Honda Ridgeline compared with the Toyota Tacoma

Safety

The Ridgeline has standard head airbag curtains for front and rear seats which act as a forgiving barrier between the driver and outboard passenger's upper bodies and the window and pillars. Combined with high-strength steel door beams and lower side airbags this system increases head protection in broadside collisions. Head airbags cost extra in the Tacoma and requires Double Cab.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Ridgeline deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Ridgeline’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Tacoma’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Full time four wheel drive is standard on the Ridgeline. Full-time four wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Tacoma. Four wheel drive of any type costs extra on the Tacoma.

The Ridgeline has standard Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), which uses the antilock brake hardware along with powerful software and additional sensors to detect the beginning of a skid. The VSA then intervenes by automatically applying the brake at one appropriate wheel, preventing a skid. A skid prevention system costs extra on the Tacoma.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Ridgeline uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Tacoma uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Ridgeline and the Tacoma have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks and four wheel antilock brakes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new cars. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Ridgeline is safer than the Tacoma:

More stars indicate a better overall result. Lower numbers indicate better individual test results.

Reliability

The engine in the Ridgeline has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Tacoma have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Ridgeline has a 130 amp alternator. The Tacoma’s standard 80 amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The Ridgeline’s reliability is better than the Tacoma’s. In Consumer Reports, the Ridgeline’s reliability is 17% better.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ridgeline second among midsize pickups in their 2006 Initial Quality Study. The Tacoma isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The Ridgeline’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 88 more horsepower (247 vs. 159) and 65 lbs.-ft. more torque (245 vs. 180) than the Tacoma’s standard 2.7 DOHC 4 cyl. The Ridgeline’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 11 more horsepower (247 vs. 236) than the Tacoma’s optional 4.0 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Ridgeline is faster than the Toyota Tacoma V6 (automatics tested):

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Ridgeline uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Tacoma with the 4.0 DOHC V6 engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 25 to 50 cents more per gallon.

The Ridgeline has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Tacoma (22 vs. 21 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Ridgeline higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Toyota Tacoma (4 to 6). This means the Ridgeline produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Tacoma every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Honda Ridgeline as an “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV). The Toyota Tacoma is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

Transmission

The Honda Ridgeline comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Tacoma.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Ridgeline’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Tacoma:

The Honda Ridgeline has standard antilock four wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Tacoma. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes which work much harder than conventional brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ridgeline has larger tires than the Tacoma (245/65R17 vs. 215/70R15).

The Ridgeline’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) which provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tacoma Double Cab/4x4’s standard 75 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ridgeline has standard 17 inch wheels. Smaller 15 inch wheels are standard on the Tacoma.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Honda Ridgeline has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Toyota Tacoma has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Ridgeline has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Ridgeline flat and controlled during cornering. The Tacoma base model’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the Ridgeline uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Tacoma, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Ridgeline has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Tacoma doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Ridgeline is 5.1 inches wider in the front and 4.7 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tacoma.

The Ridgeline RTS handles at .75 G’s, while the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab 4x4 pulls only .69 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

Unibody construction makes the Ridgeline’s chassis much stiffer, which contributes to better handling, and enables softer springs to be used for a better ride. Unibody construction’s stiffness also contributes to better durability and less body squeaks and rattles. The Tacoma doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ridgeline RTS is quieter than the Tacoma Long Bed Double Cab 4x4:

Passenger Space

The Ridgeline has 13.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tacoma Double Cab (112 vs. 98.9).

Cargo Capacity

The Ridgeline’s cargo box is larger than the Tacoma’s in almost every dimension:

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Ridgeline. The Tacoma doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Payload and Towing

The Ridgeline’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tacoma’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Ridgeline has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Tacoma (1550 vs. 1350).

Ergonomics

The Ridgeline’s foot pedal parking brake releases with one motion. The Tacoma’s plunger parking brake is released by turning the handle while pressing a button, a much more difficult operation.

The Ridgeline’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. Power windows cost extra on the Tacoma.

The Ridgeline’s driver’s power window raises and lowers automatically with one touch, especially convenient at tollbooths or drive-up windows. The power windows on the Tacoma don’t raise automatically.

If the windows are left down on the Ridgeline the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder; on a hot day the driver can lower the windows. The driver of the Tacoma can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Ridgeline’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. Power locks cost extra on the Tacoma.

The Tacoma’s optional power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Ridgeline’s standard doors lock when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights. (The power lock’s automatic feature may have to be activated by your dealer.)

The Ridgeline has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Ridgeline’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Tacoma’s standard wipers have no intermittent settings at all, so the driver will have to constantly turn them on and off.

Consumer Reports rated the Ridgeline’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Tacoma’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Ridgeline’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Tacoma doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To improve comfort and visibility, the Ridgeline has standard pull-out visor extensions that block glare better. The Tacoma doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Ridgeline has standard power remote mirrors. The Tacoma only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Ridgeline RTL’s outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The Tacoma doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Ridgeline’s standard power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Tacoma’s optional power mirror controls are on the dash, hidden behind the steering wheel, where they are awkward to manipulate.

The Ridgeline RTL’s standard heated front seats keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. The Tacoma doesn’t offer heated seats.

The Ridgeline has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Ridgeline RTS/RTL’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Tacoma doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The Ridgeline RTS/RTL’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Tacoma doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Both the Ridgeline and the Tacoma offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ridgeline has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Tacoma doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Ridgeline’s passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation, which can trigger allergies or asthma. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a filtration system.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address in the USA with audible turn-by-turn directions, a GPS navigation system is available on the Ridgeline RTL. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a navigation system.

With optional voice command, the Ridgeline offers the driver hands free control of the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Ridgeline and the Toyota Tacoma, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its June 2005 issue and they ranked the Honda Ridgeline RTS first. They ranked the Toyota Tacoma Long Bed Double Cab 4x4 third.

Motor Trend selected the Ridgeline as their 2006 Truck of the Year. The Tacoma was Truck of the Year in 2005.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Ridgeline as the 2006 North American Truck of the Year. The Tacoma has never been chosen.