When it comes to what is termed as mid-size pickups, we often compare two trucks with each other. The Chevy Colorado and the Honda Ridgeline, for the most part, are neck and neck in comparison. Car and Driver put them to the test to see which one was the better of the two.

The Honda Ridgeline was more expensive than the Colorado and it fell short in some key areas that the Chevy excelled in. Despite all that, though, Car and Driver pinned the Honda as the ultimate winner. Not by much mind you, but just enough to be impressive. So, why did they feel the Honda was better? Here, we talk about what areas they felt nudged the Honda Ridgeline to the winning spot in this 2017 comparison.

Honda Ridgeline’s hauling capacity

Despite the limited towing capacity the Honda truck has, it’s a cut above the rest when it comes to hauling cargo in the bed. The Ridgeline has a short bed, but it still has two things going for it. The width is bigger than the Colorado’s and it has the extra truck space under the bed. Car and Driver put both trucks to the test by hauling 43 lbs bags of mulch. Honda fit 24 bags in the bed and the trunk area easily, while the Chevy Colorado could only get 23. It’s one bag difference, but that one bag can make a huge impact in situations like this.

Also, the Honda, with the wider chassis, can haul some materials flat, while the Colorado would have to angle them in the cargo bed. Imagine trying to haul some drywall sheets. The Honda would get more because they would lie flat, while the Colorado would fit less because of having to angle them. You would be better off pulling a trailer to haul those sheets with the Chevy.

Driving and handling

The Colorado has a 3.6-liter V6 engine running 28 hp more than the Ridgeline’s 3.5-liter motor. However, the Ridgeline’s engine allows for a much smoother and more comfortable ride. They build the body chassis of the Honda Ridgeline more like a family SUV, or minivan, so driving and handling is better than the Chevy Colorado that’s built more like a truck.

Fuel economy is also better in the Honda. The version of the Colorado they tested was an all-wheel-drive that got 24 mpg on the highway. The Ridgeline was a little better for the all-wheel-drive model. It got 25 mpg on the highway which is pretty good for the 6-speed automatic transmission it had. Ridgeline’s front-wheel-drive was even better with 26 mpg.

Interior space

The Ridgeline is the winner in the Interior category hands down. The four-door cab is much roomier in both the front and rear seats than the Colorado’s. Long-distance riding is no problem with more than enough leg and knee room for all passengers. The Chevy wasn’t bad, but it couldn’t hold a candle to the Honda.

As far as the interior features were concerned, the Honda offered more bells and whistles to play with than the Colorado. The only drawback on the Ridgeline’s interior dash was the less than useful infotainment system. The Colorado offered plenty of features as well, but you had to pay a lot more to get them.

We suspect the Honda Ridgeline and the Chevy Colorado will get compared with each other for a long time to come. At least as long as they classify both as mid-size pickup trucks, anyway. Only time will tell how long the Ridgeline will stay ahead of the Colorado as the better one of the two.