2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD had a polarizing exterior design, with a front end and grille that resembled a vintage furnace or a freight train. It was a vehicle that exuded machismo, appealing to those who wanted a rugged and imposing truck. Inside, the cabin was more conventional, prioritizing quantity over quality. Despite not having the best fit and finish, the spacious interior, comparable to a living room, made up for it. The Silverado 3500HD came in various trims, including W/T, LT, LTZ, and High Country, each offering a range of features from basic vinyl seat trim and a 7-inch touchscreen to luxurious leather upholstery, heated seats, and a Bose premium sound system.

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 shoulder tread, and new wheel designs in black, dark gray, and bronze were introduced. 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 was equipped with a 280-horsepower V6 engine, standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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 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 or four-wheel drive. The Silverado 3500HD had a maximum towing capacity of 36,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 7,442 pounds, making it a powerhouse for heavy-duty tasks. The LTZ trim featured an advanced trailering system with an app to monitor critical trailer functions.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline was powered by 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, providing torque-vectoring and Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud settings. The Ridgeline had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a payload rating of 1,583 pounds. Its unibody architecture, independent rear suspension, and torque-vectoring AWD made it remarkably athletic and enjoyable to drive. While not designed for rock-crawling, the Ridgeline handled sandy washes, dirt trails, and hill climbs with ease.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD was available in regular cab/long-bed, double cab/long-bed, crew cab/standard bed, and crew cab/long-bed configurations. 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 featured integrated bed steps in the rear bumper and additional step-ups along the side of the bed, making it easier to access the cargo area.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline offered a comfortable and functional interior, with manually-adjustable front seats and the roomiest rear seat in its class. 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 a power locking dual-action tailgate and a 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk with a drain plug, making it versatile for various uses.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with higher trims featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and navigation. The system was user-friendly, with hard buttons and dials. The Silverado offered numerous trailering features, including backup camera guidelines and additional camera angles, as well as a trailering app for monitoring critical functions.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, and wireless smartphone charging. The Ridgeline's infotainment system was straightforward, and even the base model provided essential connectivity options.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a backup camera and a full array of airbags. Advanced safety features like forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring were available as options. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera system were also optional, enhancing safety for this large vehicle.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured the Honda Sensing package as standard, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Ridgeline also had a multi-angle reversing camera, with blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning available on higher trims. The Ridgeline was built to Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering standards, earning high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.