2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Ford Ranger vs. Toyota Tacoma: Midsize Pickup Truck Battle

The midsize truck segment is fiercely competitive, with the 2026 Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma, and Ford Ranger all vying for top position. This guide explores their towing, payload, fuel economy, safety, and ownership costs to help you decide.

Power, Performance, and Fuel Economy Showdown

Ridgeline's 3.5-liter V-6 (280 hp, 262 lb-ft) pairs with a smooth 9-speed automatic and standard torque-vectoring AWD, delivering a 0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds. This is quicker than Tacoma's turbo 2.4-liter four-cylinder (278 hp, which manages a 7.0 second 60-mph time.

Ford Ranger's turbocharged engines include a 2.3-liter EcoBoost I4 (270 hp, 310 lb-ft) and 2.7-liter V-6 (315 hp, 400 lb-ft), offering the highest torque, but a 6.2 seconds 0-60 mph time. Real-world efficiency favors the Ranger at 19-21 mpg city and 23-26 mpg highway (vs. 21 mpg city and 26 mpg highway for Tacoma and 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway for Ridgeline).

• Ridgeline: 280 hp, 262 lb-ft, 0-60 in 6.0 seconds, 18/24 mpg
• Tacoma: 278 hp, 0-60 in 7.0 seconds, 21/26 mpg
• Ranger: Up to 315 hp, 400 lb-ft, 0-60 in 6.2 seconds, 19-21/23-26 mpg

Towing and Hauling Capacity Reality Check

Ridgeline tows 5,000 pounds with a payload around 1,583 pounds, ideal for most recreational and light commercial tasks. Tacoma offers 6,500 pounds with a 1,705-pound payload, while Ranger leads with up to 7,500 pounds and 1,788 pounds payload respectively.

While Ridgeline's unibody design is more limited than traditional body-on-frame rivals, it offers car-like comfort.

• Ridgeline: 5,000 lbs towing, 1,583 lbs payload
• Tacoma: 6,500 lbs towing, 1,705 lbs payload
• Ranger: 7,500 lbs towing, 1,788 lbs payload

Truck Bed Utility and Innovative Features

Ridgeline's 64-inch long by 50-inch wide bed easily carries 4'x8' plywood sheets flat, which is better than the Tacoma's narrower bed. Its lockable, drainable 7.3 cubic feet in-bed trunk offers secure storage and cooler functionality that its rivals don't match.

The dual-action tailgate opening sideways or downward makes it easy to load and unload. Ranger has a 5-inch bed yielding 43.5 cubic feet, but lacks these innovative storage features.

• Ridgeline features unique 7.3 cubic-foot lockable in-bed trunk
• Dual-action tailgate opens sideways or downward
• 64-inch bed accommodates 4'x8' sheets flat

Interior Comfort and Daily Driving Experience

Ridgeline's SUV-like cabin provides the most rear legroom at 36.7 inches, more spacious than Tacoma's 33.7 inches and Ranger's 34.5 inches. Ridgeline comes with heated leather seats, tri-zone climate control, and a modern infotainment system standard, which is slightly better equipped than Tacoma's utilitarian layout and Ranger's truck-focused interior.

• 36.7 inches rear legroom, most spacious in class
• Standard heated leather seats and tri-zone climate control
• SUV-like refinement for daily driving comfort

Safety Technology and Crash Test Performance

Honda Sensing is standard on Ridgeline, including standard adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and blind spot monitoring, which is more extensive than other models. This supports the Honda's 5-star NHTSA rating overall.

Tacoma and Ranger scored 4 stars overall, with some features requiring pricey packages to match Ridgeline's standard suite.

• Honda Sensing safety suite standard on all trims
• 5-star NHTSA overall safety rating
• More comprehensive standard safety than competitors

Off-Road Capability and All-Weather Performance

Ridgeline's standard torque-vectoring AWD excels in snow and light off-road conditions with 7.6 inches ground clearance, while Tacoma TRD offers superior 9.4 inches clearance and off-road hardware for rock crawling.

Ranger provides 9.3 inches and configurable terrain modes to balance on-road comfort with off-road capability.

• Ridgeline: 7.6 inches clearance, torque-vectoring AWD
• Tacoma TRD: 9.4 inches clearance, dedicated off-road hardware
• Ranger: 9.3 inches clearance, configurable terrain modes

Real-World Ownership and Value Verdict

Ridgeline scores higher in reliability (84/100) vs Tacoma (79/100), so owners can expect fewer maintenance headaches. However, Tacoma leads in resale value with 72% residual value over five years, whereas Ranger's is 67.3% and Ridgeline's is 63.2%.

Ridgeline's car-like ride reduces wear on tires and brakes for more value in comfort-focused ownership.

• Ridgeline reliability: 84/100 (J.D. Power)
• Five-year residual values: Tacoma 72%, Ranger 67.3%, Ridgeline 63.2%
• Lower maintenance costs due to unibody construction

Test Drive Today

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is ideal for buyers who want comfort, safety, and innovative daily utility and moderate hauling. Want to experience it for yourself? Visit Dick Brooks Honda of Greer to schedule a test drive today.