2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty received subtle updates that were noticeable to keen observers. The front bumper featured more black painted areas and less chrome, while the massive grille adopted a less gaudy design. The headlights became sleeker, contributing to a more restrained styling without a complete overhaul. The F-250 was available in various trims, each offering distinct visual elements. The XL had a black grille and bumpers, while the XLT added brightwork and alloy wheels. The King Ranch featured a two-tone paint job and chrome accents, and the Platinum trim included 20-inch alloy wheels and power-retractable running boards. The range-topping Limited trim added a satin-chrome grille for a luxurious feel. Inside, the F-250's cabin was functional but not very welcoming, with plenty of hard plastics and a cold, mechanical feel. The base XL model came decently equipped, while higher trims added more creature comforts and luxury features.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline underwent a redesign forward of the windshield and front doors, with a new rear bumper featuring exposed dual exhaust outlets. The tires had a more aggressive shoulder tread, and new wheel designs debuted in black, dark gray, and bronze. The HPD Package added oversized fender trim, a unique grille design, and bold stickers on the cargo bed. The Ridgeline came in Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trims, with prices ranging from $36,490 to $43,920. Every Ridgeline had a 280-horsepower V6 engine, standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The interior, modeled after the Honda Pilot SUV, emphasized functionality with generous storage and hard plastic surfaces. The Sport trim featured cloth seats, while higher trims offered leather seats, heated front seats, and other luxury features.

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 horsepower and an impressive 1,050 pound-feet of torque. A new 7.3-liter gas V8 option delivered 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. The gas engines were paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel V8 used a six-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive optional. The F-250 could tow up to 30,000 pounds when properly equipped. The 10-speed automatic transmission managed power well, providing surprising low-to-mid-range acceleration. However, the suspension was stiff, resulting in a bumpy ride when not loaded down. The FX4 off-road package added upgraded shocks and skid plates, while the Tremor off-road package included 33-inch tires, a 2-inch lift, and rock crawl mode.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured a 280-horsepower V6 engine with 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Honda's all-wheel-drive system with Intelligent Variable Torque Management was standard, capable of directing up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel. Intelligent Traction Management provided Snow, Sand, and Mud settings. The Ridgeline had a modest 7.64 inches of ground clearance and was not designed for rock-crawling. It offered quick acceleration and athletic handling, thanks to its unibody architecture and independent rear suspension. The Ridgeline's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, with a competitive payload rating of 1,583 pounds. Honda modified the chassis for truck service, and the Ridgeline handled various off-road conditions with ease during testing.

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 for large items. The center console was massive, capable of storing files, tools, or a laptop. The rear seats in the SuperCrew and Crew Cab folded up to reveal a load floor for large items, providing secure storage inside the cabin.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline offered a comfortable and functional interior, with manually-adjustable front seats and the roomiest rear seat in its class. Standard triple-zone automatic climate control added to the comfort. Higher trims included leather seats, heated front seats, a power sunroof, and ambient cabin lighting. The Ridgeline excelled in utility, with a large center storage console, various storage bins, and a composite cargo bed that was dent- and scratch-resistant. The bed featured tie-down hooks, a power outlet, and an in-bed audio system. The dual-action tailgate and 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk added to the Ridgeline's versatility.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty's base XL trim came with four speakers, an AM/FM/MP3 radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-C port. The XLT trim added more speakers, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect was standard across the lineup, offering a WiFi hotspot, remote lock/unlock, vehicle status updates, and remote start via a smartphone app.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It included a seven-speaker sound system, text-messaging capability, basic HondaLink connected services, and USB charging ports. Higher trims added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, voice recognition, traffic information, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging. The Sport trim lacked these upgrades but still provided essential connectivity features.

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 2021 Honda Ridgeline came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance. The Ridgeline also featured a multi-angle reversing camera, with blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning standard on all but the Sport trim. Top trims included automatic high-beam headlights. The Ridgeline was built to Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering standards, earning high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS in previous years.