2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Honda Ridgeline

As cities become crowded, parking spaces shrink, and gas prices increase, more people realize that a full-size pickup truck can be overkill. That's why you'll find plenty of midsize pickup trucks from American, European, and Far Eastern manufacturers. The 2023 Toyota Tacoma and the 2023 Honda Ridgeline are two examples of the last category.

The 2023 Tacoma is based on the third generation of the nameplate released in 2015. It comes from Toyota's production site in Mexico. Meanwhile, the 2023 Ridgeline is based on 2017's second-generation model, built in Alabama.

Out of these two, which is ahead in the best midsize pickup truck race? We'll compare the Tacoma vs. Ridgeline in terms of interior, safety, and performance characteristics to find out. And if you want to know more about the new Tacoma, contact the sales team of Mike Shaw Toyota in Corpus Christi, TX.

Interior Comparison

Toyota offers the 2023 Tacoma in Access Cab or Double Cab body styles, plus a choice of two cargo bed lengths, the longest of which stretches a tad over six feet. The 2023 Ridgeline has just one body style and a five-foot cargo bed.

In terms of absolute passenger comfort, the 2023 Ridgeline slightly edges ahead of the 2023 Tacoma. However, that's because the two trucks are built differently. The 2023 Tacoma is a proper body-on-frame pickup truck, while the 2023 Ridgeline features unibody construction. As we will discover in the next section, this does affect its utility as a pickup truck.

The 2023 Tacoma and the 2023 Ridgeline feature Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ across their respective ranges, with touch-screen infotainment systems to control these. They also offer automatic climate control and powered front seats as options or standard on higher trim levels.

Tacoma Interior

Ridgeline Interior

Performance Comparison

Remember we mentioned a critical difference between the 2023 Tacoma and the 2023 Ridgeline? The 2023 Tacoma is a proper body-on-frame midsize pickup truck that can tow up to 6,800 pounds and carry up to 1,685 pounds of payload. The 2023 Ridgeline's unibody construction makes it less sturdy, and it can only tow up to 5,000 pounds. Payload capacity drops below 1,600 pounds as well. These are critical factors for a pickup truck, and the 2023 Ridgeline can't come close to the 2023 Tacoma.

In terms of power, the 2023 Tacoma comes with a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine with 159 horsepower on base trims. Higher trims receive a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 horsepower. Drive goes to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. You can also spec a four-wheel-drive system and opt for one of two TRD trim levels. These bring better off-road capabilities courtesy of beefier shock absorbers, a suspension lift, and off-road tires.

The 2023 Ridgeline only comes with a 3.5-liter V6 that delivers 280 horsepower to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. There's no off-road oriented trim, nor is there a manual transmission on offer.

Safety Features Comparison

The 2023 Tacoma and the 2023 Ridgeline come with airbags, stability control, brake assist, and daytime running lamps. They've also got adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automated emergency braking as standard fitment.

Find the 2023 Tacoma in Corpus Christi, TX

At first glance, the 2023 Ridgeline might seem to be the nicer of the two. However, you don't buy a pickup truck to be nice. You buy it for sturdiness, load-lugging, and towing capacity. And here's where the 2023 Tacoma trumps the 2023 Ridgeline by a significant margin. It's a proper body-on-frame pickup truck that's backed by Toyota's legendary engineering and reliability. There's a reason why Toyota pickup trucks are famed the world over. The 2023 Tacoma truly is the winner in this Toyota vs. Honda matchup. So come to Mike Shaw Toyota in Corpus Christi, TX, and test drive the new Tacoma today.