2020 Jeep Gladiator vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

On the day the 2020 Jeep Gladiator's video review was shot, Los Angeles experienced its first 80-degree day in months. The beaches in Malibu were crowded, and traffic on the Pacific Coast Highway resembled the notorious 405 freeway. The Firecracker Red 2020 Jeep Gladiator Overland drew significant attention, sparking conversations and causing people to photograph and film it. The Gladiator's unique appearance made it a spectacle, especially along the crowded Zuma Beach.

However, not everyone was a fan of the new Gladiator. After returning the vehicle, a neighbor inquired about its price, calling it "ugly" but expressing curiosity. The Gladiator was available in four trims: Sport, Sport S, Overland, and Rubicon, all featuring a 3.6-liter V6 engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Prices ranged from $33,545 for the base Sport to $43,545 for the Rubicon, with additional costs for options like an automatic transmission and a hardtop. The Overland trim, tested at $52,920, included nearly every upgrade except for a roll-up bed tonneau cover and leather seats. The Gladiator's design, similar to the Wrangler from the front doors forward, featured a high-strength steel 5-foot cargo bed and an 80% new frame, making it longer than its competitors but affecting its maneuverability.

Honda redesigned the 2021 Ridgeline to enhance its truck-like appearance. The new design included a long, flat hood, an aggressive front end, and bulging fenders. The Ridgeline featured a new rear bumper with exposed dual exhaust outlets, more aggressive tire treads, and new wheel designs in black, dark gray, and bronze. The Honda Performance Division (HPD) Package added oversized fender trim, a unique grille design, and bold stickers on the cargo bed, available for any Ridgeline trim.

The Ridgeline came in Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trims, with prices ranging from $36,490 to $43,920, excluding a $1,175 destination charge. All Ridgelines featured a 280-horsepower V6 engine, standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, a nine-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch aluminum wheels, triple-zone automatic climate control, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The test truck, a Sport trim with Radiant Red Metallic II paint and the HPD Package, was priced at $41,039. The Ridgeline's interior, modeled after the Honda Pilot SUV, emphasized functionality with generous storage and easy-to-clean hard plastic surfaces.

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator, with its 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, performed like a long Wrangler. The 8-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts and quick acceleration. However, towing 5,000 pounds of trailer and ski boat caused some labor, especially on hills. Off-road, the Rubicon's Rock-Trac 4WD system, with an 84:1 crawl ratio in 4-Lo, made it nearly unstoppable. The Overland trim, with less intense tires, still managed rocky trails using the Command-Trac 4WD system's 4-Hi. The Selectable Speed Control system helped manage speed and braking on descents.

The Gladiator's steering was slow and vague, and the live-axle suspension communicated road imperfections clearly. Gas mileage was rated at 19 mpg combined, with an average of 20.3 mpg over 600 highway miles. The Gladiator offered a unique driving experience with removable doors, a fold-down windshield, and a convertible top, but it was loud inside and designed for rugged use.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured a 280-horsepower V6 engine with 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The standard all-wheel-drive system with Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) could direct up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel. Intelligent Traction Management (ITM) provided Snow, Sand, and Mud settings, but the Ridgeline was not designed for rock-crawling, with only 7.64 inches of ground clearance.

The Ridgeline's unibody architecture, independent rear suspension, and pavement-friendly tires made it athletic and enjoyable to drive. It had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a competitive payload rating of 1,583 pounds. The Ridgeline handled off-road conditions well during a test at Honda's proving grounds but was best suited for flat terrain.

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator's cargo bed, with the tailgate down, could hold 95% of motorcycle designs. The maximum payload was 1,600 pounds, and the tailgate's step load rating was 1,800 pounds. The bed was shallow, with various cargo tie-downs and a middle mode for hauling up to 19 sheets of plywood or drywall. The Overland trim featured heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and durable black cloth upholstery. The optional body-color hardtop had headliner panels for noise and temperature control.

Getting in and out of the Gladiator was easy, except for the Overland's side steps, which could get in the way. The cab offered plenty of room, with high front seats and ample rear seat space. Storage bins and nets were available throughout the cabin, and the dashboard had a grab handle for rough trails. The Gladiator's convertible options included a soft top, a hardtop, and a bimini-top style. The hardtop could be fully removed, but storage was required, and rain could be an issue without the dual-top group.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline, with Sport trim, offered manually-adjustable front seats with inboard armrests and a height-adjustable driver's seat. The rear seat was the roomiest in the class, and standard triple-zone automatic climate control added comfort. Higher trims included leather seats, heated front seats, a power sunroof, and ambient cabin lighting.

The Ridgeline emphasized utility with a large center storage console, shelves in the front door panels, and various bins throughout. The composite cargo bed was dent- and scratch-resistant, with tie-down hooks rated for 350 pounds each. Higher trims included a power outlet and an in-bed audio system. The bed held 33.9 cubic feet of cargo, with minimal wheel well intrusion. The dual-action tailgate and 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk added convenience, with the tailgate dropping or swinging open and the trunk including a drain plug for easy cleaning.

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator offered basic technology, with remote start, a passive entry system, a removable Bluetooth speaker, and an upgraded infotainment system with an Alpine premium sound system. Bluetooth was standard, while Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio came with the mid-level Uconnect 4 system. The top infotainment system included an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. The Uconnect system was user-friendly, with large on-screen buttons and impressive voice-control technology. The Gladiator also featured an Off-Road Pages real-time performance tracking system but lacked a breadcrumb function for off-road navigation.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It also 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 test truck lacked these upgrades but still provided easy music streaming and navigation through Apple CarPlay.

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator offered optional Active Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group packages. The Active Safety Group included blind-spot monitoring, rear parking-assist sensors, and LED taillights. The Advanced Safety Group added adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warning. The Gladiator Overland had both packages, with adaptive cruise control proving useful on long drives. However, the Gladiator lacked automatic emergency braking and had no crash test data available, leading to a conservative safety rating.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came standard with Honda Sensing, a package of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) 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, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (except for the Sport trim), and automatic high-beam headlights on top trims. Built to Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) crashworthiness standards, the Ridgeline earned high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS in previous years, but new testing was required for the redesigned 2021 model.