2025 Toyota Highlander vs 2026 Honda Ridgeline

$40,320 · Crossover

$40,595 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between the practical, efficient 2025 Toyota Highlander and the versatile, truck-like 2026 Honda Ridgeline can be tough, especially when they start close in price, around $40,320 for the Highlander and $40,595 for the Ridgeline. The Highlander leans heavily on efficiency, boasting a combined 25 MPG versus the Ridgeline's 21 MPG, which translates to about 4 MPG better on the open road. Power delivery is slightly different too; the Highlander offers more torque at 310 lb-ft compared to the Ridgeline’s 262 lb-ft, despite the Ridgeline edging out slightly in horsepower with 280 hp to the Highlander's 265 hp. While the Highlander is smaller at 194.9 inches long, the Ridgeline stretches out to 210.2 inches, giving it a bulkier presence, but the Highlander wins on usable storage with 16 cu ft versus the truck bed's effective 7.3 cu ft of enclosed cargo space.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Toyota Highlander

The Highlander is the clear winner for daily commuting due to its superior combined fuel economy of 25 MPG versus the Ridgeline's 21 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Toyota Highlander

The Highlander offers significantly more enclosed cargo capacity at 16 cubic feet compared to the Ridgeline's 7.3 cubic feet.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Honda Ridgeline

The Ridgeline appeals more to driving enthusiasts with its higher 280 horsepower and standard All-Wheel Drive.

💰 Best Value

2025 Toyota Highlander

The Highlander delivers better fuel efficiency and significantly more internal cargo space for a marginally lower starting MSRP.

Choose the Toyota Highlander if...

Your top priority is minimizing fuel stops, thanks to its 25 MPG combined rating.
You need the maximum possible protected internal storage, offering 16 cubic feet.
You prefer a slightly smaller footprint for easier city navigation, measuring 194.9 inches long.

Choose the Honda Ridgeline if...

You occasionally need an open bed for hauling dirty or tall items, despite its smaller 7.3 cu ft total capacity.
You require standard All-Wheel Drive performance right out of the box.
You prefer the slightly higher output of 280 horsepower paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Toyota Highlander	Honda Ridgeline
Length	194.9"	210.2"
Width	76.0"	78.6"
Height	68.1"	70.8"
Wheelbase	112.2"	125.2"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	—
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓

Engine

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Base Engine Displacement	2.4 L	3.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	V6
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	265 hp @ 6000 rpm	280 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	310 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm	262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
Number of Valves	16	24
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Single overhead cam (SOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Cylinder Deactivation	—	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	9-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
[object Object]	—	✓
[object Object]	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	22/29 MPG	18/24 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	25 MPG	21 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	393.8/519.1 mi.	351.0/468.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.9 gal.	19.5 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	—
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	9.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	7
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	—
Stereo Power	—	215W
Subwoofer Count	—	1
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Toyota	Honda
One-Touch Power Windows	4	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Front Head Room	41.2 in.	40.1 in.
Front Leg Room	42.0 in.	40.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.0 in.	62.0 in.
Front Hip Room	57.2 in.	59.1 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	4-way
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	8-way

Rearseats

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Rear Head Room	39.4 in.	38.8 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.7 in.	36.7 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.7 in.	61.5 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.0 in.	56.6 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	18 in	18 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P235/65R V	245/60R
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Toyota	Honda
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	2 yr./ unlimited mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 25000 mi.	1 yr./ 12000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Toyota Highlander and 2026 Honda Ridgeline.

How much difference will the MPG gap make in running costs?

The 2025 Highlander achieves 25 MPG combined while the 2026 Ridgeline gets 21 MPG combined; this 4 MPG difference means the Highlander will cost noticeably less to operate over a year of typical driving.

Is the Ridgeline's truck bed more useful than the Highlander's cargo area?

Functionally, it depends on your needs; the Highlander offers 16 cubic feet of enclosed, secure space, whereas the Ridgeline has a unique open-bed design with less overall usable volume at 7.3 cubic feet.

Which vehicle is physically larger to park and maneuver?

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is substantially larger, measuring 210.2 inches in length and 78.6 inches wide, compared to the Highlander's 194.9-inch length and 76.0-inch width.

Does the power output translate to better acceleration for everyday driving?

The Ridgeline has slightly more horsepower at 280 hp, but the Highlander delivers significantly more low-end pulling power with 310 lb-ft of torque compared to the Ridgeline's 262 lb-ft.

Are either of these vehicles capable of handling snowy roads?

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline comes standard with All-Wheel Drive, giving it an advantage in slick conditions over the front-wheel-drive configuration of the base 2025 Toyota Highlander.