Pickup trucks stand out as incredibly versatile vehicles, proving their worth time and again, especially when friends need assistance with moving. While heavy-duty trucks have their place, the everyday driver often finds that a mid-size pickup offers a more practical blend of utility and maneuverability. In the realm of mid-size trucks, the Honda Ridgeline and Chevrolet Colorado emerge as strong contenders, each with unique strengths. For those prioritizing flexibility and an open bed over sheer towing and payload capacity, a detailed comparison is crucial.
For the majority of drivers who don’t consistently push their trucks to their performance limits, the Honda Ridgeline often presents a more compelling option. It surpasses the Colorado in several key aspects, making it a well-rounded choice, even before considering its anticipated safety ratings. This article delves into a comprehensive truck comparison, highlighting the distinct advantages of the Honda Ridgeline over the Chevrolet Colorado, point by point.
Styling and Design: A Matter of Taste and Practicality
The Honda Ridgeline has evolved its design, shedding its previous unconventional look. It now boasts a more refined and approachable aesthetic, particularly in the front, reminiscent of its SUV sibling, the Pilot. However, from the side profile, the Ridgeline adopts a more traditional and angular truck form, ironically making the Chevrolet Colorado appear somewhat more adventurous in its styling.
Inside, the Ridgeline offers a more user-friendly and car-like cabin experience. The control layout, the high-quality matte plastics, and the generous storage compartments closely mirror those found in the Honda Pilot. A key differentiator is the traditional shift lever in the Ridgeline, contrasting with the Pilot’s toggle switches for transmission control. This interior design philosophy emphasizes comfort and familiarity for drivers accustomed to SUVs or cars, making the transition to a truck seamless.
Interior view of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition’s cockpit, emphasizing its user-friendly controls and spacious layout.
Conversely, the Chevrolet Colorado presents a more globally influenced design, incorporating American truck design elements into its front and rear. While its GMC Canyon counterpart might align more closely with the GMC brand identity, the Colorado is undeniably a handsome pickup. Features like its slim grille, rising shoulder line, and conventional bed shape contribute to its broad appeal, making it visually suitable in diverse environments.
The Colorado’s interior adopts a narrower and more rugged aesthetic compared to the Ridgeline. However, it represents a significant upgrade over older competitors in its class. Hints of GM sedan design are noticeable in the seat design, the center stack arrangement, and subtle metallic trim accents, adding a touch of refinement to its robust cabin. This design direction caters to drivers who prefer a more traditional truck feel, albeit with modern touches.
Interior image of the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Duramax diesel cabin, highlighting its rugged yet refined design elements.
Comfort and Utility: Daily Driving vs. Work-Focused Tasks
The Honda Ridgeline’s SUV heritage extends to its interior comfort and utility. It boasts a wider, more spacious cabin with enhanced flexibility compared to the Colorado. While the front seats could benefit from improved bolstering, the Ridgeline compensates with ample small-item storage in the console and doors. The flip-up rear seats revealing under-seat storage, coupled with a flat rear floor, easily accommodate larger items like boxes or even a bicycle. This configuration prioritizes passenger comfort and versatile storage for everyday needs and weekend adventures.
The Chevrolet Colorado, while a considerable improvement over previous compact truck iterations, is narrower and offers less rear legroom. It can accommodate child car seats or two adults in the back, though the upright rear seatbacks, even in crew-cab models, might compromise long-distance comfort. The Colorado’s interior utility leans towards work-oriented practicality, sacrificing some passenger space for robustness.
Both the Colorado and Ridgeline feature shorter beds, a common trait in crew-cab trucks, regardless of size. However, the Ridgeline distinguishes itself in bed utility through innovative design. While the Colorado can handle longer items with a bed extender and offers various bed accessories, the Ridgeline’s bed is slightly longer with the tailgate up and wider between the wheel wells. Its dual-action tailgate, which swings to the side or folds down, coupled with a lockable in-bed trunk and even an available in-bed audio system, elevates its versatility for lifestyle-oriented users.
In essence, the Colorado is geared towards work-style applications, offering robust bed features and accessories for hauling and job site tasks. The Ridgeline, conversely, is tailored as a lifestyle specialist, emphasizing user-friendly bed features and overall versatility for daily life and recreational pursuits. When you Compare Trucks in terms of lifestyle integration, the Ridgeline takes a clear lead.
