2023 Honda Ridgeline vs 2023 Toyota Tacoma
It’s a matchup of midsize pickup trucks, one car-based, one old-school truck-based, in this 2023 Honda Ridgeline vs Toyota Tacoma comparison.
What makes the best Midsize Truck
Life is about choices as they say and in the midsize truck segment, there are choices aplenty. With this 2023 Honda Ridgeline vs. 2023 Toyota Tacoma comparison, we’ve got two of those options for you to choose from.
Over in the Honda corner, you’re essentially driving a Pilot crossover with a pickup bed on the back. Part of the second-generation lineup that arrived in 2017, the Ridgeline arrives in 2023 with no major changes after a mid-cycle refresh two years ago brought more rugged looks and a revised infotainment system.
Toyota’s third-gen Tacoma has been on sale since 2015 with its own facelift in 2020. The 2023 Tacoma brings a couple of new appearance packages, dual-zone automatic climate control for V6 models, and a Solar Octane paint finish. As the traditional pickup of this duo, the Tacoma drives like, well, a truck. Which one does the job better? Read on to find out!
Specs
Every 2023 Ridgeline comes with a 3.5L V6 making 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque that pairs with a 9-speed automatic to spin all four wheels via Honda’s AWD system. It’s a setup that manages 21 mpg combined and that’s the whole story. Toyota makes things a bit more complex.
Base 2023 Tacomas are RWD and powered by a 2.7L inline-4 good for a relatively meek 159 hp and 180 torques. Stepping up to the available 3.5L V6 bumps output up to a more competitive 278 horses and 265 lb-ft of twist. Both engines work with a 6-speed automatic, but with the V6 Tacoma, you can opt for a 6-speed manual transmission.
As well, the Tacoma has a true 4WD system including a dual-range transfer case for when you need the extra grunt of low range. This electronically controlled system comes with a limited-slip differential and adds about $3,000 to the bottom line.
Driving and Performance
If you’re interested in a Honda Ridgeline vs. Toyota Tacoma comparison, chances are you’re also interested in towing capacity. The Tacoma has the highest possible rating here of 6,800 pounds, but that requires the optional V6. Base models with the four-cylinder powertrain come in at 3,500 pounds. The Ridgeline maxes out at 5,000 pounds, but that’s for every model.
As for daily driving and commuting, the Honda Ridgeline is what you’ll be wanting as it busts the myth that all pickup trucks ride rough. With its unibody construction, fully independent suspension, and features like active engine mounts, the Ridgeline is designed with ride comfort in mind the same way its Pilot stablemate is.
The Tacoma is built in the traditional pickup truck way: body-on-frame and a leaf-sprung rear suspension. That means it’s more capable on truly rough roads, particularly given it’s up to 2-inch higher ground clearance than the Ridgeline.
It also offers dedicated off-road trim lines like the TRD Pro and is the perfect truck for the pre-runner crowd, but it is going to be bouncing and jouncing down the road when it comes to daily driving.
Comfort and Interior
Both of these trucks ride on similar wheelbase, but the Honda Ridgeline is only offered as a crew cab body with a 5-foot bed size. With the Tacoma, buyers can choose from an extended cab body with a 6-foot bed or a crew cab with the long cargo bed, or a 5-foot box.
While the Tacoma’s bed comes with an integrated deck rail system and adjustable tie-down cleats, the Ridgeline’s flat cargo box means 4-foot-wide sheets of plywood can be stacked flat, not on top of the wheel wells like in the Tacoma. Honda’s pickup also includes a lockable in-bed cargo bay.
Inside, the biggest difference you’ll notice is that the Ridgeline has a relatively huge 4 inches of extra rear legroom versus the crew cab Tacoma. On the infotainment front, both trucks come standard with Apple and Android smartphone mirroring, but the Ridgeline’s touchscreen interface measures 8 inches on all models, a setup that requires at least an SR5 trim on the Tacoma.
Trims and Features
The 2023 Honda Ridgeline starts at $40,175 for a Sport model. Like all Ridgelines, it comes with forward collision mitigation, a lane-keeping system, and adaptive cruise control. Full LED exterior lighting, alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, triple-zone automatic climate control, and a 7-speaker stereo are also included.
For a bit more than $43,000, the Ridgeline RTL adds a moonroof, leather upholstery with heated front seats, a wireless phone charging pad, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
The $46,000 RTL-E piles on with a heated steering wheel, an 8-speaker stereo, connected navigation, and an external audio system that turns the cargo bed walls into speakers. For $47,605, a Ridgeline Black Edition looks the part with gloss black 18-inch rims and black leather with red accents.
For more in-depth coverage of the 2023 Honda Ridgeline trims, check out our review article here.
You can get a bare-bones 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR with steel wheels for $28,585, but that figure balloons to over $36,000 when you add the V6 and 4WD to make it more a more comparable setup with the Ridgeline. Like the Honda, all Tacomas come with forward collision assist and adaptive cruise control but add automatic high beams.
SR5 trim runs $30,375, for which you get power-sliding rear glass on V6 models, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. TRD Sport trim is dressed up with alloy wheels and features a wireless phone charging pad for $35,495.
In TRD Off-Road spec, the Tacoma gets close to $37,000, while the $41,000 Limited variant looks the part with 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a surround-view monitor. Trail Special Editions look smart with bronze wheels, all-terrain rubber, and retro-style TOYOTA lettering on the front grille.
At $48,020, the TRD Pro trim is stacked with LED headlights, a moonroof, and a front skid plate. The cabin features an inclinometer, unique leather, and heated front seats, while technology upgrades include navigation, a premium JBL audio system, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and a multi-terrain monitor.
Our 2023 Tacoma review article goes deeper on features by trim line.
The Verdict
In this matchup of the 2023 Honda Ridgeline vs. Toyota Tacoma, the Toyota only edges out the Honda in a narrow slice of needs – namely outdoor adventures. For example, if your daily commute is over the river and through the woods with a trailer in tow, you’re better off in a Tacoma. And if that commute can be done in a basic 2WD truck, the Tacoma can be had for some $11,000 less than a base Ridgeline.
However, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline is better in virtually every other category. It has a bigger cabin, similar fuel economy to a V6 4WD Tacoma, a higher degree of standard amenities, and a more comfortable ride on paved surfaces.
And while Honda and Toyota have identical warranty coverages, including 2 years of complimentary maintenance, the Ridgeline earns a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA versus 4 stars for the Tacoma. Put all those factors together and the Honda handily bests the Toyota in this comparison.
