2021 Honda Ridgeline

Add to that the average exterior looks and stance, most of the target audience preferred the Chevy or Ford trucks instead. For the 2021 model year, Honda has tried to pay heed to the feedback from their customers and has restyled the front and rear end to make it more appealing to the masses. Although it still doesn’t look the part yet, it seems like a step in the right direction. For a starting price of $37,665, the Ridgeline competes against the likes of the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, and the Toyota Tacoma.

Honda offers the Ridgeline with only crew cab body style and an all-wheel-drive drivetrain. Apart from that, the V6 engine and 9-speed automatic transmission are all standards, with no other options available. The 2021 Ridgeline is offered in 4 different trims and comes loaded with features even in the base trim. The RTL trim adds more convenience and safety functions while the RTL-E adds a handful of creature comforts. The Black Edition adds only a couple of additional features with more focus on aggressive exterior styling. 

Which trim should you buy?

Since the Ridgeline is already priced higher than its rivals, it is best to opt for the RTL trim that adds quite a few cabin features and technology and yet manages to keep the prices in check to a certain extent. 

Honda does not have powertrain options on offer with the Ridgeline and hence is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine under its hood which is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission that powers all 4 wheels as standard. There is an AWD drivetrain on offer instead of a 4WD that is offered by rivals. This limits the off-road capabilities of the truck but aids in offering superior fuel efficiency.

The engine is rated to produce 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque which propels the truck for a 0-60 mph timing of over 7 seconds. The maximum payload capacity is rated at just over 1,580 lbs while towing is limited to just 5,000 lbs. The Ridgeline offers crisp powertrain responses which is a major reason for the smooth SUV-like performance of this truck. The truck does not feel underpowered in any way and is very capable as long as it is on the tarmac. 

Both the Chevrolet Colorado and Ford Ranger offer considerably higher towing capabilities and superior acceleration performance at a price much lower than the Ridgeline. The Toyota Tacoma, although is far slower off the line, has a higher tugging power when compared to the Ridgeline while also being marginally cheaper. Only the Honda Ridgeline has an AWD drivetrain as compared to the 4WD offered by all the other three. 

How does the 2021 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab handle?

The ride and handling is the major reason why one would choose a Honda for their midsize pickup truck. Although the truck offers a comfortable car-like ride quality thanks to an excellent chassis design and independent rear suspension, it is more than just a crossover with a bed at the rear. The chassis is well balanced and can easily take on back roads or dirt tracks if needed and does not rattle at all. 

The steering is pretty light and precise as well which aids in quick maneuvers in tight spots. Although the lack of a low-range gearbox and 4WD drivetrain limits serious off-roading, the Ridgeline performs better than others on the washboard dirt roads. The Sand Drive mode works pretty well with soft surfaces and manages to take on rougher terrain better than one would expect with the lower stance of the truck. Probably why Honda markets the Ridgeline as a lifestyle vehicle rather than an outright off-road truck. 

2021 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Braking Performance

The solid performance from the Honda Ridgeline is contradicted by a very average braking performance for the 2021 model year. Although the 60-0 mph braking distance of 125 feet isn’t bad considering the size of the truck, the soft brake pedal feel and the long travel becomes cumbersome in daily driving conditions. Honda offers pretty large sets of 12.6-inch front and 13-inch rear brake rotors which do a decent job of halting the over 4,400 lbs truck in a decent amount of time and distance.

The 2021 Ridgeline manages to outperform Colorado and the Ranger in terms of stopping distance, thanks to the larger brake rotors employed by Honda. That being said, its Japanese counterpart performed extraordinarily well in this regard, taking just 114 feet to stop in a panic braking situation from 60 mph despite the smaller brakes and almost similar heft. 

The lack of a front-wheel-drive drivetrain has definitely affected the efficiency of the truck, but it still manages to do better than 4WD trucks. The EPA has rated the 2021 Ridgeline for 18 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highways, and 21 mpg of combined city and highway driving. The 19.5-gallon fuel tank does a decent job of offering about 400 miles of driving range on a single tank of gas. 

The smaller capacity turbocharged engine under the hood of the Ford Ranger does exceptionally well in this department and is the most frugal of the lot. Its American counterpart though guzzles a lot more fuel with a V6 under its hood. The Toyota Tacoma returns pretty good fuel economy figures and the larger gas tank aids it in offering the longest driving range in this comparison. 

Since Honda managed to almost perfect the cabin of the Ridgeline, there haven’t been many changes made in this regard for this year. The cabin build and materials quality feel very premium and the seats are very comfortable to not only sit but also get into with the low step-in height. New stitching for the seats is seen for the 2021 model year and the visibility on all sides from the driver seat is excellent.

In terms of space, the backseat passengers will be a lot happier and comfortable in the Ridgeline as compared to the other trucks. That being said the legroom at the front is pretty tight but does not feel uncomfortable by any means. The rear doors now open wider while a dual-action tailgate that can open either downwards or to the sidewards, the 8-bed tie-down cleats, truck bed lights, and a 400-watt truck-bed power outlet, all add to the utility of the truck. 

