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Full-size trucks are the go-to utility vehicles for many Americans. The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for more than four decades straight, and other big boys like the Ram Pickup and Chevy Silverado are also getting serious sales. But their younger siblings are making a case for themselves, and now seems to be their time to shine.
Automakers have responded to increased demand with new entries ushering in a new era of compact trucks. They pack big thoughts under their compact packages, as seen in Honda Ridgeline and its fiercest competitor, the Ford Forest ranger. Notably, Ford refreshed the Ranger’s design for the 2023 model year with bolder styling adopted from the larger F-150, while Honda kept what worked with minimal changes from last year. . Here are the things we like about the Honda Ridgeline and its rival, the Ford Ranger.
10/10 Honda Ridgeline: Excellent V6 Engine
Honda only offers one powertrain option that’s pretty solid; the proven Honda J35 3.5-liter V6 is one of the most reliable six-cylinder engines ever made. The naturally aspirated engine is also larger and more powerful than the motor in the Ranger, producing 280 hp and 262lb-ft of torque.
It comes with standard all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Ranger comes with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder, producing 270hp.
9/10 Ford Ranger: Better Tow Rating And Best Payload
The Ranger may feature a smaller engine, but it puts out 320 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm, enough grunt to provide a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds and a 1,905 pound maximum payload. It’s the best rating among mid-size 4×4 utility vehicles and matches or better larger 4X4 SUVs like the Range Rover.
Honda only offers towing capacity from 3,500 pounds to 5,000 pounds making the Ranger an obvious choice for those looking for heavy hauling capabilities. But Ford needs to provide an additional towing package to get the improved road capability.
8/10 Honda Ridgeline: Great With Road Manners
The Honda Ridgeline has a unibody construction, unlike most rivals in the segment. Thus, it offers a more comfortable ride than its body-on-frame counterparts. However, its SUV underpinnings are reinforced for truck duty, making it a utility vehicle with truck capabilities.
It feels stable and surefooted when navigating bends giving it excellent road manners for a truck. Honda built a great performer for everyday road use, albeit at the expense of some traditional rough-and-tough pickup capabilities.
7/10 Ford Ranger: Superior Off-Road Capability
The new Ranger has more flexibility than the vehicle it replaces. The new platform is wider, longer, and better for off-roading thanks to an improved approach angle that helps it overcome steep obstacles.
Also, Ford moved the Tremor off-road package from the Super Duty down to the little Ranger. It adds skid plates, 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, an off-road suspension with Fox shocks, and an extra inch of lift. It is available in XLT and Lariat trims.
6/10 Honda Ridgeline: Roomier And Comfier Cabin
The Honda Ridgeline has a shorter wheelbase than the Ford Ranger but offers more cabin room. It gets three more inches of leg room with 36.7 inches and it’s a more comfortable and quieter place.
The Ford Ranger comes in two cab configurations, the SuperCrew with a five-foot bed and the SuperCab with a six-foot bed. The former provides more cabin room for those who often need to carry five passengers.
5/10 Ford Ranger: More Available Tech Features
The Ford Ranger, like the Ridgeline, comes with a bare-bones technology package that includes a small 3.5-inch display infotainment that lacks the modernity of the base model. But Ford offers plenty of available tech features.
Buyers can upgrade to an 8-inch touch screen with Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system or make it standard on higher trims. The XLT trim is the most desirable tech-wise. It comes standard with some tech and driver-assistance features that aren’t available or optional on the base model, such as Keyless entry, a universal garage door opener, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.
4/10 Honda Ridgeline: Five-Star Safety Rating
Neither Honda nor Ford have enriched their compact truck with the best safety packages available on other models. However, the Honda Ridgeline has many standard features like Forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and more.
Also, the Ridgeline receives an overall safety rating of five out of five stars from the NHTSA, besting the Ranger, which earned four stars.
3/10 Ford Ranger: Better Fuel Economy
The Ford Ranger returns above average fuel economy thanks to its smaller but powerful engine. The 2023 model has an EPA rating of 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined with the 2WD option. Switching to 4WD drops combined economy to 23 mpg.
The extra cylinders and displacement in the Ridgeline result in lower efficiency with a combined rating of 21 mpg.
2/10 Honda Ridgeline: Utility Trims
The Ford Ranger XLT is the most equipped and ready to work with the rest of the lineup, which leaves much to be desired. In contrast, Honda offers four well-equipped trim levels, Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. They are mechanically identical, sharing the same 280 hp V6, crew cab body style, and a 5-ft-4-inch bed.
The differences begin to show in the available features. The RTL trim includes amenities not on the base Sport trim, such as heated front seats and blind-spot monitoring.
1/10 Ford Ranger: Affordable Pricing
One of the main appeals of the mid-size truck segment is affordability. These pose as more pocket choices for the big boys. The Ford Ranger leads the way with best-in-class towing, superior fuel economy, and a capable off-road package at an affordable price.
The base Ford Ranger XL SuperCab model starts at $27,400, the well-equipped XLT at $31,460, and the range-topping Lariat at $35,500. This is even less than the $38,800 Honda is asking for the base Ridgeline Sport model.
sources: ford.com, honda.com, kbb.com, usnews.com, hotcars.com
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