2023 Ford Maverick vs 2022 Honda Ridgeline

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline featured a unibody construction, a design choice that diverged from the traditional body-on-frame build used by most other pickup trucks. This more car-like design, similar to that of crossovers like the Honda Pilot and Passport, provided an impressive rigidity that wasn’t easily matched by the separate body and frame configurations. However, its innovative build wasn't immediately obvious at first glance.

Stylistically, the Ridgeline took a more conservative approach. The distinguishing feature hinting at its unique platform was a snub nose, a result of a design originally intended for front-wheel-drive vehicles. Viewing the vehicle from the rear three-quarters, one could see classic pickup truck cues—vertical taillights, a centrally-placed badge, and dual exhaust pipes barely visible from under the bumper. The facelift that came with the 2021 model year resulted in a blockier and more upright grille, aligning its appearance further with conventional trucks, an enhancement that improved its overall aesthetics.

For those looking to add flair, the Honda Performance Development (HPD) packages were available, including details like fender flares, bronze or black 18-inch alloy wheels, and decals. Our Ridgeline Black Edition test model, however, featured a sleek and almost entirely black exterior, matching its Berlina Black paint with matching wheels and trim.

The interior emphasized practicality with a basic yet thoughtful design. High-quality fit and finish were in line with Honda’s reputation, and our specific model came well-equipped, featuring 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 liberal use of piano-black trim was less impressive, being prone to smudges and scratches and failing to elevate the predominantly black interior.

The 2023 Ford Maverick maintained the aesthetics introduced with its debut model, closely resembling the larger Ford trucks, especially in its side and rear profiles. The blocky front end and unique headlight design distinguished it within the lineup. The 2023 Maverick introduced the Tremor off-road package, enhancing its visual appeal with blacked-out logos, headlights, and taillights, along with an exclusive Avalanche Gray color that set it apart from competitors. The Tremor edition also featured distinctive orange tow hooks, updated fender vents, and a new grille with orange accents. The optional $1,495 Tremor Appearance Package further elevated the look with a Carbonized Gray roof and mirrors, black side graphics, and dark gray 17-inch wheels accented with Tremor Orange.

The Maverick’s base XL trim came with 17-inch Sparkle Silver-painted steel wheels, which weren’t particularly attractive. Moving up to the XLT and Lariat trims offered 17-inch Carbonized Gray aluminum and 18-inch Bright aluminum wheels, respectively. The FX4 package on XLT and Lariat trims provided 17-inch Ebony-painted aluminum wheels.

Inside, the Maverick’s crew cab was noticeably utilitarian, dominated by hard plastic surfaces. The steering wheel, only partially covered in soft materials in some configurations, reflected this cost-effective approach. The Black Onyx seats had a salt-and-pepper look that was appealing for now, though its long-term popularity was debatable. A blue tint on the plastic around the door panels and center console added a surprisingly upscale visual contrast to the otherwise rugged interior.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline stuck with a single powertrain option—a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. This engine generated 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The Ridgeline’s towing capabilities, while decent, were not exceptional: it could tow up to 5,000 pounds. Payload capacities varied slightly among trims, with the Black Edition and RTL-E models capable of hauling up to 1,509 pounds, while the RTL and Sport trims could handle 1,544 pounds and 1,583 pounds, respectively.

The Ridgeline’s towing and payload were modest compared to rivals. For instance, the Ford Ranger could tow 7,500 pounds with a payload of 1,680 pounds, while diesel versions of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon boasted a towing capacity upwards of 7,700 pounds. Despite this, the Ridgeline’s 3.5-liter V6 offered a smooth and robust performance, although the nine-speed automatic transmission often felt sluggish. The engine start-stop system also required patience as it could delay acceleration when pulling away from stops.

The Ridgeline truly shone in ride quality and handling, reminiscent of a luxury car rather than a pickup. The fully independent suspension and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system provided handling precision unmatched by traditional trucks, while the unibody construction ensured a quiet and comfortable ride. However, its off-road capabilities lagged behind, with a ground clearance of only 7.64 inches and no specialized off-road variant akin to those from Chevrolet, Toyota, or Jeep.

Ford’s Maverick made headlines as the first standard hybrid pickup truck when it debuted. For 2023, it continued to offer the hybrid powertrain as standard—a combination of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, producing 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. Those seeking more power could opt for the 2.0-liter, 250-horsepower EcoBoost engine, which paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and optional all-wheel drive for $2,200 extra. All-wheel drive came standard on the range-topping Lariat trim and with the off-road packages on XLT and Lariat trims.

The notable addition for 2023 was the Tremor off-road package, available on XLT and Lariat trims. The Tremor package offered Ford’s Advanced 4WD system, capable of directing substantial torque to either rear wheel, enhancing off-road adaptability. It also introduced Trail Control, managing throttle and braking over rough terrain, allowing the driver to focus on steering.

The Maverick Tremor featured specialized springs and shocks, steel skid plates, a heavy-duty transmission cooler, and a 1-inch lift, providing 9.4 inches of ground clearance, a 30.7-degree approach angle, and a 22.2-degree departure angle. In comparison, the base hybrid offered a 20.6-degree approach and 21.9-degree departure angles, increasing slightly with AWD.

