TRD vs HPD: Ridgeline facelift

"Still not a truck."

- Guys that are six months into their Tacoma lease and have maxed out the GWVR on overpriced accessories so they can prance around in the Alabama Hills twice a year to take pictures for instagram and talk about "building their brand"

 

They know what a real truck is because their last vehicle was a Subaru.

 

I had the use of an Odyssey for like 6 months and while I couldn’t ever bring myself to buy one, after I got over the minivan-ness i liked it—convenient AF. If i was FORCED to have one i’d be ok.

 

This is perfect for my GMa!!! Lol

 

Higher payload than the Tacoma And it comes with a transmission cooler, Just saying...

 

Hardly suffering in any new full size. Suffering to me would be driving around a 160 HP "truck".

 

Ridgeline's are a great, feature packed car with a bed. No big deal, I'd drive one, but it doesn't fit into the way I use vehicles. My daily driver is a VW Golf Sportwagen TDI, 40 mpg, 800 lbs of tools. Is it cool, not really, does it do exactly what I want it to, yes indeed.

 

Its interesting that one of the Tacomas engines was designed for body on frame trucks and SUV's, and the other is repurposed from the Camry and the Sienna.

 

I'm going to be honest here, because why not, but a Ridgeline would do everything I do with my Tacoma, and probably do most if it better. Why don't I have one? Well, I thought about it. But the 6MT, and lets be honest here, styling (IMO the 3rd gen is a damn good looking vehicle), and finally my positive 1st and 2nd gen experiences won out for me.

This new look is an improvement for the Ridgeline IMO, it looks less like a Pilot than before, 3rd gen still looks better to me.

 

If someone is gonna look at this objectively (and most mags do which is why RL always beats the Tacoma), RL is a better vehicle is almost every sense than the Tacoma:
Better engine, better transmission, better Fuel Econ, more space, better ride, better payload, more storage, rides better.

Tacoma looks better, feels more rugged, and has a proper 4x4 system. It also has the continuous name recognition that goes back to the 90s. That will be hard to overcome for any make.

 

I will admit to being biased, but the Hilux still looks better to me:

 

I think the Hilux looks so much like a Ranger...and I don’t really like the looks of either. Rounding off (or sweeping back) the headlight area doesn’t suit a truck imo. I know blocky fronts come with issues, but...truck.

 

The ridgeline is a better vehicle for 75% of the people on this forum I'd wager. If you could somehow erase it from everyone's minds and then put it up here with Toyota badging as the 4th gen Tacoma people wouldn't be able to stop gushing over how much better the ride/NVH/fuel econ/payload is.

The achilles heel is really how expensive it is for the average buyer. You can spend more on a ridgeline than a much more capable fullsize.

 

The Ridgeline drives better, handles better, accelerates better, rides better, has a better sounding audio system, better controls, better seats and rear seat space, AWD for better traction in the rain, and the list goes on and on.

Anyone who hasn’t driven a newer one are probably the same people knocking them. Go test drive one after driving your TACOMA. Can’t think of one thing I like better in my TACOMA. Now when the road ends that’s another story. But would own one of these easily over a TACOMA if I didn’t regularly wheel and take my Taco off the beaten path. They are great for a lot of people and will be buying one for the wife when we decide to get rid of our V6 RAV4.

 

Not sure what your talking about, you have a GM on your profile... I rather have a Ridgeline 1000%

 

When I see loads of contractors/workmen using a Ridgeline as their work vehicle it might become a consideration but until then, nope.
Do see loads of Tacos as real work vehicles.
Have an '07 Pilot, it's been great as has the Honda generator we have had for 30 years. My '76 Honda 550F was a great bike too.

But for us right now, the incoming TRD is replacing a worn out GM 4WD work truck with 225K miles. It was used for work and for fun as will the new Taco.
Another aspect of reliability is getting something that has been out for a few years and the design has had the bugs worked out.
That's a Tacoma. Never buy a first year model vehicle unless you enjoy paying to be a beta tester.

 

This generation of Ridgeline came out in 2017 so I’m sure the “the bugs” have been worked out. Honda just gave it a cosmetic facelift for 2021. Still the same truck.

 

Belive me, my engine is light years better then the 3rd gen, transmission, several hundred magnitudes better.

 

I had the 1st gen ridgeline for about 10 years before it got totaled by an idiot running a red light but it was a fun lil family truck and made use of it hauling trash, dirt, and bricks for house chores. It felt like driving an suv and i liked the storage trunk bed set up. Also neat thing was the tailgate being able to open both ways. I have no regrets of owning one, ppl can hate on it but served me well and was even able to put two 8” Rockford subs under the rear seat with a box i built

 

... and you still on the TW forum?cmon dude get the taco-out of here.