Initial thoughts on my 2012...comparing to my '07 Ridgeline.

Hi Everyone,

I've had my 2012 double cab for about a month now. This is my first Toyota after years of having Hondas. Civics, CR-Vs and a Ridgeline. I've grown accustom to reliability and dependability of Honda. I hope my Tacoma is as reliable.

Initially I love the truck. It rides well, quiet and functional. The fit and finish is probably on par with my Ridgeline. My driver side door seems to need more force to shut completely that what I'm used to. Could be just my Tacoma or indicative to Toyotas...I don't know. My Ridgline had a 3.5L V6 and I was getting around 15 mpg around town and 20-21 on the highway. So far my Tacoma is getting nearly 18mpg in town and about 21, nearly 22 on the highway. Impressive IMO.

Backseat room in comparison to the Ridge is much less. Storage is certainly less than the Ridge. There are some nice things in the Tacoma I do like better. A pet peeve would be the door handles of the Ridge...like the Tacoma much better. The ride and quietness of the Tacoma is much better than the Ridgeline. Transmission seems better than the Ridgeline. Doesn't shift as harshly as the Ridge in city traffic. I've also noticed that when the Tacoma is in cruse on the highway its not shifting up or down as much as my Ridge. Probably due to better torque.

Yes, the Tacoma is a truck where the Ridge doesn't have the rear differential as a 'truck' or the Tacoma. The Ridge was 'auto 4x4' with FWD as a default. The Tacoma rear wheel drive until 4WD engaged. IMO the Tacoma is better in this regard. In past winters with heavy snow and ice I felt comfortable and secure in the Ridgeline. That vehicle never left me stuck in a ditch or off on the side of the road due to weather conditions. I haven't had the opportunity to experience the Tacoma in such conditions, but I suspect it will be on par if not better in heavy snow or icy conditions.

Some minor things I miss from my Ridgeline. Holding down the unlock on the Ridgeline remote rolled down all four windows. Nice when you're trying to air out the vehicle on a hot day. Rear sliding window on the Ridge was remote controlled. Don't know why Toyota can't do that by default. Loved the in bed trunk storage. You can fit two full-size golf bags, a full cooler and even a full size person there. The storage capacity was awesome. Under-seat storage in the Ridgeline (back seat) was impressive. Speed sensitive sound was a nice feature as well.

Toyota - love the ride and quietness of the vehicle. Automatic transmission seems more refined, smoother shifting. Overall ride and comfort better than the Ridge. Tie down and rails of the Tacoma are fantastic. Wish the storage bins were lockable by default and larger, or more of them. Like the full-size spare on my Tacoma. The Ridge had the 40mph spare.

Radio, head rests are nicer and more functional. I have the stock radio and sound system and have been impressed with it. Others have noted problems or dislikes, but I think its a good system for a factory/XM radio. It does move some air.

Backup camera is much better IMO than either nothing or these backup 'sensors' on other vehicles. With as long as my Tacoma is (double cab long bed) this is a must and a nice amenity.

Love the comfort of the Tacoma seats...they don't move! My Ridgeline seats had a tendency to move when accelerating or stopping quickly.

Edited --- forgot to add that the interior of the Toyota...non-leather is IMO better than the Ridge. Dash finish, door panels are probably on par, but I do like the instrument panel and dash of the Tacoma better. Seats are nicer in the Tacoma and will probably stand up better due to their water repelling treatment. Just more comfortable too.

Bottom line...glad I got into a Tacoma and am looking forward to many years with this vehicle.

12Tac

 

good comparison, welcome to TW.

edit: just noticed you've been around a while, oh well welcome anyway

 

Good read, I was wondering what people thought of the Ridgeline compared to the Yota. For some reason a lot of people put them in the same category ... I guess I see it more as a SUV vs. Truck.

 

Your Tacoma should have speed sensitive sound theough the stereo. It's called ASL. Stands for Automatic Stereo Level. Just go through the settings and you should find it. Mine has it but I hate it

 

Thanks...not bad mouthing Honda or Toyota obviously. I don't think, with the exception (perhaps) of Ford, I don't like the domestic truck manufactures. I have driven Chevy, Dodge and Ford and wouldn't spend the money on any of them. Ford...today...maybe.

12Tac

 

Honda did a good job with the Ridge. Has some nice features, but its not a truck. I don't think it would hold up as well with off roaring. In fact there are places I would not take a Ridgeline because I don't think its transmission and ground clearance would hold up. Everyday snow, light off roading, sure.

12Tac

 

Congrats on your TRUCK. Better looking too. The TRD Offroad rides better than the Ridgeline? This truck rides a lot better than the reviews would have you believe. I read too many negative reviews and I don't agree. It ain't perfect. Good choice and enjoy.

 

I've got the TRD Sport package..yes rides much better than the Ridge. I was told by my dealer that the Toyota would be stiff, some would say uncomfortable. I disagree. Its nice and easy for long trips.

12Tac

 

Congrats on the purchase... nice write up.. first I've seen on here about the Ridgeline, although I never actively searched either.
I came from 9 years of driving Hondas before the Tacoma... I had great luck with the Honda cars. When I decided I wanted a truck, they tried to talk me into the Ridgeline... Personally, I could never get by the looks of it.
I didn't think the guy was going to let me go .. I was getting a bit irritated by the end of it and had to finally tell him I thought it was ugly. That worked.

 

I love the Sport!. I traded my 07 Offroad and I noticed right off the bat how much smoother the sport rode on the test drive. No complaints about the offroad though!

 

Kinda kicking myself for not getting the longbed.

 

How'd you decide the first time?

 

My 1st was an access cab. I'm cool with it now. Got a bed extender.

 

Nice color choice on the Spruce. Esp. with the sport! One of my coworkers has a purple Ridgeline.

 

Very accurate comparison. My neighbor bought a used Ridgeline. The trunk storage is huge. The tailgate could open up/down or could swing out.

Rear seats with plenty of room. I didn't care too much for his leather seats.

 

Nice review.

"The Ridge was 'auto 4x4' with FWD as a default." << That is shocking!

 

We had a Ridgeline a few years back. It was my wife's favorite vehicle. It served us well towing our boat and serving as our family vehicle. The 3.5 did lack torque and I hated how it was constantly shifting on the highway with the cruise set. Storage was awesome, especially the in bed storage. I could fold the back seat up and put my road bike in it without a problem. Electric sliding back glass was nice as well. All that being said, I like my Tacoma better. I actually feel like I'm driving a truck. And the Tacoma kills the Ridgeline in the looks department. I never could get over the design of the bed sides on the Ridgeline.

 

Congrats. Join us in the double cab long bed thread with some pics!

 

Wait, ride quality and quietness is better in the Tacoma? That's very surprising, for all of the Ridgeline's unibody chassis and independent suspension.

 

Nice write up, but comparing apples to oranges. It shares much more inline with a mid-size crossover SUV then an actual truck. I suspect you've wanted a truck all along. It's built on the Acura MDX and Honda Pilot.