The Ridgeline is what happens when Honda builds a truck for people who hate driving trucks, unibody construction means it rides like a Pilot, the cabin stays quiet, and owners routinely sail past 100k miles without drama. Fuel economy lands at 16-21 MPG, though, which stings for a Honda, and the Ford Maverick undercuts it by thousands while doing most of the same light-duty work; first-gen models also risk expensive timing belt failures on an interference engine, so stick with 2017 or newer. Buy if you want a pickup that won't punish your commute or your back, hauls weekend projects without fuss, and values refinement over towing capacity; walk if you need serious off-road chops, tow above 5,000 pounds regularly, or want maximum value for occasional truck tasks.
You're buying Toyota's reputation tax with the current Tacoma, and whether that's worth it depends entirely on the generation. The 1996-2023 trucks earned their cult status honestly, owners routinely clock 300k, 500k, even 988k miles on original engines with nothing but oil changes, and resale stays absurdly strong even after a decade of use. The 2024 redesign modernized everything (better ride, nicer interior, hybrid option) but lost the value plot: $65k for a TRD Pro when a Ranger Raptor costs $10k less and tows more. If you're shopping used and can find a rust-free 2016-2023, you're buying a truck that'll outlive your mortgage. If you're paying new-truck money in 2025, you're funding nostalgia, not current value.