2022 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline had a design that emphasized traditional truck aesthetics, which was crucial for attracting buyers. It featured a long, flat hood, an aggressive front end, and bulging fenders. The redesign included a new front end and rear bumper with exposed dual exhaust outlets. The tires had a more aggressive tread, and new wheel designs were available in black, dark gray, and bronze. The HPD Package added oversized fender trim, a unique grille, and bold stickers, enhancing its rugged look. The interior, modeled after the Honda Pilot SUV, focused on functionality with generous storage and easy-to-clean hard plastic surfaces.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning looked surprisingly similar to its gas-powered counterparts, with only a few unique styling cues. It featured a big LED headlight bar and a plastic façade in place of a traditional grille. The rear had badges and a taillight bar on higher trims. Inside, the F-150 Lightning offered ample space with 43.9 inches of front-seat legroom and 43.6 inches in the rear. The interior materials were a mix of plastic and nice touchpoints, with excellent ergonomics. The Lariat trim included a panoramic sunroof, under-seat storage, and multiple power outlets, making it both a work truck and a family vehicle.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline was powered by a 280-horsepower V6 engine, producing 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission with Normal and Sport modes, and standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system could direct up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel. Intelligent Traction Management offered Snow, Sand, and Mud settings, but the Ridgeline was not designed for rock-crawling. With 7.64 inches of ground clearance, it excelled on flat terrain. It had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a payload rating of 1,583 pounds. The Ridgeline's unibody architecture and independent rear suspension made it remarkably athletic and enjoyable to drive.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, on the other hand, featured dual electric motors providing 426 horsepower with the standard range battery and 563 horsepower with the extended range battery. Regardless of the battery, it delivered an impressive 775 pound-feet of torque. The Lightning's AWD and standard locking differential suggested off-road capability, but its tame tires were a limiting factor. The standard-range battery offered an EPA-estimated 230 miles, while the extended range battery provided 320 miles. The Lightning's independent rear suspension, required for battery packaging, contributed to a smoother ride. Despite its weight, the Lightning was extremely fast, outperforming even the F-150 Raptor on pavement.

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. It included a 150-watt/400-watt power outlet and an in-bed audio system. The bed held 33.9 cubic feet of cargo, and the dual-action tailgate and 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk added versatility.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning prioritized functionality with a 5.5-foot bed equipped with numerous tie-down points. Its standout feature was the "Mega Power Frunk," offering 14.1 cubic feet of storage and an underfloor bin with a drain. The Lightning could serve as a backup generator, powering a typical household for three days. It had a 9.6-kilowatt onboard power supply for job site tools. The Lightning's towing capacity maxed out at 10,000 pounds, and it could carry 2,000 pounds in the bed. Onboard scales helped manage payload and driving range.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added SiriusXM, HD Radio, navigation, voice recognition, traffic information, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging. The Sport trim lacked these upgrades but still offered essential connectivity features.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning was packed with technology. All trims had at least a 12-inch touchscreen with Sync 4 and three years of navigation. The Pro and XLT trims featured a landscape-oriented display, while the Lariat and Platinum had a 15-inch portrait-oriented screen. The Lariat trim included an 8-speaker B&O stereo, wireless charging, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system also had games for entertainment during charging.

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

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning came with Ford's Co-Pilot 360 ADAS, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included a 360-degree camera, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Trailer Reverse Guidance, and a forward sensing system. The XLT trim added adaptive cruise control and intersection assist. The Lariat trim offered Ford BlueCruise, a hands-free driving system with a driver-facing camera for safety.