Just because the 2025 Honda Ridgeline and 2025 Hyundai SANTA CRUZ are both in the midsize pickup truck segment doesn’t mean they offer the same amount of value. Learn how the former outpaces the latter by reading this comparison brought to you by Pohanka Honda of Fredericksburg! Afterward, visit our dealership near Woodbridge to confirm the Ridgeline’s superiority in person.
Performance
From the get-go, a huge gap is apparent between the standard powertrains of the Honda Ridgeline and the Hyundai SANTA CRUZ. Across all trim levels, the former has a 3.5L V6 engine that revs out up to 280 horsepower1 and 262 lb.-ft. of torque2. Meanwhile, the latter’s included 2.5L 4-cylinder motor can only let loose a meager 191 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque. Another difference is that the Honda comes with a standard Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ AWD system, while the Hyundai pickup offers AWD as an option. Only by picking this available drivetrain can you achieve a 5,000-lb. maximum towing capacity3 with the SANTA CRUZ, while the Ridgeline flexes a 5,000-lb. top trailering rating4 in general. It only makes sense that the Honda’s 1,583-lb. top payload easily trumps the Hyundai’s 1,411-lb. maximum payload. If you’re looking for a truck with impressive hauling power, the choice seems crystal clear!
Utility
Pickup trucks are a popular body style for drivers with a passion for outdoor adventures at Pohick Bay Campground. The 2025 Honda Ridgeline is able to fit in with active lifestyles, as it’s equipped with eight standard heavy-duty tie-down cleats on the truck bed for gear like dirt bikes or an ATV, an in-bed trunk, and a dual-action tailgate for easy access to the cargo area. On the other hand, the 2025 Hyundai SANTA CRUZ is only furnished with standard cargo D-rings that offer less secure stowing. Although it does have standard lockable under-bed storage, its standard multi-functional tailgate does not open from the side, unlike the Ridgeline’s flexible rear gate. Truck bed lights are also standard on the Ridgeline, while the SANTA CRUZ doesn’t come with the feature at all. So, if you go with the latter, you might fumble when unloading items at night.
Interior
You may often be sweaty and tired when you climb aboard the 2025 Ridgeline. Having anticipated this, this model offers a standard tri-zone automatic climate control system from the base trim. The best the SANTA CRUZ can offer is a dual-zone variant only available on higher model grades. Similarly, the former comes included with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, which is an available feature on the latter. Do you need a secure place to store your tools inside your pickup truck? Then this Honda has got you covered with its standard 60/40-split lift-up rear seats with storage underneath! While the Hyundai has a similar standard split-folding functionality, it does not come with any underchair cargo space. They do both offer a 5-passenger capacity for your cruises to Veterans Memorial Park with friends. Contact us to feel the Ridgeline’s difference through a test drive.
“ My first review for purchasing a car. Wesley at Pohanka Honda took care of us from the moment we arrived this past Saturday. We had just planned on test driving cars but as Wesley walked us through the Honda Pilots we’d researched online we found the perfect one for us and decided to purchase it. We’re now the proud owners of a 2025 Honda Pilot Elite. All of this would not have possible without Wesley listening to our needs and wants and helping us test drive the perfect car for us. If you’re in the market for a new or used car I suggest that you ask for Wesley when you walk into the Pohanka showroom. I’d also like to add that the Used Car Director Lee and Finance Manager Corey were fabulous as well. They have a great team at Pohanka Honda. By far my best car purchasing experience ever. ”