Performance and Capability: Balancing Power and Refinement
When comparing trucks in performance, it’s essential to acknowledge the overlap between mid-size pickups and entry-level full-size trucks. The Chevrolet Colorado, particularly, blurs this line, offering comparable or even superior towing and hauling capabilities compared to some base model full-size trucks. However, the Honda Ridgeline distinguishes itself with superior handling and ride quality across the board.
The Ridgeline’s 280-horsepower V-6 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission delivers ample acceleration and a refined driving experience. It’s notably quicker than its previous generation and achieves improved fuel economy, reaching a combined 22 mpg in front-wheel-drive configuration. With a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a payload rating of 1,584 pounds, the Ridgeline holds its own against the Colorado in fundamental truck capabilities.
The Colorado diverges in powertrain options, offering a range to suit different needs. Its base inline-4 engine prioritizes fuel efficiency, while the optional 308-horsepower V-6 provides significant power and a towing capacity of up to 7,000 pounds. The Colorado’s standout engine is the optional turbodiesel inline-4, boasting impressive fuel economy (30 mpg highway) and a towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds. Furthermore, the Colorado asserts itself as a more capable off-road vehicle due to its body-on-frame construction, higher ground clearance, and available off-road hardware.
Honda strategically positions the Ridgeline away from hardcore off-road or heavy-duty work scenarios. It is designed to handle typical truck tasks like carrying mulch or towing a moderate-sized boat. While base models are front-wheel-drive with a lower towing capacity, all-wheel-drive versions offer enhanced traction and torque distribution.
However, the Ridgeline’s suspension system truly sets it apart in the truck segment. Its independent suspension and 18-inch wheels deliver an unparalleled ride quality and handling experience, unmatched by any other truck. While body-on-frame trucks can feel rugged and bumpy on uneven surfaces, the Ridgeline’s unibody construction and independent suspension provide a smooth and comfortable ride, akin to an SUV. The Colorado, while commendable for a body-on-frame truck, cannot match the Ridgeline’s car-like ride and handling refinement.
Safety and Features: Prioritizing Safety and Modern Technology
In safety features, Honda surpasses Chevrolet, and the Ridgeline is anticipated to excel in crash-test ratings as well. While the Colorado has achieved some four-star safety ratings and includes a rearview camera, the Ridgeline shares the safety foundation of the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Honda Pilot. The Ridgeline comes standard with Bluetooth and a rearview camera and offers optional advanced safety technologies like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring, albeit in higher trim levels. When you compare trucks on safety, the Ridgeline is positioned to be a leader.
The Honda Ridgeline, starting around $30,000, includes essential features, while fully equipped models with features like Apple CarPlay, navigation, and leather interiors reach over $43,000. The Chevrolet Colorado offers a more basic entry-level trim at a lower price point, but similarly reaches the $40,000+ range when equipped with off-road packages like the Z71 and features like navigation, OnStar, and 4G LTE connectivity.
The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon excel compared to other body-on-frame mid-size trucks in interior space, bed features, and connectivity. The availability of a diesel engine and off-road packages further enhances their appeal for specific buyer segments. However, the Honda Ridgeline adopts a different approach, prioritizing ride comfort, handling, and lifestyle-oriented utility.
Conclusion: The Ridgeline – A Smarter Choice for Most?
Ultimately, when you compare trucks like the Honda Ridgeline and Chevrolet Colorado, the best choice depends on individual needs and priorities. While the Chevrolet Colorado and its GMC Canyon sibling are commendable mid-size pickups, especially for those needing robust work capabilities or off-road prowess, the Honda Ridgeline stands out as a more refined and versatile option for the majority of drivers.
The Ridgeline delivers a superior ride, better handling, a highly functional bed, and a significant portion of the utility offered by the GM twins, all wrapped in a more comfortable and user-friendly package. For drivers seeking a truck that seamlessly integrates into daily life while offering ample utility for weekend projects and recreational activities, the Honda Ridgeline emerges as the more compelling and well-rounded choice in the mid-size truck segment. Consider your priorities: if daily driving comfort and lifestyle versatility are paramount, the Ridgeline leads the way.
