Unlike traditional offerings such as , the car is a unibody vehicle. Conventional trucks, such as the Tacoma, are typically body-on-frame, allowing for greater towing capacity and increased resistance to the fatigue of repetitive off-road driving.
He says the 2023 Honda Ridgeline is one of the best pickup trucks money can buy, and it’s hard to blame it. Many truck owners primarily use their trucks as family vehicles, and the Ridgeline could be an ideal choice.
. The downsides to a unibody truck come in the form of lower towing capacity and off-road capabilities when compared to its chassis competitors.
This means the Ridgeline can only tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Tacoma, Colorado, Canyon, and Ranger can each tow anywhere from 6,000 to 7,000 pounds if equipped with the most powerful engine option or towing package.
The unibody construction also results in less capability in off-road environments due to their lack of low-range gears, skid plates, and differential lock. The Ridgeline doesn’t make the grade when it comes to ground clearance either, offering only 7.6 inches compared to the Tacoma’s 9.4 inches. It would be fair to say towing and off-roading aren’t the Ridgeline’s forte—but it is.
The Ridgeline line is a best kept secret
The Honda Ridgeline may not be suitable for certain truck-oriented tasks like towing and off-roading, but it is. Unlike the Ridgeline’s major body-to-chassis competition, it has a great ride. It’s supple, handles nimble for its size, and the interior is quieter than most of its competitors—especially the Tacoma.
Much of this improved ride comes from the Ridgeline’s stablemate: the beloved Honda Pilot. The Pilot is a third-row family SUV, so you might be wondering how on earth the two can be related. Not only are they related to each other, but they’re almost identical on the bottom.
Ultimately, the Ridgeline is a Honda Pilot with a bed in the same way a Hyundai Santa Cruz is a Hyundai Tucson with a bed. This fact may be a turn off for some truck riders, but it’s also what makes the Ridgeline so great. You get family crossover levels of comfort with the added benefit of truck styling.
The bed measures 50 inches between the wheel wells, which means you can easily get 4-by-8-foot sheets of plywood or drywall to lie flat on that trip home from Home Depot. Not only that, but the bed has a box in it! The waterproof bedside compartment provides an additional 7.3 cubic feet of storage space, US News reports. The cabin also has a water drain, so it can be used as a cooler during special events or parties.
Is it expensive?
Even those who love the Ridgeline for all its funky utility might be surprised at the price. The Ridgeline starts at $38,800 for the Sport and can go up to $46,230 for the black version. It comes standard with a 280-hp V6 engine, all-wheel drive, and a spacious crew cab.
The Tacoma starts at $27,750, and the Ranger at $27,400. Both are available with access cabs and refined base trims. For $11,000 less than the base Ridgeline, the Tacoma comes as an Access Cab with two-wheel drive, a very basic interior, and a 2.7-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder that makes 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft. of torque.
Upgrading to all-wheel drive will set you back $2,245 and another $2,650 if you opt for the 3.5-liter V6. For the most basic SR Tacoma with a double cab, V6, and all-wheel drive would cost $34,015. Almost $5,000 less expensive than the Sport trim. The SR5, a more apples-to-apples comparison to the Ridgeline Sport, with the same options, is about $37,000—well within range of the base Ridgeline.
Same story applies to the bouncer. It might start at $27,400 for the Access XL cab, but that’s with two-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is an option for $3,485. The XL doesn’t even come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is standard on the Ridgeline and Tacoma.
To be equipped similarly to the standard Ridgeline Sport, you’ll have to opt for the all-wheel-drive XLT Crew Cab, which will set you back $36,905, according to . It’s true that the Ridgeline is more expensive, but when you start looking at the standard equipment – the gap starts to close quickly.
The Ridgeline line isn’t for everyone
The Honda Ridgeline isn’t the truck for everyone. For some, it’s not even a truck. If you need to tow regularly or do any serious off-roading – the Ridgeline isn’t for you. If you want a work-spec truck without the amenities, the Ridgeline isn’t for you. If you want a comfortable family vehicle with smart use of space, good standard equipment, and truck-like capabilities without the usual truck aspects—the Ridgeline might be the vehicle for you.
