2022 Honda Ridgeline vs 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, despite being a groundbreaking electric vehicle, maintained a familiar appearance akin to its gas-powered siblings. It featured unique exterior styling cues, such as a distinctive LED headlight bar and a plastic façade replacing the traditional grille. The rear design was largely similar to other F-150 models, with subtle differences like a taillight bar on higher trims. Inside, the Lightning offered ample space, with 43.9 inches of front-seat legroom and 43.6 inches in the rear, making it more spacious than most two-row crossovers. The interior materials were a mix of practical plastics and pleasant touchpoints, with ergonomic design honed over decades. The Lariat trim boasted a panoramic sunroof, under-seat storage, and numerous power outlets, including a 240-volt outlet in the bed. The truck also featured strong air conditioning and ventilated seats, enhancing comfort in hot climates.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Ridgeline, built on a unibody platform, offered a more car-like construction, providing increased rigidity. Its styling was conservative, with a snub nose and a classic pickup rear view. The 2021 redesign gave it a blockier, more upright grille, aligning it more with traditional trucks. The Ridgeline Black Edition test vehicle featured dark exterior trim and Berlina Black paint. Inside, the Ridgeline had a basic, no-nonsense design with high-quality fit and finish. The Black Edition came well-equipped with 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, detracting from the otherwise practical interior.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning stood out with its dual electric motors, delivering 426 horsepower with the standard range battery and 563 horsepower with the extended range battery. Regardless of the battery, it produced an impressive 775 pound-feet of torque. All models featured all-wheel drive (AWD) and a standard locking differential, though the test truck's tame tires limited off-road adventures. The standard-range battery offered an EPA-estimated 230 miles, while the extended-range battery provided 320 miles. The Lightning's independent rear suspension, a departure from traditional leaf springs, contributed to a smoother ride. The standard-range battery was 98-kilowatt hours, and the extended-range battery was 131-kilowatt hours. Fast charging from 15 to 80 percent took less than 45 minutes at a 150 kW DC station.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, produced 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. It had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and payload capacities ranging from 1,509 to 1,583 pounds, depending on the trim. While these figures were modest compared to other midsize pickups, the V6 engine provided sufficient power for everyday driving. The nine-speed automatic transmission, however, was slow to respond, and the engine start-stop system was sluggish. The Ridgeline excelled in ride quality and handling, thanks to its unibody platform, fully independent suspension, and torque vectoring AWD. However, its off-road capabilities were limited by a maximum ground clearance of 7.64 inches and the absence of a dedicated off-road version.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning offered a 5.5-foot bed with numerous tie-down points, making it versatile for various hauling needs. Its standout feature was the "Mega Power Frunk," a 14.1-cubic-foot front trunk with an underfloor storage bin and a drain, ideal for storing ice. The Lightning could also serve as a backup generator, powering a typical household for three days with a full battery. It had a towing capacity of up to 10,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,000 pounds, though these figures could impact driving range. Onboard scales helped manage payload weight, adjusting the remaining driving-range estimate accordingly.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline, available only with a four-door crew cab and a 64-inch bed, balanced passenger and cargo space well. The bed featured 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 under-seat storage in the rear, 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 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning featured a 12-inch touchscreen running Sync 4 on the Pro and XLT trims, while the Lariat and Platinum trims had a 15-inch portrait-oriented screen. The 15-inch screen, though visually impressive, had a confusing layout. The Pro trim had an AM/FM radio, while higher trims included SiriusXM satellite radio. The Lariat trim added an 8-speaker B&O stereo, and the Platinum trim upgraded to a 15-speaker B&O system. The Lariat also featured a wireless charging pad and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system included games, useful for passing time while charging.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity 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 straightforward, with analog controls for vital functions. While the Ridgeline's infotainment system lacked cutting-edge features, it was easy to use and functional, with most rivals offering similarly basic tech.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning came with Ford's Co-Pilot 360 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features on the Pro trim included a 360-degree surround-view camera, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Trailer Reverse Guidance, and a forward sensing system. The XLT trim added adaptive cruise control, intersection assist, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Lariat trim offered Ford BlueCruise, a hands-free driving system with a driver-facing camera for monitoring attention.

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. It earned 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 gave it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included Honda Sensing, with automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The RTL-E and Black Edition trims added automatic high beams, and all but the base Sport trim had blind spot monitoring. However, a 360-degree camera system was notably absent.