2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD was a behemoth of a truck, prioritizing function over form. Its massive grille fed multiple radiators, readying it for serious work. The Denali trim stood out with extensive chrome, including a large chrome grille and 8-lug chrome wheels. Offered in premium colors like Onyx Black, the Denali was one of the flashiest trucks from General Motors. Despite its luxurious touches, the Denali's cabin was just average, lacking the soft-touch materials found in competitors like the Ram 2500 Limited. However, the simplicity of the Sierra 2500HD's design had its advantages, especially in terms of user-friendly controls.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline, redesigned forward of the windshield and front doors, featured a new rear bumper with exposed dual exhaust outlets. The tires had a more aggressive tread, and new wheel designs debuted in black, dark gray, and bronze. The HPD Package added oversized fender trim, a unique grille, and bold stickers. Available in Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trims, the Ridgeline came with a 280-horsepower V6 engine, standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Even the base model was well-equipped, making it a comfortable and functional choice for midsize pickup owners.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered two V8 engine options: a 6.6-liter gas engine producing 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, and a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine delivering 445 horsepower and an astounding 910 pound-feet of torque. The gas engine was paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel came with a 10-speed Allison transmission. Despite its size, the diesel engine provided impressive acceleration, making the truck feel lively. The Sierra 2500HD could tow up to 18,510 pounds and haul a payload of up to 3,979 pounds. However, its large size made maneuvering in tight spaces challenging, despite the reversing camera and trailering mirrors.

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, offering torque-vectoring and Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud settings. The Ridgeline's unibody architecture and independent rear suspension made it remarkably athletic and enjoyable to drive. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a payload rating of 1,583 pounds. While not designed for rock-crawling, the Ridgeline handled various off-road conditions with ease during testing.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD was available in multiple bed and cab configurations, including regular, double, and crew cabs with standard or long beds. The Denali trim was only offered with the crew cab. Both bed sizes featured helpful bed corner steps and an EZ lift-and-lower tailgate. The MultiPro tailgate provided six different configurations, including a massive step into the truck bed. Inside, the 2500HD offered plenty of room and storage options, with additional storage under the rear seats in SLT-and-up trims.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline excelled in comfort and functionality. The Sport trim featured manually-adjustable front seats with inboard armrests and the roomiest rear seat in its class. Higher trims offered leather seats, heated front seats, a power sunroof, and ambient cabin lighting. The Ridgeline's composite cargo bed was dent- and scratch-resistant, with tie-down hooks rated for 350 pounds each. The bed held 33.9 cubic feet of cargo and included a power locking dual-action tailgate and a 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk with a drain plug.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC Infotainment 3, featuring customizable icons, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. SLT and Denali trims had an 8-inch infotainment screen with available navigation. The Denali also included an 8-inch color driver-information screen. The infotainment system was user-friendly, offering the right tech in a practical package.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, voice recognition, traffic information, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging. The Sport trim included Apple CarPlay, making it easy to stream music and find destinations. The Ridgeline's technology was straightforward and functional.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD included standard safety features like front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Driver Alert Package I added front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Driver Alert Package II included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The truck's size made maneuvering challenging, but the safety features helped mitigate these issues.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came standard with Honda Sensing, a package 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. The top trims included automatic high-beam headlights. Built to Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering standards, the Ridgeline earned high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.