2022 Ford Maverick vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline strived to capture the essence of what a truck ought to look like, realizing that styling can make or break a sale. Honda decided it was crucial for the Ridgeline to exude traditional truck qualities, such as a long, flat hood, an aggressive front end, and bulging fenders, paired with appealing wheels and tires. They ensured classic truck cues like a defined seam separating the cab from the cargo bed were evident, while also embracing modern customization elements like expressive paint colors, stickers, and a variety of accessories.

The Ridgeline featured a comprehensive redesign ahead of the windshield and front doors, including a new rear bumper with exposed dual exhaust outlets. The tires had a more aggressive tread, and new wheel designs appeared in black, dark gray, and bronze, the latter part of the Honda Performance Division (HPD) Package. This package also included oversized fender trim, a unique grille design, and bold stickers on the cargo bed. Buyers could add the HPD Package to any Ridgeline variant, available in trims such as Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition, with prices ranging from $36,490 to $43,920, excluding a destination charge of $1,175.

Every Ridgeline was equipped with a 280-horsepower V6 engine, standard all-wheel-drive with torque vectoring, a nine-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch aluminum wheels, triple-zone automatic climate control, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The baseline Sport trim, which included additional all-weather rubber floor mats and the HPD Package, had a window sticker price of $41,039. Inside, the Ridgeline took functionality seriously, modeled after the Honda Pilot SUV, featuring ample storage, durable materials, yet emphasized ease of cleaning after adventure-filled exploits.

The 2022 Ford Maverick, in stark contrast, retained conventional pickup aesthetics similar to Ford's larger trucks, with pronounced wheel arches and taillights evocative of the F-150 and Ranger models. However, the Maverick's front end diverged from this theme with large headlights and a distinctive grille that didn't make a strong stylistic impression. Smaller than the Ranger, the Maverick measured 199.7 inches in length and stood 68.7 inches tall. It shared a unibody platform with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport, differing from the traditional body-on-frame construction seen in other Ford trucks.

The Maverick line-up began with 17-inch steel wheels on the base XL trim, with higher trims featuring 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels. A limited Maverick First Edition package in the Lariat trim offered black graphics, a soft tonneau cover, and exclusive wheels and colors. Both XLT and Lariat trims boasted luxury packages with benefits such as a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and heated seats. Inside, the Maverick leaned into an affordable chic aesthetic with multicolored plastics and design elements that felt playful yet purposeful. The plastic materials, while economical, gave the interior character, with features like exposed fasteners and a versatile door-card design. Even the base XL trim presented attractive woven seat patterns, and leather options were available in higher trims.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline was powered by a strong and sophisticated 3.5-liter V6 engine, pushing 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque at 4,700 rpm. This engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission featuring Normal and Sport modes, powering the Ridgeline's all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. Honda's i-VTM4 torque vectoring system, now standard, could direct up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel. Additionally, Intelligent Traction Management (ITM) offered Snow, Sand, and Mud settings for the Ridgeline to navigate challenging terrain–though it wasn't designed for rock-crawling due to its 7.64 inches of ground clearance and modest approach and departure angles.

The Ridgeline's torque-vectoring AWD, unibody architecture, independent rear suspension, and pavement-oriented all-season tires provided agile handling and a pleasant driving experience uncommon among midsize pickups. While its maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, which lagged behind some competitors, the Ridgeline's 1,583-pound payload capacity was competitive. At a proving ground in the Mojave Desert, the Ridgeline adeptly handled sandy patches, dirt trails, hills, and angles, testifying to its capabilities, albeit, users were reminded to remain aware of its limitations.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Ford Maverick offered two powertrain options. The standard was a hybrid system with a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor, delivering 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque through a CVT. The optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder produced 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The hybrid Maverick came exclusively with front-wheel drive, while the EcoBoost variant could be configured with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. For those choosing AWD, the FX4 off-road package available on XLT and Lariat trims introduced additional suspension tuning, underbody protection, hill-descent control, and drive modes for Mud/Rut and Sand, along with the option to add all-terrain tires at extra cost. Testing the FX4 package on an off-road course, it demonstrated impressive agility on rough terrain, though it wouldn't satisfy hardcore off-roading enthusiasts.

On pavement, the unibody design and car-like demeanor of the Maverick ensured a smoother ride compared to traditional trucks. The hybrid felt especially pleasant to drive, with linear power delivery and refinement, while the EcoBoost offered brisker acceleration, the benefits of AWD, and enhanced towing capabilities.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline was tailored to meet the needs of the typical midsize truck owner who might not need excessive towing or off-road prowess but sought comfort and utility. It provided supportive manually adjustable front seats, generous rear-seat legroom, and standard triple-zone climate control on the Sport trim. Higher trims introduced extras like leather upholstery, heated seats, power-adjustable seating, and ambient lighting.

The Ridgeline championed utility with its ample storage solutions spread throughout the cabin. Additionally, its composite cargo bed, resistant to dents and scratches, included 350-pound rated tie-down hooks, a power outlet, and an innovative in-bed audio system on higher trims. The bed, measuring 33.9 cubic feet, could lay building materials flat due to minimal wheel well intrusion.

A standout feature was the dual-action tailgate that both dropped in the traditional manner and swung open from the side, making loading and unloading straightforward. Under the bed floor, a 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk with a drain plug provided secure, convertible storage.

The 2022 Ford Maverick, only available as a four-door crew cab, offered more legroom than the larger Toyota Tacoma and slightly beat the Hyundai Santa Cruz in front-seat legroom. The Maverick's interior also boasted ample headroom and shoulder room. For interior storage, it outdid most rivals, featuring multiple cubbies around the center console, storage under the rear seats, door-card spaces, and the innovative FITS slots system to accommodate various accessories.

The Maverick's 4.5-foot bed, while shorter than some competitors, was practical, providing a 1,500-pound payload capacity. Key features included an in-bed power outlet and tailgate tie-downs that doubled as bottle openers. The FlexBed system offered customizable dividers and a multi-position tailgate for versatile load management.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The standard system also featured a seven-speaker audio setup, text messaging capabilities, basic HondaLink services, and a couple of USB ports. As buyers moved up in trim levels, benefits like SiriusXM, HD Radio, navigation, premium audio, and wireless charging were added. Despite our test Sport trim lacking these upgrades, it effectively supported music streaming and navigation via Apple CarPlay.

The 2022 Ford Maverick used the older Sync 3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen, standard Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto (though without wireless capabilities), and a built-in WiFi hotspot supporting up to 10 devices. The infotainment graphics were basic, lacking built-in navigation, but offered sufficient functionality considering the Maverick's budget-conscious pricing. The hybrid model also included a brake-coaching feature to guide effective use of its regenerative braking system.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured standard Honda Sensing across all trims, offering adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering. Despite their usefulness, these features were not infallible, as illustrated by an incident where the adaptive cruise control misinterpreted a semi-truck as an obstruction. Additional safety elements included a multi-angle reversing camera, blind-spot warning, and automatic high beams in higher trims. Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) ensured strong crashworthiness, reflected in high ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, although the 2021 model awaited retesting due to its redesigned front-end.

The 2022 Ford Maverick had yet to receive crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA. Standard safety under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional advanced features comprised adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane centering, and evasive steering assist.