2023 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2024 Honda Ridgeline

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss was designed to impress with its rugged off-road appearance. It featured a factory suspension lift, box-flared fenders with charcoal grey trim, and a deeply sculpted hood, all contributing to its popular blacked-out look. The styling was well-balanced, with expressive detailing that avoided excess. Inside, the Colorado's design echoed elements from the Camaro, with dashboard toggle switches and round outboard air vents. However, the base Work Truck (WT) and Trail Boss trims had a grey front fascia and a cheap interior that detracted from the overall design. The Trail Boss did include a purposeful front skid plate, but the interior lacked colour contrast, relying on varying grain and gloss levels of plastic. Other trims, like the LT, Z71, and ZR2, offered more appealing interiors and body colour paint accents.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Ridgeline, while never known for its looks, received styling updates that gave it more presence. The second-generation model, resembling a Pilot SUV, was enhanced with a blunt nose, tall hood, and new tailgate lettering for 2024. The TrailSport trim added all-terrain tires for a touch of attitude. Inside, a new centre console design with a wide armrest and large storage bin improved the interior's pickup feel. The Ridgeline also featured a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with numerous improvements. In Canada, the Ridgeline was available in Sport, TrailSport, and Black Edition trims, all equipped with a 280-horsepower V6 engine and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. Prices ranged from $49,126 to $56,126, with the TrailSport trim tested at $56,524.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado was powered by a turbocharged 2.7-litre four-cylinder engine. In the WT and LT trims, it produced 237 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The Trail Boss and Z71 trims offered 310 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, while the ZR2 trim had a high-output version with 430 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, and the Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 featured a two-speed transfer case for enhanced off-road capability. The Trail Boss had a 5-cm suspension lift, while the ZR2 boasted a 7.6-cm lift and exclusive Multimatic DSSV dampers. The Colorado offered up to five driving modes, including a Baja mode exclusive to the ZR2. The Trail Boss excelled off-road, with its all-terrain tires and Off-Road mode contributing to its performance. On pavement, the Colorado was quiet and handled well, though its fuel economy was disappointing, averaging 13.8 L/100 km.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and Honda's i-VTM4 AWD system. The Ridgeline's towing capacity was 2,268 kg, and its payload capacity was competitive at 687 kg. Off-road, the Ridgeline's shallow approach, breakover, and departure angles limited its capability, with a maximum ground clearance of 19.4 cm. On-road, the Ridgeline excelled with a smooth powertrain, quick acceleration, and responsive handling. The TrailSport's off-road suspension was firmer on pavement, and the all-terrain tires emitted a faint whir. The automatic transmission had a tendency to roll when parked, requiring careful use of the parking brake. Fuel economy averaged 14.5 L/100 km, higher than the official rating of 11.6 L/100 km.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss offered comfortable seating for four, with the option to squeeze a fifth passenger in the back. The standard cloth upholstery attracted pet hair, and the eight-way power driver's seat provided a proper driving position. The back seat offered just enough headroom for six-footers, with snug legroom offset by softly padded front seatbacks. The Trail Boss featured a manually adjustable air conditioning system that cooled the cab quickly. Storage space was limited, with small door panel trays and a deep but narrow centre armrest compartment. The cargo bed measured 1,186 litres, with an EZ-Lift and Lower tailgate and a StowFlex storage panel.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline prioritized comfort and practicality. It was easy to enter and exit, with supportive cushions and ample leg support for five passengers. The TrailSport trim featured perforated leather upholstery, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, and the front passenger seat was well-positioned. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed adequate legroom and a triple-zone climate control system. The Ridgeline offered numerous storage options, including a flip-up rear seat cushion for in-cab cargo space. The 960-litre cargo bed included a weatherproof and locking trunk with 206 litres of space, perfect for tailgate parties or wet gear.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado came equipped with digital instrumentation and an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in technology. The system supported Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM, OnStar, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Trail Boss's interior, though basic, featured refined digital screens. The infotainment system offered off-roading data and trailer-towing technology, including high-definition cameras for easier hitching.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a faster processor and updated graphics. Standard equipment included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. The Ridgeline Sport benefited from these upgrades, with a 7-inch digital display added to the instrumentation. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a responsive interface and capable voice recognition.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado offered a comprehensive list of safety features, including OnStar, a Teen Driver system, and Chevy Safety Assist. The standard ADAS included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. However, the forward-collision warning system was prone to false alerts, requiring adjustment to the gap setting.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline Sport added a standard blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Honda Sensing suite included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. The ADAS performed adequately, though the Road Departure Mitigation system occasionally braked unnecessarily. The Ridgeline received an Acceptable rating in the IIHS small overlap frontal-impact test and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.