Toyota Tacoma Vs. Honda Ridgeline Depreciation: Which Loses More Value After 5 Years?

Most of us would never light a $20 bill on fire and watch it burn, yet we're often content to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on items that, after a bit of use, are worth far less than what we paid. Smartphones, jewelry, even inexpensive items like video games all lose value the second after we plunk down our hard-earned cash and walk out the door. Real estate is often a safe bet, helping us build wealth, but our vehicles are another story. According to Carfax, the average vehicle in America loses 12.5% of its value in the first year alone. By year five, it's typically only worth about 66% of what you paid!

Both Honda and Toyota are popular brands that are known for high resale values, but does this hold true for every model? The Toyota Tacoma and the Honda Ridgeline are direct competitors in the midsize pickup truck market. Potential buyers should weigh depreciation just as carefully as price, fuel economy, and cargo room. Both trucks depreciate better than average, but one is the clear winner: the Toyota Tacoma.

After one year of ownership, the Tacoma is still worth more than 85% of the price paid, compared to the Ridgeline's 79.7%. By year five, owners can expect the Tacoma to still be worth 78.4% of what they paid. The Ridgeline is worth far less, having lost almost 30% of its value. The average American keeps a car for about eight years, so let's see how these trucks compare as they get even older.

While your neighbor may have a new car in his driveway every few years, many Americans prefer to pay off their vehicle and drive it for several more years. There are steps you can take to reduce depreciation, but by the sixth year of ownership, the average vehicle is worth just over 47% of its original value. Both the Toyota Tacoma and the Honda Ridgeline outperform the average. By year six, the Tacoma is worth more than 75% of its original value, and the Ridgeline is typically worth about 58%. By the 10th year of ownership, the Tacoma is still averaging more than 65% of its original value, while the Ridgeline has dropped below 43%. Finally, by year 12, when the average vehicle is worth about 28% of the original price paid, Tacoma owners still hold on to 56% of the original value, and Ridgeline owners see 36%.

Potential buyers will, of course, weigh other factors before buying. The 2026 Tacoma has a starting price of $32,545, while the 2026 Ridgeline starts much higher at $40,795. The Honda comes standard with all-wheel drive, compared to the Toyota's rear-wheel drivetrain, and the Ridgeline also has a more powerful standard engine delivering more horsepower and torque. The Tacoma sees a combined 23 mpg compared to the Ridgeline's 21 mpg. The Honda can tow up to 5,000 pounds, while the Toyota can tow up to 3,500 pounds. Both vehicles have standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and are covered by a basic three-year / 36,000-mile warranty.