2020 Honda Ridgeline vs 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD

When the 2020 Honda Ridgeline arrived for evaluation, it was clear that its design was a point of contention. The front end resembled a minivan, while the back maintained a pickup truck appearance. This blend of styles suggested a design and image problem for Honda, as trucks are typically expected to look rugged and tough. The original Ridgeline had a unique, albeit odd, look, but the second-generation model seemed to swing too far towards a softer, less truck-like appearance.

For 2020, Honda made several updates to the Ridgeline, including a new nine-speed automatic transmission with electronic controls, standard Honda Sensing advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), and an upgraded infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Additional features included ambient interior lighting, a remote locking tailgate, wider-opening rear doors, and optional LED headlights. The lineup was simplified to Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trims, with a base price starting at $33,900. The test model, an RTL-E trim, was priced at $43,140 MSRP, including a $1,120 destination charge.

Inside, the Ridgeline featured perforated leather upholstery, gloss-black trim, metallic accents, and soft-touch surfaces, exuding a sense of quality. However, the dashboard was nearly identical to the Honda Pilot, a vehicle known more for suburban school runs than rugged adventures.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD had a polarizing design, with a front end and grille that some likened to a vintage furnace or a freight train. This aggressive styling conveyed a sense of machismo, aligning with the modern truck aesthetic.

Inside, the Silverado's cabin was more conventional, focusing on quantity over quality. While the fit and finish might not have been top-notch, the cabin's size was comparable to a living room, offering ample space. The Silverado 3500HD was available in W/T (Work Truck), LT, LTZ, and High Country trims. Standard features on the W/T included two USB ports, vinyl seat trim, two-tier trailering mirrors, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The LT trim added cloth seating, body-color door handles, an EZ lift-and-lower tailgate, a 4.2-inch driver information display, an integrated trailer brake controller, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The LTZ trim featured chrome exterior accents, leather upholstery, heated front seats, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, 120-volt power outlets, and side mirrors with integrated turn signals. The High Country trim, the top luxury option, included 17-inch alloy wheels for dually models, 20-inch polished aluminum wheels for non-dually models, body-color front and rear bumpers, heated and ventilated front seats, chrome side steps, a Bose premium sound system, and a spray-in bed-liner.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. This engine was paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, which had undergone continuous improvements to enhance shift quality. The transmission performed well, though it allowed the truck to roll slightly after selecting Park. The Ridgeline featured electronic transmission controls on the center console, which might have been off-putting to traditional truck buyers. Paddle shifters were included but were rarely used unless towing.

The Ridgeline's Sport and RTL trims were front-wheel drive, while the RTL-E and Black Edition trims came standard with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management all-wheel drive (i-VTM4). This system increased ground clearance to 7.9 inches and could transfer up to 70 percent of the engine's power to the rear axle, with 100 percent of that power available to a single rear wheel for added traction. The Ridgeline also offered Eco, Normal, and Sport drivetrain modes, as well as Snow, Mud, and Sand driving modes through its Intelligent Traction Management system.

The Ridgeline's independent rear suspension, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and multi-purpose platform made it enjoyable to drive on pavement, offering a comfortable ride without compromising handling. The EPA rated the all-wheel-drive Ridgeline at 21 mpg combined, and it averaged 20.9 mpg during testing. The all-wheel-drive model also increased the tow rating to 5,000 pounds and the maximum payload to 1,580 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD offered two engine options. The standard 6.6-liter V8 gas engine produced 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional Duramax turbodiesel 6.6-liter V8 engine delivered 445 horsepower and an impressive 910 pound-feet of torque, mated to an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. Both powertrains could be configured with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) with low range, and an automatically locking rear differential was standard.

The diesel engine, in particular, provided excellent performance, with the 10-speed automatic keeping it in the optimal gear for any situation. The Silverado 3500HD's towing capacity reached up to 36,000 pounds with the right configuration, and its payload capacity was 7,442 pounds. These figures made the Silverado 3500HD a formidable choice for heavy-duty tasks.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline offered the comfort and utility of a Honda Pilot, with a 33.9 cubic-foot cargo bed replacing the third-row seat and enclosed cargo area. The front seats were comfortable, with adjustable armrests that could sometimes be cumbersome. Heated front seats were standard on all trims except the Sport, and the driver's seat featured 10-way power adjustment. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but still provided adequate leg support and a high seating position.

The rear seat in the Ridgeline was short on legroom, but the seat itself was comfortable, with softly padded front seatbacks and air conditioning vents for rear passengers. The climate system effectively managed temperature changes, though slanted sunlight could cause some discomfort.

In-cab storage was abundant, with numerous compartments and a large, weather-tight storage area behind the rear seat. The composite cargo bed included a 7.3 cubic-foot in-bed trunk with a drain plug, allowing it to be used as a cooler or for storing muddy items. The tailgate could drop down or swing to the side, and a 150-watt/400-watt power outlet and truck-bed audio system added to the bed's functionality.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD was available in various configurations, including regular cab/long-bed, double cab/long-bed, crew cab/standard bed, and crew cab/long-bed. The single cab had one row of seating, while the crew cabs offered two rows of spacious seating with ample headroom and legroom. The Silverado's bed featured integrated steps in the rear bumper and additional step-ups along the side, making it easier to access the bed.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline came with Honda's Display Audio system, featuring an 8.0-inch touchscreen display. The system lacked physical knobs and buttons, and its voice-recognition technology required specific prompts and was often slow to respond. Steering wheel controls for volume and tuning were helpful, but using the system required patience. 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, though user experience issues persisted.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with higher trims featuring an 8-inch screen and the High Country trim adding navigation. The system was user-friendly, with hard buttons and dials, as well as a home button. The Silverado also offered numerous trailering features, including backup camera guidelines, multiple camera angles, and a trailering app with a pre-trailering checklist and status updates.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline included standard Honda Sensing, which comprised 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 lane-departure warning system wobbled the steering wheel, and the forward-collision warning system was overly sensitive. Despite these issues, the Ridgeline earned top crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the exception of an "acceptable" score for the small overlap frontal impact test for the front passenger and a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a backup camera and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. Advanced safety features such as forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera system were also available, providing valuable assistance given the Silverado 3500HD's size.