2021 Ford Ranger vs 2020 Honda Ridgeline

When the 2020 Honda Ridgeline arrived for evaluation, it was noted for its unconventional design, resembling a minivan in the front and a pickup truck in the back. This design choice highlighted a potential image problem for Honda, as trucks are traditionally expected to look rugged and tough. The original Ridgeline had a unique appearance, but the second-generation model seemed to swing too far towards a more subdued look. Despite this, the 2020 model introduced 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 interior, especially in the RTL-E trim, was noted for its quality materials and comfort, though it closely resembled the Honda Pilot's dashboard.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Ranger was available in SuperCab and SuperCrew styles, with the test truck being a SuperCrew Lariat equipped with the Tremor Off-Road Package. This package added unique 17-inch wheels, 32-inch all-terrain tires, and various off-road enhancements, giving the Ranger a more purposeful and rugged look. Inside, the Lariat trim combined with the Tremor's features, such as simulated suede seat inserts and all-weather floor mats, made for a well-equipped and comfortable cabin. The Ranger's interior design was clean and contemporary, with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and partial digital instrumentation. Despite the presence of hard plastics, the cabin did not feel cheap.

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 improvements for better shift quality. The Ridgeline offered front-wheel drive in Sport and RTL trims, with all-wheel drive (i-VTM4) available as an option and standard on RTL-E and Black Edition trims. The i-VTM4 system could transfer up to 70% of the engine's power to the rear axle and 100% to a single rear wheel for added traction. The Ridgeline also featured Eco, Normal, and Sport drivetrain modes, as well as Snow, Mud, and Sand driving modes. With all-wheel drive, the Ridgeline had a ground clearance of 7.9 inches and a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The EPA rated the all-wheel-drive Ridgeline at 21 mpg combined, and it averaged 20.9 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Ford Ranger, on the other hand, was equipped with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 270 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 310 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Ranger Tremor featured a Terrain Management System with various driving modes and an electronic locking rear differential. The Tremor's off-road suspension included revised springs and Fox shocks, providing 9.7 inches of ground clearance. The Ranger could tow up to 7,500 pounds and haul up to 1,860 pounds of payload, though the Tremor's payload capacity was reduced to 1,430 pounds. The EPA rated the Ranger Tremor at 19 mpg combined, and it averaged 18.5 mpg during testing. The Ranger's turbocharged engine provided swift acceleration and a refined driving experience, both on and off-road.

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 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. The composite cargo bed included a 7.3 cubic-foot in-bed trunk with a drain plug, a dual-action tailgate, a 150-watt/400-watt power outlet, and a truck-bed audio system.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor featured sturdy hoop-style step bars, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a six-way power-adjustable front passenger's seat. The rear seat was more accommodating than most midsize trucks, though it lacked air conditioning vents and a power-operated sliding rear window. The Ranger's storage options included bins under the rear-seat cushion, though the design was less convenient. The cargo bed offered 43.3 cubic feet of space (51.8 cubic feet for SuperCabs) and four tie-down hooks, with additional accessories available for customization.

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 was slow and required specific prompts. The steering wheel had stereo volume and tuning controls, and the system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, and an eight-speaker premium sound system with a truck-bed audio system.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor was equipped with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen display. This system included voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, AppLink with Waze and Ford + Alexa, and FordPass Connect with a 4G WiFi hotspot. The Tremor also included navigation and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. While Sync 3 was being phased out in favor of Sync 4, it remained competitive. The voice recognition technology had mixed performance, sometimes providing incorrect responses to commands.

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. Higher trims added automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Ridgeline received top crash-test ratings from the IIHS, except for an "acceptable" score in the small overlap frontal impact test for the front passenger. The NHTSA gave the Ridgeline five-star ratings across the board, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2021 Ford Ranger offered the Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The lane warnings were subtle, and the adaptive cruise control, standard on Lariat trim, did not offer full-stop capability. The Ranger also included a blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage, a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, wiper-activated headlights, and a wiper de-icer system. The NHTSA gave the Ranger an overall rating of four stars, with a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS rated the Ranger highly, except for an "acceptable" score for front-passenger protection in the small-overlap frontal-impact test and a "marginal" rating for its headlights.