For years, midsize pickups have pretty much followed the same playbook—body-on-frame builds, off-road toughness, and a reputation for lasting forever. At the center of that world is the Toyota Tacoma, a truck known for durability and strong resale value. But as buyer needs shift, that old formula doesn’t feel quite as untouchable as it used to.
These days, most truck owners aren’t hardcore off-roaders or jobsite regulars. They’re using pickups as daily drivers, family haulers, and weekend runabouts, which puts comfort, efficiency, and tech right up there with towing and trail ability.
That’s where a different kind of pickup starts to make sense. Instead of leaning on tradition, it focuses on real-world usability with a refined V-6, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and a unibody setup that rethinks what “capable” actually looks like in 2026.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Honda and other authoritative sources, including MotorTrend and TopSpeed.
This Is the Only Pickup Truck Available With a Manual Transmission
The only pickup truck still offered with a manual transmission combines utility and driver engagement for enthusiasts. Discover its unique features!
The midsize truck everyone knows—and why it’s starting to show its limits
Long trusted for toughness, but less aligned with how most people actually use their trucks today
The 2026 Toyota Tacoma is still the reference point for traditional midsize trucks, but its underlying design is starting to feel a bit dated when you look at it closely. It sticks with a body-on-frame setup, a solid rear axle, and leaf springs out back.
That’s great for durability and heavy-duty work, but it comes at the cost of ride comfort and handling precision. With more unsprung mass in play, it can feel a bit choppy and unsettled over rough roads, especially when it’s not loaded.
On the powertrain side, Toyota has modernized things with turbocharged four-cylinder engines producing up to 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, with hybrid versions going up to around 326 horsepower. While the numbers look strong on paper, real-world drivability can feel less smooth due to turbo lag and transmission tuning.
The Tacoma also sticks with a part-time four-wheel-drive system, which really underlines its off-road-first mindset. It needs driver input to engage and normally runs in rear-wheel drive on dry roads, which means it isn’t always optimizing traction for everyday conditions.
Fuel economy is another area where the traditional setup shows its limits, with body-on-frame construction and curb weights often over 4,400 pounds holding efficiency back. It can still tow up to 6,500 pounds, but doing so usually comes with trade-offs in ride comfort and stability during normal driving.
At the end of the day, the Tacoma still shines when things get rough and demanding. The problem is that most modern truck buyers spend far more time in everyday conditions than extreme ones.
Even Toyota fans can’t deny the Ford F-150 is unbeatable
As America’s top pickup, the Ford F-150 sets the standard—and it’s time everyone takes notice.
Why the Honda Ridgeline quietly does what most truck buyers actually need
A more practical take on pickup ownership that favors everyday use over extremes
The Honda Ridgeline goes in a completely different direction, starting with a powertrain that prioritizes smoothness and predictability over big headline figures. Its 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6 makes 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, and it delivers that power in a steady, linear way.
With no turbocharger in the mix, throttle response feels immediate and easy to control, which makes it especially relaxed to drive in both city traffic and on the highway. It’s the kind of setup that feels effortless rather than dramatic.
That engine is matched to a 9-speed automatic with closely spaced ratios, helping keep everything in the sweet spot. Shifts are smooth and well-timed, which fits the Ridgeline’s overall focus on comfort and ease of use.
A key technical advantage is Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system in the Honda Ridgeline. Unlike traditional part-time setups, it runs all the time and can send up to 70 percent of available torque to the rear axle. From there, it can even route all of that rear torque to a single wheel when needed, effectively acting like torque vectoring to improve traction and stability.
That level of control helps the Ridgeline stay composed in wet or slippery conditions while also sharpening its feel on dry roads. The system works entirely in the background, needs no driver input, and isn’t limited to off-road surfaces.
In terms of capability, it offers up to 5,000 pounds of towing and around 1,580 pounds of payload. While that doesn’t match ladder-frame rivals, it’s still more than enough for most everyday needs, especially when paired with its lighter construction. Fuel economy also benefits, coming in at roughly 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway thanks to its efficiency-focused design.
The Japanese Mid-Size Pickup That’s Way Better Than Expected
Despite being overlooked, this pickup is more comfortable and practical than most of its rivals.
