Toyota Tacoma vs Honda Ridgeline

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma, while all-new, retained a familiar aesthetic that echoed its predecessor. The 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. Standard 17-inch alloy wheels were featured in Canada, with off-road variants available in the TRD Off Road packages. Inside, the Tacoma underwent a more noticeable transformation, drawing inspiration from the Ford F-Series. The dashboard was redesigned 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 Premium packages, with their heated and ventilated SofTex-trimmed seats, featured large plastic grids instead of soft-touch materials, highlighting Toyota's focus on practicality.

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 styling appeared somewhat dated compared to its more ruggedly updated siblings. In Canada, the Ridgeline was offered in Sport, TrailSport, and Black Edition trims, with the TrailSport featuring off-road enhancements like all-terrain tires and unique suspension tuning. The interior, while predominantly black and plastic, boasted excellent fit and finish, emphasizing durability and practicality. The Ridgeline's cabin was designed for work and play, with features like tri-zone automatic climate control and a focus on functionality over aesthetics.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma featured an all-turbo lineup with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. In Canada, four-wheel drive was standard. The new eight-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous six-speed, offering smooth and well-timed shifts, though some turbo lag was noted from a stop. A six-speed manual transmission was also available, but its high bite point made it challenging in tight maneuvers. Toyota emphasized differentiation among packages, with multiple suspensions tailored to each variant. The TRD Sport had sport-tuned shocks, while the TRD Off-Road featured monotube Bilstein shocks. The Tacoma's on-road performance was satisfactory across configurations. New standard features included disc brakes and electric power steering, enhancing driver-assistance capabilities and addressing previous steering vagueness.

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline continued with a single powertrain: a 3.5-litre V6 engine delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The V6 and transmission combination provided smooth and responsive performance, with quick gear changes and a pleasant engine sound. The unibody construction contributed to superior ride quality, handling, and refinement, making the Ridgeline feel more solid than traditional trucks. Its 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 4WD system. Its towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms and payload capacity of 718 kilograms were not class-leading but adequate for most needs.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma eliminated the small rear seats of the previous generation, standardizing the four-door Double Cab configuration in Canada. The updated seat shape provided improved comfort, with nearly identical head- and legroom figures for 2024. The Double Cab offered 1,061 millimetres of legroom up front and 856 millimetres in the back. Gas-powered models featured three times more storage capacity beneath the flat-folding rear seats. The Tacoma offered a choice of 5-foot or 6-foot beds, with increased bed depth and volume, accommodating accessories like camp fridges and rooftop tents.

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline was available in a single configuration: a four-door crew cab with a 5-foot, 4-inch bed. The cargo box featured a dual-action tailgate and could accommodate a standard 4x8 sheet of plywood. The bed was made from reinforced sheet molding compound, eliminating the need for a bedliner. A 207-litre lockable in-bed trunk provided additional covered cargo space, with a drain plug for use as a cooler. Inside, the Ridgeline offered reasonable headroom and legroom, with a high-and-wide centre console for front-seat occupants. Rear-seat comfort was compromised by upright angles for under-seat storage, though heated outboard rear seats were available on higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma saw significant improvements in technology, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard and a 14-inch display available in Premium packages. Both screens ran Toyota's latest Audio Multimedia system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Qi wireless charging pad and dual USB-C ports were available. The optional JBL sound system included a removable portable speaker. The Tacoma also featured pre-wired auxiliary switches for accessories and a trailer brake controller with a Panoramic View Monitor for towing assistance.

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. SiriusXM satellite radio was standard on all but the base model. Wireless phone charging was included, though the only data-capable USB port was USB-A. The Ridgeline's infotainment system was functional but dated compared to rivals, with physical buttons for key functions. The user interface prioritized practicality, with easy-to-use controls for heated seats, steering wheel, and climate settings.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma introduced new safety technology with electric power steering, including Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 with features like Lane Tracing Assist, lane-departure alert, and oncoming vehicle collision avoidance assist. Road-sign assist and an emergency stop system were also new. The adaptive cruise control system offered four following distance options. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard. Official safety ratings were not yet available.

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline maintained its five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. The 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 were mostly unobtrusive, though the adaptive cruise control was slow to accelerate.