Starting at
Starting at
181-308 | Horsepower (hp) | 280 |
191-369 | Torque (lb-ft) | 262 |
7,700 | Max Towing (lbs) | 5,000 |
Although full-size trucks like the Chevy Silverado get a lot of attention, such a large vehicle is not always the right option for everyone. That is when a midsize pickup can be the perfect choice, providing you with the capability and performance of a truck without taking over your life. Choosing the right midsize model is not always easy, however, so it helps to take a look at one or two at a time to see how they compare and figure out which one best meets your needs. When considering the 2022 Chevy Colorado vs 2022 Honda Ridgeline, for example, we can see that while the Honda model has some fine features, the Colorado is simply superior.
For starters, the Honda Ridgeline has only a single engine, while there are three different engines you can choose from for the Chevy Colorado. In fairness, the Ridgeline’s engine is pretty good, so at least Honda is clearly trying, but it cannot keep up with the options that Chevy gives you. In particular, the Colorado’s available 3.6L V6 engine is far more powerful than what Honda has to offer – plus, there is a turbo diesel engine available for the Chevy truck that you cannot find on the Ridgeline. The standard engine on the Colorado also gives you better fuel economy than the Honda engine offers, while the diesel delivers unbeatable efficiency.
Not only does the Honda Ridgeline only have one engine available, but it also has just a single configuration for the cab size and bed length. With the Chevy Colorado, there are two different cab sizes and two bed lengths available, so you get a lot more freedom to put together exactly the truck you want. If you are interested in going off-road, then the Colorado is also a superior option as it features an available Trail Boss package that includes a 1-inch factory lift and impressive skid plates. The Ridgeline really falls short in terms of off-road potential, especially if you look at the legendary Chevy Colorado ZR2 off-road trim, which has a 2-inch lifted suspension, wider front and rear tracks, and exclusive Multimatic DSSV damper technology.
When you look at a truck – even a midsize model – the engine is probably the single most important thing to consider. A great sound system, spacious interior, and impressive off-road features are all meaningless if you are stuck with an engine that makes driving your pickup a chore or that lacks the power to actually handle what you need it to do. While the Honda Ridgeline has a decent engine, there is only one available, but the Chevy Colorado gives you three excellent powertrains to choose from.
Since the Ridgeline just has one option, we will start with that for simplicity’s sake. The engine in the Honda truck is a 3.5L V6 that delivers 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, which ensures a solid overall driving experience. Although we wish Honda would offer at least one other engine to choose from, we admit that we are happy they at least chose a pretty good one for the only engine they offer. We should also mention that all-wheel drive is standard on every model, which is nice, though it seems a bit unnecessary to make it the only option.
With the 2022 Chevy Colorado, on the other hand, you get a lot of options, so you can put together the perfect truck with everything you need. The Colorado starts off with a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that provides you with 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. That is a bit less powerful than the engine in the Honda Ridgeline, which is worth keeping in mind – though this is still a great place to start. And if you want more power, then Chevy has you covered.
The Colorado’s available 3.6L V6 engine delivers 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, making it significantly more powerful than the engine in the Ridgeline. Since the Colorado starts at a much lower price, you can choose this engine and still save money compared to the Honda model. If you prefer a diesel engine, then there is a 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel available for the Colorado, which gives you 181 hp and a beastly 369 lb-ft of torque. While this might be a bit less horsepower than the other options, all of that torque makes it a fantastic choice for towing and getting other work done.
Whether you are looking for a truck to use for work, play, or both, you want to choose a model that has the kind of muscle and features you need. We firmly believe in the importance of flexibility to put together the right truck that you can enjoy for many years to come. While the Ridgeline has some impressive features, it ultimately falls short of the kind of capability and flexibility the Chevy Colorado offers.
The single engine offered on the Honda Ridgeline is fine, but it only allows for up to 5,000 lbs of towing capacity. These may be midsize trucks, but compared to a lot of other options out there, including the Colorado, this falls short. Even worse, however, there is just a single configuration offered for the Ridgeline – you cannot choose from different bed or cab sizes. Fortunately, the cab is a pretty spacious option, but the lack of choice is unfortunate.
By comparison, the numerous engines for the 2022 Chevy Colorado provide you with not only more freedom but also more power. When properly equipped, the Colorado has up to 7,000 lbs of towing capacity with a gas engine or up to 7,700 lbs of towing with the available diesel engine. You can choose either an extended cab or a crew cab, depending on the space you need inside, and there is a short box and a long box available – the long box is a full 10 inches longer than the Ridgeline’s bed. The freedom to get what you want plus superior options overall makes the Colorado a better choice for the majority of truck owners.
If you like to go off-road and hit the trail on the weekend, then a midsize truck is one of the best options around. A great off-road midsize pickup provides the perfect combination of power, capability, and maneuverability, while the smaller size can make it a lot easier to navigate some trails compared to a full-size truck. While the Ridgeline has a few options that let it handle light off-roading, the Colorado simply gives you more.
The lack of an off-road-focused trim is probably the biggest weakness of the Honda Ridgeline when it comes to its trail capability. Every Ridgeline model comes with all-wheel drive, which includes three modes designed to help with tackling snow, sand, and mud. Combined with 18-inch tires, that does allow for some decent trail performance, but it lacks much beyond that.
By comparison, the 2022 Chevy Colorado gives you some of the best trail features on any midsize truck out there. For starters, there is the Trail Boss package that is available on the LT and Z71 trims, which includes a 1-inch suspension-leveling lift, front and mid-vehicle skid plates, and elimination of the front air dam for improved performance in rough trail conditions. This means you can pick a Colorado model for general, daily use but still have some great features for going off-road every now and again.
If you are more serious about hitting the trail, then there is the ZR2 trim for the Colorado, which takes trail performance to the next level. The ZR2 includes a 2-inch factory-lifted suspension, plus a 3.5-inch wider front and rear tracks than other Colorado models for improved stability in uneven conditions. You get front and rear electronic locking differentials on the ZR2, along with Multimatic DSSV dampers that allow this truck to dominate the trail. Combine all of that with an Autotrac 2-speed transfer case, transfer case shield, and Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac off-road tires with aggressive tread, and you have yourself an unbeatable off-road machine.