There’s no getting around it. The Honda Ridgeline isn’t like other pickups. It has a unibody chassis rather than a body that’s been bolted to a separate frame. It’s also not available with a diesel engine, doesn’t offer the best off-road capabilities, and, for a pickup, can’t tow all that much. It’s also relatively expensive, considering. Fortunately, there are plenty of Honda Ridgeline alternatives worth your attention.

The Toyota Tacoma is a cheaper alternative to the Honda Ridgeline

Pickups are expensive. But the Honda Ridgeline? It’s costly. In fact, this year’s model boasts a base price of $36,490. That’s definitely not chump change. Fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives to the Honda Ridgeline. Take, for example, the Toyota Tacoma. This year’s model starts at $26,250 and is available in several more affordable trim levels.

The Tacoma is more than a cheaper alternative to the Honda Ridgeline too. So if the price of your next truck doesn’t make any difference to you? Then consider this – the Toyota Tacoma can tow significantly more than the Ridgeline. While the Toyota Tacoma can tow a maximum of 6,800-pounds when properly equipped, the Honda Ridgeline can only tow up to 5,000-pounds. 

Choose the Ford Ranger for an alternative that can tow more than the Honda Ridgeline

The Toyota Tacoma isn’t the only pickup truck that can tow significantly more than the Honda Ridgeline. The Ford Ranger is also able to manage a pretty decent load. In fact, when equipped with the optional tow package, you can expect this year’s Ranger to tow up to 7,500-pounds. According to Car and Driver, when towing, the Ford Ranger’s “power delivery remains smooth and consistent” too.

Better towing capabilities aren’t the only reason to consider the Ford Ranger as an alternative to the Honda Ridgeline either. Much like the Toyota Tacoma, the Ford Ranger is significantly cheaper than this year’s Honda Ridgeline. While the Ridgeline will have you spending upwards of $36,000 on a base model, a base model Ranger will only cost you $24,820. 

The Jeep Gladiator is an off-road-ready alternative to this year’s Honda Ridgeline

If it’s an off-road capable pickup that you’re after, you’re going to want to avoid the Honda Ridgeline altogether. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, this year’s model “isn’t designed for hard-core off-roading such as boulder climbing,” so you shouldn’t really expect it to fare all that well on the trails. Fortunately, the Jeep Gladiator makes for the ideal off-road-ready alternative to this year’s Honda Ridgeline. After all, it is a Jeep.

The Jeep Gladiator doesn’t just have the edge when it comes to off-road capabilities. Unlike the Honda Ridgeline, you can also have this year’s Gladiator with a diesel engine under the hood. Its available 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine boasts up to 260-hp along with a best-in-class torque rating of up to 442 pound-feet. It also offers up a towing capacity of up to 6,500-pounds, which is certainly nothing to scoff at.

Choosing an alternative to the Honda Ridgeline doesn’t have to be difficult

The Honda Ridgeline isn’t for everyone. After all, it can’t tow as much as its competitors and is fairly expensive considering. Fortunately, there are several alternatives to the Honda Ridgeline out there. To find the best fit for you? We recommend taking each of these Honda Ridgeline alternatives out for a test drive.