For towing, the EcoBoost engine could handle up to 4,000 pounds with the 4K Tow Package, although the Tremor package reduced these figures to 2,000 pounds towing and 1,200 pounds payload capacity.

The Ridgeline was only available with a four-door crew cab and a 64-inch bed, offering a good balance between passenger and cargo space. The bed was longer than those of crew-cab versions of competitors like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. Honda’s design integrated innovative features such as a 7.3-cubic-foot in-bed trunk with a drain plug—ideal for storing dirty items or using the compartment as a cooler. The spare tire was conveniently located in a slot ahead of the trunk, avoiding the need to crawl under the truck. Additionally, an in-bed audio system utilized the bed itself as a speaker, and the bed included a 115-volt AC outlet.

The exclusive Dual-Action Tailgate added versatility, opening both downward and sideways, and the bed’s dimensions allowed for 4-foot-wide sheets of plywood to fit between the wheel wells. The Ridgeline also provided functional under-seat storage in the cab and easily accessible rear USB ports on higher trims.

The interior’s layout was logical, with user-friendly controls, a pushbutton shifter, and ample storage, including a spacious center console. While the truck didn’t boast superior headroom or legroom on paper, the wider stance and lower dashboard created a more spacious feel compared to its competitors.

The 2023 Ford Maverick’s dimensions remained largely unaffected by the addition of the Tremor package, aside from a 1-inch increase in overall length. The Maverick offered 42.8 inches of front legroom and 36.9 inches in the rear for models with the gas engine. The hybrid variant had slightly reduced rear legroom at 35.9 inches. This meant the Maverick consistently offered more space than the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which provided 41.4 inches of front legroom and 36.5 inches in the rear seat, making the hybrid Maverick’s rear seat slightly less spacious by comparison.

The allocation of interior plastic was extensive, fitting the truck's utilitarian nature and aligning with its budget-friendly positioning. Higher trim levels allowed for considerable upgrades, such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with heating options. The Luxury Package elevated the interior with heated elements, more power-adjustable features, and additional tech content, depending on the trim level.

In terms of cargo capabilities, the Maverick’s payload capacity peaked at 1,200 pounds (with the Tremor package), presenting it as practical for lighter-duty tasks compared to traditional full-size pickups.

The Ridgeline’s standard tech suite included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity, and Bluetooth. SiriusXM satellite radio was available on all but the base Sport trim, while navigation featured on the RTL-E and Black Edition variants.

Though the interface didn’t set any benchmarks for innovation, it was functional and user-friendly. The graphics were dated, seemingly a call-back to the 1990s, but the operation was intuitive. Physical controls, such as a volume knob and buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel, facilitated ease of use without always needing to interact with the touchscreen.

While the Ridgeline failed to deliver groundbreaking tech features, its straightforward infotainment setup was easy to live with, especially when considering that competing midsize pickups also offered basic technology packages.

As an entry-level truck, the Maverick’s tech offerings were modest. The 8-inch infotainment touchscreen had a no-frills display evocative of ‘90s technology. Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto came standard, alongside FordPass Connect, which provided a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with a subscription. A standard six-speaker sound system delivered adequate audio.

The instrument cluster featured a 4.2-inch driver-information display, except on the Lariat trim, which boasted a 6.5-inch LED screen. These displays were typical of Ford’s truck lineup. The Maverick included two front USB ports (one USB-A and one USB-C), and additional rear USB ports were available on Lariat models. Higher trims also enjoyed perks like a power-sliding rear window, ambient lighting, and push-button start. The Lariat’s Luxury Package further enhanced tech offerings with an eight-speaker B&O sound system, wireless charging pad, SiriusXM Radio and Traffic and Travel services, and the Sync 3 infotainment system.

The Ridgeline earned commendable safety ratings, achieving top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it received an “Average” rating in the passenger-side small overlap frontal test. The truck’s front-crash prevention systems were rated “Superior” by IIHS, but its headlights received a “Marginal” rating and the LATCH ease of use also scored "Average."

The NHTSA awarded the Ridgeline a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars each for frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash testing.

Honda Sensing, including automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control, came standard. Higher trims offered additional features like automatic high beams and blind spot monitoring. The placement of the blind spot monitoring warning light at the base of the front pillar enhanced visibility for drivers. However, the absence of a 360-degree camera system was noted, which could have been beneficial given the vehicle's size.

Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 suite of driver-assistance features was standard across all Maverick trims, including automatic high beams, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. Additional available safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and hill-descent control.

The reverse camera on our test model successfully detected cross-traffic at greater distances than typical systems, which could be both reassuring and possibly annoying due to frequent alerts.

The NHTSA rated the 2023 Ford Maverick with four stars overall, deducting points for rollover resistance and the passenger-side frontal crash test. It was also noted that a gas-powered test model emitted smoke and flames post-crash. IIHS awarded the Maverick a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention and "Advanced" for vehicle-to-pedestrian during daytime tests but only a "Basic" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian at night.