2021 Toyota Tacoma vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma embodied the quintessential truck aesthetic with its boxy fender flares, tall hood, and shield-like grille. Its design was a stark contrast to the more streamlined Ford Ranger and General Motors midsize twins, avoiding the exaggerated features of larger trucks like the Toyota Tundra. Unique styling elements were present in certain models, such as the Trail Edition with its 16-inch TRD Off-Road alloy wheels and the Nightshade Edition with blacked-out trim. The TRD Pro model stood out with its exclusive Lunar Rock color, blacked-out hood and fender flares, and Rigid Industries LED fog lights.

The Tacoma's body-on-frame construction, typical of most pickups, favored towing and off-road capability over ride and handling. It was available only in Access Cab and Double Cab configurations, with the latter offering more interior space but still falling short in terms of headroom and legroom compared to competitors. The rugged interior design featured chunky plastic elements, and while material quality was acceptable for base models, it was harder to justify at higher trims like the TRD Pro.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline, redesigned forward of the windshield and front doors, featured a new rear bumper with exposed dual exhaust outlets and more aggressive tire treads. The HPD Package added oversized fender trim, a unique grille design, and bold stickers on the cargo bed. Available in Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trims, the Ridgeline's prices ranged from $36,490 to $43,920, excluding destination charges.

The Ridgeline's 280-horsepower V6 engine, standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and nine-speed automatic transmission made it a powerful and smooth performer. Its unibody construction and independent rear suspension contributed to its athletic and enjoyable driving experience, unlike traditional body-on-frame trucks. The Ridgeline's maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and payload rating of 1,583 pounds were competitive, and it handled off-road conditions with ease, though it wasn't designed for rock-crawling.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma offered two powertrain options: a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine producing 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.5-liter V6 engine with 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine, available with both a six-speed automatic and a six-speed manual transmission, featured Toyota's D4S fuel-injection system for better fuel economy. The Tacoma's part-time 4WD drivetrain included a low range and an electronic rear limited-slip differential, with a fully locking rear diff available.

The TRD models, including the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro, enhanced the Tacoma's off-road capabilities with features like upgraded suspension, Multi-Terrain Select drive modes, and Crawl Control. The TRD Pro added Fox internal-bypass shocks, a front lift, and wider wheels. Despite its off-road prowess, the Tacoma's on-road performance was less impressive, with slow acceleration and poor ride quality. Its maximum towing capacity was 6,800 pounds, and its maximum payload capacity was 1,685 pounds, though these figures varied depending on the configuration.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline's 280-horsepower V6 engine and nine-speed automatic transmission provided quick acceleration and a refined driving experience. The standard all-wheel-drive system with Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) and Intelligent Traction Management (ITM) offered Snow, Sand, and Mud settings, though it lacked a Rock setting. The Ridgeline's unibody construction and independent rear suspension contributed to its athletic handling, making it enjoyable to drive on pavement.

The Ridgeline's maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and payload rating of 1,583 pounds were competitive, though not class-leading. Honda modified the Ridgeline's chassis and components for truck service, and it handled off-road conditions well during testing. However, its 7.64 inches of ground clearance and shallow approach, breakover, and departure angles limited its rock-crawling capabilities.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma's Double Cab configuration offered limited interior space, with rear headroom and legroom being the worst in the segment. The front headroom and legroom were also below average, creating a bunker-like feel. The rear seats folded up to reveal storage cubbies, but other in-cab storage was limited. The Tacoma's bed featured a standard rail system with tie-down cleats and an optional 120-volt outlet, but it lacked clever in-bed storage bins or a bed step.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline excelled in comfort and functionality, with the roomiest rear seat in the class and standard triple-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered leather seats, heated front seats, a power sunroof, and ambient cabin lighting. The Ridgeline's interior featured generous storage, with a large center console, shelves in the front door panels, and various bins throughout.

The Ridgeline's composite cargo bed was dent- and scratch-resistant, with tie-down hooks rated for 350 pounds each. Higher trims included a 150-watt/400-watt power outlet and an in-bed audio system. The bed held 33.9 cubic feet of cargo, and the dual-action tailgate and 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk added to its utility.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma's base SR trim level featured a 7-inch touchscreen, while other models had an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims offered a six-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer. The infotainment system was functional but not exceptional, with plain graphics and basic features. The TRD Pro model included a Multi-Terrain Monitor surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, voice recognition, traffic information, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging. The Sport trim lacked these upgrades, but Apple CarPlay provided sufficient functionality.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the passenger-side small overlap front test. Headlight ratings varied by trim, and the Tacoma earned a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. The NHTSA gave the Tacoma a four-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side crash tests. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured Honda Sensing, a package of advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance. The Ridgeline also had a multi-angle reversing camera, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. Top trims included automatic high-beam headlights. The Ridgeline's crashworthiness was built to Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) standards, and it earned high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.