2022 Honda Ridgeline vs 2021 Nissan Titan

The 2021 Nissan Titan retained its refreshed look from 2020, offering three King Cab grades and five Crew Cab trim levels. Each of the five grades—S, SL, SV, Pro-4X, and Platinum Reserve—had distinct interior and exterior designs. The base model Titan S and the Titan SV featured dark grilles, while the Titan SL had a bright chrome grille, and the Titan Platinum Reserve sported a satin chrome one. The Titan Pro-4X stood out with a black grille and lava-red script logo, complemented by lava-red tow hooks. The refresh also included new headlights with 120 percent more light output than the 2019 model, and available LED fog lights added 15 percent more visibility. The truck bed featured four LED light sources, a significant upgrade from older models, and the rear had LED taillights with unique tailgate finishers. The Titan Crew Cab had a 5.5-foot bed, while the King Cab had a 6.5-foot bed, both equipped with a Utili-track Bed Channel System, spray-in bedliner, 100-volt power outlet, and damped tailgate. The Titan was available in eight exterior colors, with the brown Baja Storm color being particularly unique. Inside, the Titan received a modern upgrade with a large infotainment screen and piano-black plastic trim, though the steering wheel design felt dated.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Ridgeline was built on a unibody platform, similar to crossovers like the Honda Pilot and Passport, providing increased rigidity. The styling was conservative, with a snub nose and a classic pickup rear view. The 2021 front-end redesign made the grille blockier and more upright, aligning it more with traditional trucks. The Ridgeline was available with Honda Performance Development (HPD) packages, adding fender flares, alloy wheels, and decals. The Black Edition test vehicle featured Berlina Black paint and matching wheels and trim. Inside, the Ridgeline had a basic, no-nonsense design with high-quality fit and finish. The Black Line test vehicle included leather upholstery, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, a power-sliding rear window, and a moonroof. However, the piano black trim was prone to smudges and scratches.

The 2021 Nissan Titan was powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, making it the best-in-class standard powertrain. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which performed well in low and high gears but struggled mid-range. The Titan lacked engine start/stop functionality, affecting fuel efficiency but avoiding the hassle of powertrain restarts at red lights. The Titan was available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), both achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined. The RWD model had a payload capacity of 1,600 pounds and a towing capacity of up to 9,310 pounds, while the 4WD model had a payload capacity of 1,680 pounds and a towing capacity of up to 9,260 pounds. The Titan Pro-4X featured off-road-centric equipment, including hill-descent control and an electronic locking rear differential. Every Titan had an off-road gauge displaying tire angle, pitch, and roll angles.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline stuck with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The Ridgeline had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a payload capacity ranging from 1,509 to 1,583 pounds, depending on the trim level. While these figures were lower than some competitors, the V6 engine provided sufficient power, though the nine-speed automatic transmission was slow to respond. The Ridgeline excelled in handling and ride quality, thanks to its unibody platform, fully independent suspension, and torque vectoring AWD. However, its design limited off-road capability, with a maximum ground clearance of 7.64 inches and no dedicated off-road version.

The 2021 Nissan Titan offered a front bench seat as standard, with bucket seats available, seating five or six. The front and rear outboard seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity design for comfort on long journeys. Heated and cooled front seats were available, as well as heated front and rear seats with either cloth or leather-appointed upholstery. However, petite adults might struggle to find a comfortable driving position. The Titan provided ample seating space and storage, including a large center console and a small hold for smartphones. Available features included a panoramic moonroof, power-sliding rear window, and easy-to-reach grab handles. The folding rear seatbacks and bag hooks under the rear seat cushions added to the interior's thoughtful layout.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline was available only with a four-door crew cab and a 64-inch bed, offering a good balance of passenger and cargo space. The bed included a 7.3-cubic-foot lockable in-bed trunk with a drain plug, a slot for the spare tire, an in-bed audio system, and a 115-volt AC outlet. The Dual-Action Tailgate could open down or to the side, and the bed was wide enough to carry 4-foot-wide sheets of plywood. Inside, the Ridgeline offered additional storage under the rear seats, rear USB ports on higher trims, and a pushbutton shifter that freed up space for cupholders, a large center console storage bin, and a wireless phone charger. The controls were sensibly laid out, with toggle switches for cabin temperature. The Ridgeline felt roomier than other midsize pickups, thanks to its wider stance and lower cowl height.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a standard 9.0-inch WXGA resolution infotainment touchscreen, the largest standard-sized screen in its class. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and satellite radio. Available features included navigation, HD Radio, additional USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-sliding rear window, remote start, and a household-style power outlet. The WiFi hot spot could connect up to seven devices. The graphics were not as modern as those in other trucks, but the interface was responsive. A 7-inch programmable information display was standard. The NissanConnect system included Nissan Concierge, providing access to live assistants 24/7. The audio system could be upgraded to a Fender Premium Audio System with 12 speakers on Crew Cab models and 10 on King Cab models.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. SiriusXM satellite radio was available on all but the base Sport trim, and navigation was available on the RTL-E and Black Edition models. The interface was not cutting edge, but it was easy to navigate, with analog controls for vital functions. The touchscreen was small by current standards, and the graphics were dated, but the system was functional and user-friendly. Most of the Ridgeline's rivals also offered basic tech, so the lack of advanced features was not a significant drawback.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. Additional features included forward-collision warning, parking sensors, an Around View Monitor camera system, adaptive cruise control, driver-alertness monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and rear door alert. Nissan backed the Titan with a five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, the best truck warranty in America.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but an "Average" score in the passenger-side small overlap frontal test. The IIHS gave the Ridgeline a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech but a "Marginal" headlight rating and an "Average" rating for LATCH child seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded the Ridgeline a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash testing. The Ridgeline came standard with the Honda Sensing array of driver aids, including automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Automatic high beams were standard on the RTL-E and Black Edition trims, while blind spot monitoring was standard on all but the base Sport trim. However, the Ridgeline lacked a 360-degree camera system.