road performance. The Tacoma also introduced standard disc brakes and electric power steering, improving driver-assistance features and addressing previous steering vagueness.

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline continued with a single powertrain option: a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 and transmission combination provided smooth and responsive performance, with quick gear changes and a pleasant engine sound. The unibody construction contributed to excellent ride quality, handling, and overall refinement, making the Ridgeline feel more solid than traditional body-on-frame trucks. The fully independent suspension and torque-vectoring AWD system offered precise handling, even with all-terrain tires. However, the Ridgeline's off-road capability was limited compared to rivals, lacking a mechanical four-wheel drive system. With a 5,000-pound towing capacity and 1,583-pound payload capacity, the Ridgeline was competitive but not class-leading in these areas.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma eliminated the Access Cab, replacing it with the new two-door "XtraCab" configuration, which focused on cargo space rather than extra seating. The area behind the front seats featured lockable storage, accessible through the driver's seat's long slide path. However, accessing belongings from the driver's side proved challenging, while the passenger seat folded flat to create a convenient work surface. The four-door Double Cab models offered improved seat comfort and nearly identical head- and legroom figures compared to the previous generation. Gas-powered four-door Tacomas boasted three times more storage capacity beneath the flat-folding rear seats. The Tacoma offered a choice of 5-foot or 6-foot beds, with the XtraCab available only with the larger bed. The bed depth increased, raising total volume by seven percent, and optional accessories like camp fridges and rooftop tents were available.

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline was available exclusively as a four-door crew cab with a 5-foot, 4-inch bed, the most popular configuration for pickups. The cargo box featured a dual-action tailgate that could open to the side or down, accommodating a standard 4x8 sheet of plywood. The bed was made from reinforced sheet molding compound, eliminating the need for a bedliner. A power-sliding rear window was standard on all but the base Sport trim. Underneath the cargo floor, a 7.3-cubic-foot lockable in-bed trunk provided covered cargo space and could double as a cooler. The Ridgeline's interior offered headroom and legroom comparable to other midsize pickups, with a high-and-wide center console for front-seat occupants. Rear-seat passengers had reasonable space, but the seats could be more comfortable due to their upright angles.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma saw significant improvements in technology, with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard and higher trims featuring a massive 14-inch center display. Both screens ran the latest version of Toyota's Audio Multimedia system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Qi wireless charging pad was available, positioned for convenience and phone stability. The optional 10-speaker JBL sound system included a removable portable speaker, and pre-wired auxiliary switches allowed for accessory operation. The Tacoma also offered a trailer brake controller and a wireless trailer camera accessory for towing.

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. SiriusXM satellite radio was standard on all but the base Sport trim. Wireless phone charging was standard, with a well-placed charging pad. However, the Ridgeline's infotainment system featured a USB-A data port, with USB-C charging ports available. The touchscreen was smaller than some rivals, but the interface was functional and user-friendly. Physical buttons and switches for various functions made the Ridgeline's interior practical and easy to use, even with gloves.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma introduced new safety technology with its standard electric power steering. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) included advanced features like Lane Tracing Assist, lane-departure alert with steering assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. Road-sign assist and an emergency stop system were also new additions. The adaptive cruise control system offered four following distance choices, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard on most trims. Official safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were not yet available.

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline maintained its five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. IIHS had not published full results, but the Ridgeline earned "Good" scores in several tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Honda Sensing driver aids performed unobtrusively, although the adaptive cruise control system was slow to accelerate. The lack of a 360-degree camera system was noted.