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One of the most slept-on vehicles in the industry today is the Honda Ridgeline. The Ridgeline received high rankings from multiple sources for the 2021 model year, and the 2022 Ridgeline is getting even better. The Chevrolet Colorado has also been improved and will attempt to dethrone industry giants like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. Which of these two improved compact pickup trucks is better? In a lot of different ways, the 2022 Honda Ridgeline beats the 2022 Chevy Colorado.

How does the 2022 Honda Ridgeline beat the Chevy Colorado?

A silver 2022 honda ridgeline equipped with the HPD package parked outside
2022 Honda Ridgeline with HPD Package | Honda

In a number of different ways, the Ridgeline is better than the Colorado. Its dual-action tailgate, intelligent traction management system, lay-flat truck bed, and lockable in-bed trunk come standard but are unavailable for the Chevy Colorado. Remote engine start is an optional feature that can be added to the Colorado, but also comes standard on every Honda Ridgeline.

The dual-action tailgate allows owners to swing the tailgate horizontally like a door, or open it down like a normal tailgate. This allows for easier loading and unloading, and even easier climbing in or out of the bed. The lay-flat truck bed is big enough in all directions to easily lay materials like plywood or drywall flat inside. Trucks like the Colorado would require these materials to bend over the edge or hang out of the truck completely. The lockable in-bed trunk is unique to the Ridgeline and allows owners to open up the bottom of the bed to store things inside. The Ridgeline has a bed and a standard trunk like any other vehicle type would.

The Ridgeline offers passengers more space

An orange 2021 Chevy Colorado driving on a road
2021 Chevy Colorado | Chevrolet

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline offers 109.7 cubic feet of passenger space, compared to the Chevy Colorado‘s 106.6 cu. ft. Though on paper it doesn’t seem like a big difference, the comfort the extra space provides is astronomical. For compact pickup trucks especially, once multiple passengers are inside the cabin it can get a bit cramped. A few extra feet of space for everyone provides a ton of comfort.

The Ridgeline, according to the interior dimensions provided by Car and Driver, beats the Colorado in nearly every way. The Ridgeline has the advantage in headroom, hip room, and shoulder room for front and rear seats. The Chevy Colorado provides more legroom. Front seat passengers in the Ridgeline will have 40.9 inches of legroom, but in a Colorado, they’d have 45 inches.

The Intelligent Traction Management System

2021 Honda Ridgeline HPD towing two dirt bikes through the forrest
2021 Honda Ridgeline HPD towing toys | Honda

The Chevrolet Colorado doesn’t have much focus on general capability. The Honda Ridgeline’s Intelligent Traction Management System allows it to operate in a few different modes. Drivers can choose from one of Normal, Snow, Sand, and Mud. Each of these allows the user to tackle variations of tough terrain, excellent for those who like taking their truck off-road. A similar feature is not available on the Colorado, and the Ford Ranger only offers it for an additional cost. The Intelligent Traction Management System comes standard on all 2022 Honda Ridgeline models.

There are plenty of ways that the Chevrolet Colorado is a great compact pickup truck. When deciding which vehicle is right for you, keep in mind the many ways Honda Ridgeline beats it. The Ridgeline is an underrated, capable pickup that starts at an excellent price of just $36,890. The Colorado starts much lower at just $25,200, but you’ll be missing out on loads of convenient features. The 2022 Ridgeline is available now, with more exterior paint colors being added this December.

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