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The Honda Ridgeline isn’t the conventional pickup truck. It doesn’t excel at towing or typical truck activities. The Honda Ridgeline shares a platform with the Honda Pilot. Here are three reasons to buy a Honda Ridgeline instead of a Honda Pilot.

The Honda Ridgeline is a Honda Pilot with a truck bed

A gray 2022 Honda Ridgeline is parked in the snow.
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline | Honda

The Honda Ridgeline shares a platform with the Honda Pilot, but it offers more utility than the Pilot, thanks to its truck bed. The Pilot has great cargo space, but it’s nothing compared to the Ridgeline’s truck bed.

The Ridgeline has a spacious cabin, and its truck bed allows drivers to load at least 1,590 pounds of cargo. It can tow 5,000 pounds. The 2022 Honda Ridgeline has a Car and Driver Editor’s Choice award and a 9/10 overall score. In comparison, the Pilot isn’t necessarily a standout model in its vehicle segment.

The midsize pickup may be extremely similar to the Pilot, but its truck bed makes all the difference. Why pay for a Pilot when the Ridgeline offers a similarly smooth ride quality and a truck bed?

The Honda Pilot isn’t the best in its vehicle segment

The 2022 Honda Pilot | Honda

The Honda Pilot is a competitor in its segment, but it certainly isn’t the best in its vehicle segment. The Hyundai Palisade is considered to be the best midsize SUV on the market by many. On the other hand, the Ridgeline leads its segment as the best midsize pickup truck. It tops a list of best midsize trucks for 2022, compiled by Forbes Wheels.

The Ridgeline leads its vehicle segment because it is the most well-rounded midsize truck. The Ridgeline drives like an SUV thanks to its platform and offers the utility of an average pickup truck. It leads its segment because of its refined, comfy cabin, driving dynamics, and decent fuel economy.

The Honda Ridgeline is unique in its vehicle segment

A red 2022 Honda Ridgeline midsize pickup truck is driving off-road.
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline | Honda

The Honda Pilot may be a decent midsize SUV, but it doesn’t offer anything unique to its vehicle segment. The Ridgeline, on the other hand, is an anomaly in its vehicle segment. Its focus on comfort makes it unique. The Ridgeline is one of the few midsize trucks to use a unibody design instead of a body-on-frame design.

The unibody design allows the Ridgeline to have a smoother ride quality and better fuel economy than rivals. Thanks to the platform it shares with the Honda Pilot, the Ridgeline is very different from competitors like the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Jeep Gladiator.

The Ridgeline is one of the best daily drivers in its segment. It isn’t a work truck or off-road truck. The Ridgeline specializes in making your daily commute comfortable.