2022 Nissan Titan vs 2022 Honda Ridgeline

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline was built on a unibody platform, unlike most pickup trucks that used body-on-frame construction. This design, similar to crossovers like the Honda Pilot and Passport, provided increased rigidity. Despite its innovative engineering, the Ridgeline's styling remained conservative, with a snub nose hinting at its front-wheel-drive origins. The rear view was more traditional, featuring vertical taillights, a centered badge, and dual exhausts. The 2021 redesign gave the Ridgeline a blockier, more upright grille, aligning it more closely with other trucks. The 2022 model continued to offer Honda Performance Development (HPD) packages for added visual flair. The interior was straightforward and well-finished, with features like leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a moonroof in the Black Edition test vehicle. However, the piano black trim was prone to smudges and scratches.

The 2022 Nissan Titan, a relative newcomer among full-size trucks, maintained a rugged yet elegant exterior with strong lines and an expressive face. The design was assertive without unnecessary details, and the fit and finish were top-notch. Inside, the Titan continued this theme with clean lines, excellent materials, and a spacious, airy cabin. The test vehicle, a Pro-4X model, featured a dual-panel panoramic moonroof and a power sliding rear window, enhancing the sense of roominess. The interior was well-equipped with many cup and bottle holders, making it practical for daily use.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline came with a single powertrain option: a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). This engine produced 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The Ridgeline's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, with 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 Ridgeline's naturally aspirated V6 provided sufficient power for most tasks. However, the nine-speed automatic transmission 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 and fully independent suspension. It felt more like a luxury car than a traditional truck, but its off-road capabilities were limited by its design and ground clearance.

The 2022 Nissan Titan featured a 5.6-liter gasoline V8 engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission across all models. This engine delivered 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) was standard on most trims, while four-wheel drive (4WD) was standard on the Pro-4X model and available on others. Fuel economy for RWD models was estimated at 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway/18 mpg combined, with slight variations for 4WD and Pro-4X models. The Titan's fully boxed ladder frame, independent double-wishbone front suspension, and leaf springs in the rear contributed to its solid performance. The Pro-4X model, with its off-road features, handled well on pavement and offered a comfortable ride. The Titan's towing capacity was 9,310 pounds, and its payload capacity was 1,710 pounds, making it a strong contender for those needing to tow or haul heavy loads.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline was available only in a four-door crew cab configuration with a 64-inch bed. This setup provided a good balance of passenger and cargo space. The Ridgeline's bed featured a 7.3-cubic-foot lockable in-bed trunk, 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 well-organized front cabin with a pushbutton shifter, large center console storage, and a wireless phone charger. The Ridgeline felt roomier than other midsize pickups, thanks to its wider stance and lower cowl height.

The 2022 Nissan Titan came in two body styles: King Cab and Crew Cab, both with two rows of seating. The King Cab had rear-hinged clamshell doors and a 60/40-split bench seat in the second row, with limited legroom. The Crew Cab offered more legroom and full front-hinged doors. The King Cab had a 78.7-inch bed, while the Crew Cab had a 67-inch bed. Both body styles shared a 139.8-inch wheelbase and 228.2-inch overall length. The Titan's bed featured fixed tie-down hooks, an available Utili-track Channel system, and optional Titan Boxes for additional storage. The tailgate was well-balanced and could be opened and closed with one hand. Inside, the Titan offered a 40/20/40-split-folding front bench seat on base models, with power-adjustable bucket seats on higher trims. The Crew Cab's second row had an available flat-floor function with tie-down hooks and storage boxes.

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, while navigation was available on the RTL-E and Black Edition models. The interface was straightforward, with analog controls for vital functions, making it easy to use despite its dated graphics and small screen.

The 2022 Nissan Titan featured an upgraded infotainment system with an 8-inch center display screen as standard and a 9-inch touchscreen interface as an available upgrade. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot were standard, along with Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, audio streaming, and a hands-free text-messaging assistant. The standard audio system included SiriusXM satellite radio capability, AM/FM with RDS, MP3/WMA playback, and six speakers. Higher trims offered a Fender-branded 12-speaker system with a subwoofer. NissanConnect with navigation was available on SV models and standard on Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve trims, featuring a 9-inch touchscreen, 3D building graphics, over-the-air map updates, and online POI search.

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 had a "Marginal" headlight rating and an "Average" rating for LATCH child seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Ridgeline a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover testing. Standard safety features included the Honda Sensing suite, with automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Blind spot monitoring was standard on all but the base trim, but a 360-degree camera system was missing.

The 2022 Nissan Titan came with Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking. It also featured intelligent forward collision warning and eight airbags. The Titan received top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in most crash tests, with an "Acceptable" rating in the passenger-side small overlap test. It earned "Superior" ratings for front crash prevention tech but had "Poor" ratings for the standard halogen reflector headlights. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Titan, but the 2020 model received four out of five stars for overall safety.