2017 Honda Ridgeline Vs 2017 Toyota Tacoma in Mesa AZ

Are you looking for a new mid-size pickup truck that is highly capable, versatile, fuel-efficient, and provides a surprisingly smooth ride? Then you must explore the all- Honda Ridgeline! Honda's modern mid-size pickup truck has returned after a short hiatus with an all-new look; it has redesigned from the ground up to provide a driving experience that is unique to the mid-size truck class. As a Honda dealership, Honda of Superstition Springs proudly serves residents near Phoenix, Gilbert, Chandler, and Scottsdale as one of the area's go-to dealerships for all things Honda, including shiny new Hondas like the 2017 Ridgeline. We invite local drivers to visit our Mesa, AZ showroom to explore the stylish new Honda Ridgeline. You can shop our extensive selection of Ridgeline pickups and other Honda vehicles right here on our website, too!

Here on the Honda of Superstition Springs website, you can shop our current inventory, research Honda's latest vehicles, like the all-new Ridgeline, and even compare them to the competition. Let's see how the all- Honda Ridgeline mid-size pickup truck stacks up against one of its chief rivals, the Toyota Tacoma.

Standard Power and Performance

Every 2017 Ridgeline is powered by Honda's dependable and potent 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing an impressive 280 hp and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. You can have your Ridgeline equipped with either 2WD or an advanced all-wheel drive system (AWD); either way, you will find that your new Honda mid-size pickup truck features thrilling performance and uncompromising capability. The Toyota Tacoma base model comes standard with a 2.7-liter inline-4 engine, which simply can't compare to the Honda V6 regarding power, performance, or frankly, fuel efficiency. Toyota's 2.7-liter in the Tacoma produces just 159 horses and 180 lb.-ft. of torque. That's right; the standard Ridgeline has an over 120 hp advantage over the Tacoma base model! While the Tacoma is also available with a 3.5-liter V6, you will find that it is still down on horsepower when compared to the Ridgeline; you will also fall further behind in fuel economy if you opt for the Toyota V6 over Honda's potent and efficient V6. For standard V6 power and impressive fuel efficiency in your new mid-size pickup truck, the choice between these two trucks is simple: the 2017 Honda Ridgeline comes out on top!

Standard Fuel Economy

While fuel economy may not be the number one reason that drivers shop for a mid-size pickup truck, then you are in the market for a versatile pickup, fuel efficiency is certainly a criteria to consider. The all- Honda Ridgeline offers best-in-class V6 fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated 26 miles per gallon on the highway (and 22 mpg combined rating, for 2WD models). Models equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD) achieve an EPA-estimated 18 city/25 highway/21 combined mpg rating. In comparison, Toyota's Tacoma in standard 4-cylinder, 2WD trim returns an EPA-estimated 23 highway miles per gallon on the highway (21 combined mpg rating). If you opt for a Tacoma 4x4 with the standard inline 4-cylinder engine, you can expect to return 21 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined (city/highway). In other words, you should expect to see at least one-to-two miles per gallon better in the Ridgeline than with a comparable Tacoma. The term 'comparable' may not be that accurate, though, since standard fuel economy is based on the Honda Ridgeline's standard V6 engine versus the Tacoma's less-powerful standard inline-4. Even so, the vastly more powerful Honda V6 engine still provides superior fuel economy to the Tacoma's standard 4-cylinder engine.

Ride and Handling

Honda gave the all- Honda Ridgeline a unibody construction, instead of a body-on-frame design like the Toyota Tacoma, to improve ride quality, handling, comfort, and crash safety. Thanks to its unibody construction, the Ridgeline provides a smoother ride, more like a crossover or sedan. Of course, with its powerful, standard V6 engine, the smooth ride is just a bonus on top of it being able to do everything you would expect from a mid-size pickup truck. If you test drive the Ridgeline and Tacoma trucks back-to-back, you will surely notice that the Honda offers sharper handling and is simply more confident in the corners. If you are looking for a smooth-riding and well-rounded pickup truck that is easy to live with as a daily driver, then test drive the all-new Honda Ridgeline.

Passenger Comfort

One major advantage of the Honda Ridgeline's unibody construction is that it provides a superior ride quality compared to the Tacoma's body-on-frame design, which translates to greater passenger comfort. One glance at the interiors of these two pickups, and it will become clear that the Honda's cabin just looks more inviting and comfortable; in fact, it looks and feels like any other Honda cabin. The Tacoma's cabin certainly has stylish cues from Toyota's other vehicles, but it is all pickup truck when it comes to its harsher ride quality and more spartan interior. The Ridgeline, on the other hand, is heavily inspired by Honda's modern family SUV, the Pilot, which means it rides and feels quite similar to the smooth and comfortable Pilot. After a few minutes riding around in the Ridgeline, you and your passengers may even forget that you are cruising around in a pickup truck; it's that comfortable and refined!

Safety Features and Technology

As the all- Honda Ridgeline is heavily based on the 2016 Honda Pilot, a 2016 IIHS Top Safety Pick, the Ridgeline is in good company when it comes to safety features. The all-new Ridgeline comes standard with Honda's Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Guidelines, which provides drivers with a better view of what is behind, thanks to its three different angles: normal, top-down, and wide. Ridgeline trucks can also be outfitted with the Honda Sensing system, which includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, lane-departure prevention, and automated emergency braking. The new Tacoma can only be had with a single-view backup camera, and is lacking many of Toyota's more advanced safety and driver assist technologies.

If you live near the cities of Phoenix, Gilbert, Chandler, and Scottsdale, then visit Honda of Superstition Springs of Mesa, AZ to explore the all- Honda Ridgeline further.

*19 city/26 highway/22 combined mpg rating for 2WD models. 18 city/25 highway/21 combined mpg rating for AWD models. Use for comparison purposes only. Based on 2017 EPA mileage ratings. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.