2025 H Ridgeline vs Tacoma, Colorado

When shopping for a midsize pickup truck in the Phoenix area, smart buyers quickly discover that the 2025 Honda Ridgeline offers something truly different in a crowded marketplace. Honda has engineered a truck that excels where most Phoenix drivers actually use their vehicles: daily commuting through the Valley, weekend trips to Flagstaff, and real-world versatility.

The Ridgeline's recent recognition speaks volumes about its excellence. Car and Driver honored the 2025 Honda Ridgeline with a prestigious "Editors' Choice" award, recognizing it as the best in its category. As one of Car and Driver's favorites in the segment, the Honda Ridgeline has earned a spot on the Editors' Choice list this model year. Consumer Reports notes that "the Ridgeline remains one of the most civilized pickup trucks we've ever tested" and calls it "the best compact truck we have ever tested".  

Honda Ridgeline vs Toyota Tacoma: Comfort and Innovation Lead the Way

The comparison between the Honda Ridgeline and Toyota Tacoma reveals fundamental differences in philosophy and execution. Where the Tacoma emphasizes traditional truck toughness, the Ridgeline prioritizes daily usability and comfort without sacrificing capability.

Standard All-Wheel Drive Advantage Every Honda Ridgeline comes with standard Intelligent Variable Torque Management all-wheel drive (i-VTM4), a significant advantage for Phoenix drivers who venture beyond the city limits. Whether heading to Sedona for the weekend or navigating through Camelback Mountain's winding roads, this enhanced traction and stability system comes standard. The Tacoma offers all-wheel drive as an optional upgrade, adding significant cost to achieve what Honda includes as standard equipment.  

Superior Ride Quality The Ridgeline's unibody construction and fully independent suspension deliver ride and handling that are more carlike than trucky, making it more comfortable than other pickups. For Phoenix commuters facing daily drives on Loop 101 or I-17, this translates to significantly less fatigue and a more pleasant driving experience. The Tacoma's traditional body-on-frame construction with a solid rear axle creates a harsher ride that becomes particularly noticeable during Arizona's long highway stretches.  

Cabin Comfort Excellence The Ridgeline's interior provides "the most space of all mid-size rivals" for rear-seat passengers, making it the clear choice for families. The thoughtful design includes standard tri-zone automatic climate control, ensuring optimal comfort for all occupants. This crew cab’s front seats are especially welcoming to the comfort of the driver and front passenger.  

Performance and Efficiency The Ridgeline's 3.5-liter V6 engine delivers ample performance with smooth operation and refined power delivery, crucial for Arizona's demanding climate and terrain. In testing, a 2024 Ridgeline TrailSport accelerated to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds, "an entire second quicker than the four-cylinder nonhybrid Toyota Tacoma". This performance advantage comes with excellent fuel economy, achieving up to 24 mpg highway—a significant benefit for Phoenix drivers facing rising fuel costs. Plus it can tow up to 5,000 pounds.  

Honda Ridgeline vs Ford Ranger: Standard Features That Matter

When comparing the Honda Ridgeline to the Ford Ranger, the differences become apparent in the standard features and overall value proposition. Honda's approach prioritizes giving customers premium features as standard equipment rather than expensive options.

Innovative Bed Features The Ridgeline's most distinctive advantage over the Ranger lies in its bed design and functionality, particularly valuable for Phoenix-area contractors and outdoor enthusiasts. The Honda pickup features a "locking, weather-tight in-bed trunk" with 7.3 cubic feet of capacity, providing secure storage that protects valuable tools and equipment from Arizona's intense heat and occasional dust storms.  

Widest Short Bed The Ridgeline is the only midsize pickup that can fit a sheet of four-by-eight-foot building material flat on the bed floor. This is thanks to its 50-inch width between wheel wells—a crucial advantage for home improvement projects common in the growing Phoenix metro area. 

Dual-Action Tailgate Innovation The Ridgeline's tailgate opens both vertically like a conventional truck and horizontally like a traditional gate, providing unmatched loading flexibility. This innovative design makes loading and unloading significantly easier in tight parking situations where a traditional tailgate cannot fully open.  