At the front, the Chevy Colorado has the most spacious seats to offer, with abundant legroom and class-leading headroom. It is also pretty spacious at the back. The Ford Ranger has a slightly tighter rear seat but is pretty comfortable at the front. The Toyota Tacoma on the other hand feels cramped at the rear and also has the lowest headroom to offer. 

• 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat w/lumbar support and 2-position memory
• 4-way power-adjustable passenger seat
• Heated Front Bucket Seats
• Leather Seat Trim
• Tilt/Telescoping Heated Leather Steering Wheel
• Voice Activated Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning and Rear HVAC w/Separate Controls
• HomeLink Garage Door Transmitter
•  2 12V DC Power Outlets and 1 120V AC Power Outlet

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Honda’s infotainment systems have never been the best in the market and the experience inside the cabin of the Ridgeline with its 8-inch display is pretty similar as well. The display is bright and clear but lacks quick responsiveness. The inclusion of a physical volume knob this year is a welcome update this year, and the standard smartphone integration, HD and SiriusXM satellite radio, and Honda's satellite navigation with a voice command system adds value to the truck.

Honda also offers an optional truck bed audio system that vibrates the bed panels for outdoor sound, to get the party started. 

• The 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 8-speaker 540-Watt Premium Audio System w/subwoofer
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and HondaLink integration
• Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System w/voice recognition and Honda HD Digital Traffic and Turn-By-Turn Navigation Directions
• HD radio and SiriusXM Satellite radio
• Truck-bed audio and wireless phone charger

The Ridgeline has been plagued with a bad reputation in terms of softer exterior design as compared to the more brutish-looking rivals. Honda has tried to work on this regard for the 2021 model year and now sees a redesigned front fascia. It includes reshaped LED projector headlights and LED fog lights and a thick grille crossbar with an overall squared-off face.

At the rear, the dual-action tailgate and LED taillights are complemented by new dual exhaust outlets and a redesigned rear bumper. The Honda Performance Division (HPD) package adds a bronze finish to the standard 18-inch wheels, a special grille, and black fender flares for a more added appeal to the truck. 

There is hardly anything to differentiate between these trucks in terms of dimensions and weights, as all are pretty close to each other. That being said, the Chevy Colorado offers an imposing design language while the Ford Ranger looks a lot more modern yet aggressive. The Toyota Tacoma looks more like a truck than the Ridgeline and also has the highest ground clearance on offer. 

• Auto Projector Beam LED Daytime Running Auto High-Beam Headlamps
• LED Brakelights
• Dual-action Tailgate w/Swing-Out Rear Cargo Access
• Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Tilt Down and Turn Signal Indicator
• Black Bodyside Cladding and Black Wheel Well Trim
• Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Sunroof w/Sunshade
• 18-inch Exclusive Gloss Black Alloy Wheels

There are no compromises made by Honda in terms of safety and that is evident with the safety test rating of this truck. The NHTSA has rated it with a perfect 5-star overall rating, while the IIHS also rates the Ridgeline very highly for the 2021 model year. There are various safety and driver assistance features on offer with the 2021 Ridgeline, most of which are offered as standard. A highlight of the most common safety features is listed below. 

• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Blind Spot Information System
• Cross Traffic Monitor
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Back-Up Camera
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning

2021 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

Being the most affordable one in this comparison, the Chevrolet Colorado has one of the most complete performances to offer in terms of acceleration, payload, and towing capabilities. That being said, it struggles in the efficiency and cabin quality department with a lack of many modern technologies, where the Ridgeline takes the cake. Therefore, it boils down to the needs of an individual, if refinement, ride quality, and fuel efficiency are at a higher priority than the towing and payload needs, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline feels worth the additional money.

2021 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs Ford Ranger SuperCrew

The most popular truck brand in the world, Ford’s Ranger offers immense performance at a more affordable price when compared to the Ridgeline. It is not only the quickest and most efficient of the lot but also offers the highest towing capacity with the HD Towing package. Add to that the premium cabin with many modern features, and a more spacious cabin, opting for it over the 2021 Honda Ridgeline seems like a no-brainer. 

2021 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab vs Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

The Toyota Tacoma may not be the quickest off the line, but it offers higher payload and towing capabilities against the Ridgeline. It also has a pretty efficient engine while the ride height is one of the best in the business. Although, the double cab of Tacoma isn’t remotely as spacious or premium as that of the Ridgeline crew cab. Therefore, as long as tugging prowess and off-road abilities is not on your priority list, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline should serve you well. 

The Honda Ridgeline is a complete and one of the best packaged midsize trucks for the American market, but its sales do not reflect that. The limited load carrying capacity and softer looks have aerated many buyers away to rival brand showrooms. With the minor redesign for the 2021 model year, Honda has seemed to address that. With a plush ride, premium cabin, and frugal yet powerful engine, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is everything that most American buyers would need from their midsize truck.