2021 Honda Ridgeline vs 2021 Toyota Tundra

The 2021 Toyota Tundra had a somewhat awkward appearance compared to other new trucks. Developed in the mid-2000s and released for the 2007 model year, it embodied the “biggie-biggie” design language that dominated the segment. The Tundra featured a massive grille paired with disproportionately small headlights, resulting in an oversized look. The test vehicle came in a “Cement” paint color with blacked-out wheels and badging, giving it a modern touch despite its dated underpinnings.

Inside, the Tundra’s cabin was a mix of dated and contemporary elements. The dash was dominated by hard plastics and large monotone panels, typical of mid-2010s truck styling. However, all buttons and dials were within easy reach, making it user-friendly. The interior was not luxurious but included a standard 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The SR5 CrewMax trim added power-adjustable front seats, an 8-inch touchscreen, and the Trail Special Edition package, which included off-road tires, a spray-on bed-liner, and in-bed storage boxes.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline underwent a redesign forward of the windshield and front doors, along with a new rear bumper featuring exposed dual exhaust outlets. The tires had a more aggressive shoulder tread, and new wheel designs debuted in black, dark gray, and bronze. The HPD Package added oversized fender trim, a unique grille design, and bold stickers on the cargo bed. The Ridgeline came in Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trims, with prices ranging from $36,490 to $43,920.

Our test truck featured the Sport trim with Radiant Red Metallic II paint, all-weather rubber floor mats, and the HPD Package. The interior, modeled after the Honda Pilot SUV, emphasized functionality with generous storage and hard plastic surfaces for easy cleaning. The Sport trim included manually-adjustable front seats with inboard armrests and a roomy rear seat. Higher trims offered leather seats, heated front seats, a power sunroof, and ambient cabin lighting. The composite cargo bed was dent- and scratch-resistant, with tie-down hooks rated for 350 pounds each, and included a 150-watt/400-watt power outlet and an in-bed audio system.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra came standard with a 5.7-liter V8 engine, producing 391 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual tap-shift function. The Tundra had a towing capacity of 10,200 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds. While its towing capacity was below that of competitors like the Ford F-150, the Tundra’s V8 provided strong acceleration and confident performance in various driving scenarios. The truck was comfortable over most surfaces, with a width that prevented it from feeling top-heavy in corners. The steering was vague at low speeds but settled in on the highway, making it ideal for cruising.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured a 280-horsepower V6 engine with 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Honda’s all-wheel-drive system with Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) was standard, capable of directing up to 70% of the engine’s power to a single rear wheel. The Ridgeline offered Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud settings, but lacked a Rock setting, indicating its limitations in rock-crawling. With a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a payload rating of 1,583 pounds, the Ridgeline was competitive in its class. Its unibody architecture and independent rear suspension provided a smooth and athletic driving experience, making it enjoyable to drive on pavement.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra offered two cab sizes and three bed sizes. The Double Cab had conventionally-opening rear doors and was available with a 6.5-foot or 8.1-foot bed. The CrewMax, a full four-door crew cab, came with a 5.5-foot bed and provided ample legroom for rear seat passengers. The rear seats folded up to create a large, lockable cargo area. The front seats had plenty of room, with a massive center console featuring three cup holders and space for phones, keys, and wallets. The optional power rear window opened the entire rear window, providing clear sightlines and fresh air.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline, with its Sport trim, offered manually-adjustable front seats with inboard armrests and a roomy rear seat. Higher trims included leather seats, heated front seats, a power sunroof, and ambient cabin lighting. The Ridgeline’s interior emphasized functionality with a large center storage console, shelves in the front door panels, and various bins throughout. The composite cargo bed was dent- and scratch-resistant, with tie-down hooks rated for 350 pounds each. The bed held 33.9 cubic feet of cargo and included a 150-watt/400-watt power outlet and an in-bed audio system. The dual-action tailgate and 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk added to the Ridgeline’s utility.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was available. The system was easy to operate, with redundant hard buttons on either side of the screen. The Tundra also came with multiple USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and a three-month trial of WiFi hotspot capability. The standard six-speaker stereo was upgraded to seven speakers on the Double Cab and nine speakers on the CrewMax, with an available JBL premium audio system providing 12 speakers.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It included a seven-speaker sound system, text-messaging capability, basic HondaLink connected services, and USB charging ports. Higher trims added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, voice recognition, traffic information, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging. Our Sport-trim test truck did not have these upgrades, but Apple CarPlay made streaming music and finding destinations easy.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra came standard with Toyota Safety Sense P, which included forward-collision warning and avoidance, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Optional safety features included front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Tundra also had eight airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, trailer sway control, and an integrated trailer brake controller.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured Honda Sensing as standard, which included 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, with blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning standard on all but the Sport trim. Top trims included automatic high-beam headlights. The Ridgeline was built to Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) crashworthiness standards, earning high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.