Technology Integration Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity comes on every Honda Ridgeline, along with a wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones. The seamless integration of technology reflects Honda's understanding of modern truck buyers' needs.  

Safety Technology Standard Every Ridgeline includes the complete Honda Sensing suite of safety technologies as standard equipment, including collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping assist. This comprehensive safety package provides peace of mind for families using their truck as a daily driver.  

Honda Ridgeline vs Chevrolet Colorado: Quality and Reliability Advantage

The Honda Ridgeline's comparison with the Chevrolet Colorado highlights Honda's reputation for long-term reliability and build quality. While the Colorado offers higher maximum towing and payload capacity, the Ridgeline provides superior overall ownership experience.

Proven Powertrain Reliability The Ridgeline's naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine represents proven Honda engineering excellence. This powerplant avoids the potential complexity and long-term reliability concerns associated with turbocharged engines, providing dependable performance for years to come. The V-6 engine produces ample towing power for recreational use while maintaining excellent refinement during daily driving.  

Build Quality Excellence Honda's commitment to quality shows in every detail of the Ridgeline's construction. Owners consistently praise the truck's quality, with one noting: "Honda engineers vehicles to the umpteenth. You park somewhere and think 'will the door or hatch or tailgate still open?' And it still opens".  

Unibody Advantages The Ridgeline's unibody construction provides structural advantages over traditional body-on-frame designs. This approach eliminates unnecessary weight while maintaining strength, contributing to better fuel economy and handling characteristics. The unibody construction and fully independent suspension make the Ridgeline "easy and fun to drive compared to conventional body-on-frame pickups".

Long-Term Value Honda owners frequently report exceptional longevity, with expectations of "350K-500K mile" service life from their Ridgeline trucks. This durability translates to lower total cost of ownership and higher resale values compared to competitors. If you look at the similarly priced Jeep Gladiator, you’ll quickly see how important it is to claim the Ridgeline’s lower cost of ownership.  

What Makes the Ridgeline Unique: Features You Won't Find Elsewhere

The Honda Ridgeline stands apart from every competitor through innovative features that address real-world truck ownership challenges. These unique elements demonstrate Honda's thoughtful approach to truck design.

In-Bed Trunk Storage The Ridgeline's weather-sealed in-bed trunk provides 7.3 cubic feet of lockable storage space beneath the bed floor. This innovative feature allows secure storage of valuable tools, equipment, or personal items without taking up bed space or requiring a tonneau cover.

Composite Bed Construction Unlike steel beds that rust and dent, the Ridgeline features a composite bed material that resists damage and maintains its appearance over time. The smooth surface makes loading and unloading easier while eliminating the need for a bed liner.

Independent Rear Suspension The Ridgeline's fully independent suspension provides a ride that "rivals some luxury SUVs" while maintaining truck capability. This sophisticated suspension design contributes to superior handling and comfort compared to solid-axle competitors.  

Intelligent Traction Management The available Intelligent Traction Management system provides multiple terrain modes including Sand, Snow, Mud, and Normal settings, automatically adjusting the all-wheel drive system for optimal performance. For Phoenix drivers, the Sand mode proves particularly useful for desert adventures or navigating construction zones around the Valley's expanding developments.  

The Smart Choice for Modern Truck Buyers

As Car and Driver concludes, the Ridgeline "is far more livable [than its body-on-frame rivals] and plenty practical". For buyers seeking a midsize truck that combines Honda's legendary reliability with innovative features and exceptional comfort, the Ridgeline stands as the intelligent choice.

The Ridgeline's standard all-wheel drive, unique in-bed trunk, dual-action tailgate, and comprehensive safety technology create an ownership experience that simply cannot be matched by traditional trucks. When you add Honda's reputation for long-term reliability and exceptional resale value, the 2025 Honda Ridgeline emerges as the smart choice for discerning Phoenix-area truck buyers.

For Phoenix residents ready to experience the Honda difference, visit Earnhardt Honda to discover why the Ridgeline continues earning recognition as one of the best midsize trucks available today. Schedule a test drive.