2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2020 Honda Ridgeline

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty received subtle updates that were noticeable to keen observers but might have been missed by the casual onlooker. The front bumper featured more black painted areas and less chrome, while the massive grille adopted a less gaudy design. The headlights became sleeker due to the altered grille shape, resulting in a truck that displayed some styling restraint without a complete redesign. The F-250 was available in various trims, each offering distinct visual elements, from the basic XL with its black grille and bumpers to the luxurious Limited with a satin-chrome grille and twin-panel moonroof.

Inside, the F-250's cabin was functional but not particularly welcoming, with a logical layout and plenty of storage for gear. The base XL model came equipped with essential features like air conditioning, vinyl upholstery, and a basic stereo system. As you moved up the trims, additional comforts such as cloth seating, leather upholstery, and advanced infotainment systems were added. The King Ranch and Platinum trims offered unique styling and luxury features, while the Limited trim topped the range with premium amenities.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline, on the other hand, had a design that some found reminiscent of a minivan in the front and a pickup truck in the back. This year, Honda made several updates, including a new nine-speed automatic transmission, standard Honda Sensing ADAS, and an upgraded infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Ridgeline was offered in Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trims, with the base price rising due to the added standard equipment.

Inside, the Ridgeline's cabin exuded quality with perforated leather upholstery, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. The dashboard was similar to the Honda Pilot, providing a familiar and comfortable environment. The rear seat, while short on legroom, was comfortable and featured air conditioning vents. The Ridgeline also offered generous in-cab storage and a composite cargo bed with a locking in-bed trunk and a dual-action tailgate, enhancing its utility.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came standard with a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Ford also offered a 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 with 475 hp and an impressive 1,050 lb-ft of torque. A new 7.3-liter gas V8 was introduced, delivering 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The gas engines were paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel V8 used a six-speed automatic. The F-250 could tow up to 30,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The Super Duty's performance was robust, with the 10-speed automatic managing power well and providing surprising low-to-mid-range acceleration. However, the suspension was stiff, resulting in a bumpy ride when the truck was not loaded. The available FX4 off-road package and the new Tremor off-road package added off-road capabilities, making the F-250 suitable for various terrains.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Ridgeline offered front-wheel drive for Sport and RTL trims, while all-wheel drive was standard for RTL-E and Black Edition trims. The i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system provided enhanced traction and torque-vectoring capabilities, making the Ridgeline enjoyable to drive on and off-road.

The Ridgeline's independent rear suspension and multi-purpose platform contributed to a comfortable and smooth ride, making it suitable for daily driving. The EPA rated the all-wheel-drive Ridgeline at 21 mpg combined, and it had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds with all-wheel drive.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, extended SuperCab, and full four-door Crew Cab configurations, with either 6-foot-9-inch or 8-foot bed sizes. The cabin was spacious and functional, with deep cup holders and cubbies designed to hold large items. The center console was massive, capable of storing files, tools, or even a laptop. The rear seats in the SuperCrew and Crew Cab models folded up to reveal a load floor for large items, providing secure in-cab storage.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline offered the comfort and utility of a Honda Pilot with a 33.9 cubic-foot cargo bed. The front seats were comfortable, with adjustable armrests and heated front chairs in all trims except the Sport. The rear seat, while short on legroom, was comfortable and featured air conditioning vents. The Ridgeline's in-cab storage was generous, with plenty of weather-tight, locked storage available by flipping up the rear seat cushion. The composite cargo bed included a locking in-bed trunk with a drain plug and a dual-action tailgate, enhancing its utility.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty's base XL trim came with an AM/FM/MP3 radio unit, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-C port. The XLT trim added SiriusXM satellite radio, an additional USB-C port, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect was standard across the lineup, providing a WiFi hot spot and remote vehicle access via a smartphone app.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline featured Honda’s Display Audio system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system lacked physical knobs and buttons, relying on voice-recognition technology that was often slow to respond. The RTL-E and Black Edition trims added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, and an eight-speaker premium sound system with a truck-bed audio system.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty included standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, trailer sway control, hill start assist, and AdvanceTrac traction control with roll stability control. Optional safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system. The F-250 had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The RTL-E and Black Edition trims added automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Ridgeline received top marks from IIHS in all but the small overlap frontal impact test for the front passenger, and NHTSA gave it five-star ratings across the board except for a four-star rollover resistance rating.