2021 Honda Ridgeline AWD Sport
2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4WD
Car and Driver recently put these two midsized trucks head-to-head to see which would triumph in cargo, comfort, and overall capability. Learn how the Honda Ridgeline outperformed the Toyota Tacoma in nearly every test.
Despite both being midsized pickup trucks, the Tacoma and Ridgeline are fundamentally different in their anatomy. The Toyota Tacoma is considered a body-on-frame truck, whereas the Ridgeline is a unibody vehicle.
Truck Anatomy: Advantages & Drawback | |
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Unibody (EX: Honda Ridgeline) |
Body-on-Frame (EX: Toyota Tacoma) |
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2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport, HPD Package
Ridgeline VS Tacoma : Comparable Trims & Pricing | |
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2021 Honda Ridgeline AWD Sport VS 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4WDFor the sake of comparing ‘apples to apples’, we have selected two near-equivalent trim levels/options for the Honda Ridgeline and Toyota Tacoma. While the 2021 Tacoma does have a lower overall starting MSRP, keep in mind that this is for a 4 cylinder, (2-door) access cab truck without 4WD. Since all Ridgelines come standard with a V6 engine, (4-door) crew cab, and all wheel drive, we have compared to a similarly equipped Tacoma. |
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2021 Honda Ridgeline AWD SportStarting MSRP* : $36,490 |
2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4WDStarting MSRP* : $37,530 |
Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include $395 charge for premium colors. |
Dealer prices may vary. Fees may differ in certain states, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands |
2021 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E
2021 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E
When it comes to the battle of the trucks’ passenger and cargo options, there are some key differences in convenience and capabilities to note between the Honda Ridgeline and the Toyota Tacoma.
• Since the Toyota Tacoma is a body-on-frame style vehicle (separate frame and body), it is able to offer several available options for the cab and bed size- including a 2-door access cab with a standard 6-ft. bed OR a 4-door crew cab with the option of a standard 5-ft. short bed standard or 6-ft. bed.
• The Honda Ridgeline is manufactured as a unibody vehicle (one piece) and sticks to one versatile and well-tested recipe for the cab and bed: a spacious 4-door, crew cab with a standard 5.3-ft. bed.
• As seen below, the Honda Ridgeline’s bed anatomy differs from a traditional truck bed like the Tacoma’s, because the Ridgeline’s flat bed is not interrupted by wheel wells. This makes the Ridgeline ideal for hauling flat construction materials, such as plywood, or larger furniture pieces that need to lay flat.
• The Ridgeline also offers an additional 7.3 cubic feet of lockable storage in it’s unique truck-in-bed feature. The truck-in-bed is an additional cargo space hidden under the flat truck bed that offers securable, watertight space for valuables or even a drain in case you want to use it as a cooler for fishing, tailgating, or more! In contrast, the Tacoma offers a few small storage bins for bungee cords and hand tools as well as a few cargo tie-downs.
• The Ridgeline’s tailgate extends the bed room from approximately 5-ft. to 7-ft., and can support up to 300 lbs of weight. Its real versatility for loading and hauling lies in its dual-open cababilities. The tailgate can be opened top-down, like any traditional truck OR the tailgate can swing open from the side, providing easy access to the trunk-in-bed feature.
![]() NHTSA*5-Star Safety RatingNational highway traffic safety Administration(NHTSA) |
The 2021 Honda Ridgeline and 2021 Toyota Tacoma are both excellent picks for safety in the midsized truck market! The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) gave both vehicle matching crashworthiness ratings The NHTSA* ratings give the 2021 Honda Ridgeline a bit of an edge when it comes to safety. Despite being awarded five stars in it’s side crash rating, the 2021 Tacoma only recieved four stars in its overall, frontal, and rollover scores. Meanwhile, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline scored 5 stars across the board from the NHTSA* When it comes to peace-of-mind safety tech, both trucks include features like lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control. The Tacoma has auto high beams on more trim levels than the 2021 Honda Ridgeline, but the 2021 Ridgeline offers Lane Keeping Assist which is unavailable on the Tacoma. |
2021 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E, HPD Package
Payload | Towing Capacity | Ground Clearance | Off-Roading Features | |
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Honda Ridgeline | 1509-1583 pounds (Depending on Trim) | 5,000 pounds (All Trims) | 7.6 inches | Standard AWD |
Toyota Tacoma | 1,120 pounds (V-6) 1,620 Pounds (4 Cyl.) | 3,500 pounds (Standard 4 Cylinder) 6,800 pounds (Tow package 6 Cylinder) | 9.4 inches | Locking rear differential, Underbody skid plate, Lighter all terrain tires |
Watch the Car and Driver Hauling Strength Test : Ridgeline VS Tacoma |
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