Unibody engineering that changes how it feels on the road
A different approach to pickup construction that prioritizes comfort, control, and everyday drivability
The Ridgeline’s unibody construction is a major reason it drives so differently from traditional pickups. By integrating the body and frame into a single structure, the Ridgeline gains extra torsional rigidity, making the chassis feel tighter and more controlled.
That added stiffness allows for more precise suspension tuning and improved overall stability. It also reduces flex under load, which helps the truck feel more composed in everyday driving.
The suspension setup takes things further by using a fully independent rear design instead of a solid axle. This multi-link setup lets each wheel react independently to bumps and road imperfections, improving comfort and road contact.
It also reduces unsprung mass, which helps the ride feel smoother and more settled. The result is better grip and a more refined driving experience overall.
These engineering choices translate into clear real-world benefits. The Ridgeline absorbs bumps with ease, stays composed through corners, and offers a level of steering precision that’s rare in the pickup segment.
Its lower center of gravity improves stability, while better weight distribution gives it a more balanced, planted feel. It just feels more settled and confident in everyday driving.
Noise, vibration, and harshness are also greatly reduced thanks to the integrated structure and refined suspension tuning. At highway speeds, the cabin stays quiet and relaxed, making long-distance travel far more comfortable than in traditional trucks.
The trade-off is that unibody construction limits maximum towing capacity and extreme off-road performance compared to ladder-frame rivals. But for most daily driving needs, it delivers exactly where it matters most.
How the 2026 Honda Passport quietly beats more expensive rivals
The 2026 Honda Passport brings 285 horsepower, upgraded AWD, and rugged looks to take on off-road rivals like the Bronco and Land Cruiser.
Smart features that make old-school pickups feel outdated
Practical tech and usability upgrades that focus on everyday convenience rather than rugged tradition
The Ridgeline’s innovation goes beyond its drivetrain and chassis, with features focused on everyday usability. One of the standout details is the dual-action tailgate, which can open downward or swing out to the side.
This makes loading and unloading easier in tight spaces and removes the need to reach over a full tailgate. It just makes day-to-day use more convenient.
Another clever feature is the in-bed trunk, offering about 7.3 cubic feet of hidden, lockable storage under the bed floor. It’s weatherproof, and the built-in drain plug lets it double as a cooler when needed.
The truck bed is made from a durable composite material that resists corrosion and removes the need for a separate bed liner. Its flat floor design also makes it easier to load larger items and improves overall usability.
Inside the cabin, the Ridgeline features a modern infotainment system with smartphone integration, along with a full suite of driver-assistance tech. This includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, collision mitigation braking, and road departure mitigation for added safety and convenience.
The all-wheel-drive system also includes selectable drive modes for conditions like snow, mud, and sand. These adjust throttle response, shifting behavior, and torque distribution to match the terrain without needing complex driver input.
Even the braking system is tuned for stability and control, using four-wheel disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. It helps deliver consistent, predictable stopping performance in a wide range of conditions.
This Small American SUV is More Reliable Than the Toyota RAV4
If reliability is what you’re after, this SUV is rated higher than its rivals.
The do-it-all truck that changes what capability really means
A practical, comfort-first approach that focuses on everyday usefulness over extremes
When you look at it from a technical angle, the Ridgeline’s idea of capability starts to make a lot of sense. Its naturally aspirated V-6, advanced all-wheel-drive system, and independent suspension all come together to make it especially good in everyday driving conditions.
The result is a driving experience that feels smooth, stable, and predictable—qualities that often get overlooked in favor of extreme performance numbers. At the same time, it still offers real-world usefulness, with up to 5,000 pounds of towing and more than 1,500 pounds of payload capacity.
That means it can handle everything from hauling gear to towing small trailers without breaking a sweat. The composite bed and clever storage solutions only add to its everyday practicality.
What really sets the Ridgeline apart is how all of its strengths come together in one balanced package. Instead of leaning too heavily on one area, it delivers a well-rounded experience that actually matches how most people use a pickup day to day.
In a segment long shaped by tradition, it represents a clear shift in thinking. Capability here isn’t just about max towing or extreme off-road numbers, but about how well the truck fits into everyday life—and in that sense, it does put the Tacoma under real pressure.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
