Honda Ridgeline vs Toyota Tacoma
Midsize pickups · head to head, 2010–2026
The Honda Ridgeline and Toyota Tacoma were both sold for 17 model years (2010–2026). Among the Ridgeline's own years, its best bet is 2023; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the Tacoma's own years, its best bet is 2023; years to avoid: 2024–2025; the newest year rated a good buy is 2023.
Honda Ridgeline
Pickup · 2010–2026
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
Toyota Tacoma
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2023
- Avoid 2024–2025
- Be careful 2012, 2016, 2018–2019
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Ridgeline year says nothing about whether it beats a Tacoma. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Honda Ridgeline | Toyota Tacoma | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly engine and collision avoidance | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly structure and power train | Side by side |
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly power train and brakes | Side by side |
| 2023 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.8× usual, mostly fuel system and brakes | Side by side |
| 2018 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly brakes and fuel system | Side by side |
| 2017 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2016 | Not rated | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2015 | Not rated | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | Side by side |
| 2014 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2013 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2012 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly engine and fuel system | Side by side |
| 2011 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2026 Honda Ridgeline | 2026 Toyota Tacoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | TOO NEW | Not rated |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | — | $32,245 to $64,450 base price by trim, 8 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 3.5L 6-cyl, 280 hp | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo, 228–278 hp 2.4L 4-cyl turbo hybrid, 228–278 hp manual available |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 20–21 mpg | 20–23 mpg |
| Seats | — | 2–5 |
| Third row | — | No |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| Max towing | — | 3,500–6,500 lb |
| Bed length | — | 60.3–73.5 in |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | 4 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 0 · 8 | 0 · 0 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Ridgeline Sport first listed | Ridgeline Black Edition Two-Tone last listed | Tacoma SR lowest price, $32,245 | Tacoma TRD Pro highest price, $64,450 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | Varies | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | — | Standard |
| Heated front seats | No | Standard | — | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | No | Standard | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | No | Standard | — | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | No | No | — | Standard |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | No | No | — | — |
| Remote start | Standard | Standard | Varies | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (Ridgeline, Tacoma).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Honda Ridgeline
13 manufacturer programs on file: 13 extended coverage, 0 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-11 element and 2010-14 Ridgeline (Expires September30, 2028) (19-002-1, 2010–2014 models)
- Extended coverage American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only. (A18-048, 2010–2014 models)
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. (ONL6T603102023-4, 2020–2023 models)
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension - Warranty Extension reimbursement form for engine idle stop repairs made before the warranty extension notice date. (ONL6T603102023-2, 2020–2023 models)
Toyota Tacoma
27 manufacturer programs on file: 15 extended coverage, 12 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above. (23TE08, 2016–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Toyota has received a number of reports regarding vehicle frame corrosion perforation on certain 2011-2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to vehicle frame corrosion perforation. (Z1, 2011–2017 models)
- Extended coverage Toyota has received reports regarding vehicle frame corrosion perforation on certain 2011-2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to vehicle frame corrosion perforation. (2011–2017 models)
- Extended coverage On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with… (23TE04, 2017–2020 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2010–2011, 2013–2014, 2017, 2020–2023. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2025: the Ridgeline is rated good buy (serious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly engine and collision avoidance), while the Tacoma is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly structure and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2024: the Ridgeline is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.6× usual), while the Tacoma is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly power train and brakes). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Tacoma 2024–2025.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Ridgeline 2025; Tacoma 2023.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2026: Tacoma at 23 mpg (Ridgeline: 21), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.