If you are in the market for a compact truck that can seat up to five passengers, the 2020 Ford Ranger and 2020 Honda Ridgeline are two great options. Our team, here at Keystone Ford, located conveniently in Chambersburg, PA, have put together a comparison of the two vehicles to give you a better idea of how they stack up against each other.
Price = Ranger
As far as price is concerned the clear winner is the Ranger which starts almost $10,000 lower, at $24,410, compared to the Ridgeline which starts at $33,900.
Power = Ranger
Power and fuel efficiency usually have a huge impact on vehicle choice, and this case is no different. The Ridgeline gets a reasonable 19 mpg City / 26 mpg Highway and can produce up to 280 horsepower and 262 lb. ft. of torque. Its engine is paired with a 9-Speed Transmission and has the ability to tow up to 5,000 lbs.
As impressive as the Ridgeline may first appear, the Ranger takes the win for this category as well. With the ability to get up to an astounding 21 mpg City / 26 mpg Highway. Its effective 2.3L EcoBoost® engine with class-exclusive 10-speed transmission, outdoes all other gas-powered pick-ups in its class with the ability to produce up to 270 horsepower and 310 lbs. of torque. Not only does the Ranger have the most powerful engine in its class, it also has an impressive and best-in-class 1,860 lbs. of payload capacity and can tow up to an incredible 7,500 lbs.
Capability = Ranger
When it comes to the off-road and adventure portion of a truck’s capability, there is a lot to be said about having a good range of traction management options. Both the Ridgeline and the Ranger offer many features to handle what’s out there.
The Ridgeline’s available Intelligent Traction Management System has four modes, each designed to optimize your driving experience in the following categories; Normal, Snow, Sand, and Mud. Honda also offers their Intelligent Variable Torque Management All-Wheel Drive System for the Ridgeline. By sending the amount of torque needed for each individual wheel depending on the current level of individual traction, this system elevates the effectiveness of this vehicle in any all-terrain situation.
The Ranger’s Terrain Management System™, which comes standard on the Fx4 Off-Road Package, is pretty comparable to the Ridgeline’s setup with these four drive modes; Normal, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, and Sand. The Ranger also includes an Electronic-locking Rear Differential on its FX4 Off-Road Package. When activated, this system locks the axle completely at both wheels simultaneously, delivering the traction you need to confidently conquer any off-road adventure. Another available off-road optimization feature that the Ranger offers is called Trail Control™, which is a driver-activated cruise control system created for off-road circumstances. It allows you to navigate more easily on any off-road adventure by putting the driver’s focus on more important navigation skills instead of worrying about the speed at which you are traveling.
Beyond supplying more off-road capabilities than the Ridgeline, the Ranger also has the best break-over angle in its class making it a serious off-road competitor. Ford has put a lot of thought into every detail of the Ranger. From the high-strength steel frame, steel frame-mounted bumpers, off-road chassis components, available steel front bash plate, available undercarriage skid plates, available off-road-tuned monotube shocks, down to its all-terrain tires, the Ranger is built for the rugged adventure seeker.
Comfort / Technology = Ranger
Both the Ridgeline and Ranger have many standard and available features, making either vehicle a technologically convenient choice. They both come with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Integration, available USB power points as well as available 8” touchscreen displays. The Ranger has an available 110-Volt power outlet and three 12V power points whereas the Ridgeline offers an available MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack instead. Both vehicles offer an upgraded navigation system and upgraded audio systems. However, the Ridgeline’s upgraded system is only a 540-watt configuration with 8 speakers, whereas the Ranger’s upgraded B&O Audio System comes with 10 speakers, is a 675-watt system with speed adaptive volume control. The Ranger also offers a 4G LTE Wi-Fi® Hotspot that provides on the go connectivity for 10 devices up to 50 feet away from the vehicle.
The Ridgeline and Ranger both have upgraded Leather-Trimmed Heated front seats and Heated Leather Steering Wheel available. The Ridgeline has an available 10-way power adjustment seat, including power lumbar support for the driver, but only a 4-way power adjustment for the front passenger. The Ranger, on the other hand, offers an 8-way power driver and passenger power adjustment seat with lumbar control, making any drive a comfortable and customizable experience for both front passengers.
Safety = Comparable
The Ranger and Ridgeline both have an incredible array of standard and available safety features sure to please any driver. Not only will you experience an elevated level of safety, high-tech features such as Auto High-Beam Headlamps and Adaptive Cruise Control are also available to further automate some driving features so that your attention can more fully be focused on the road.
Conclusion
When push comes to shove, the Ranger is the clear choice. Not only will you be paying less upfront and in the long run because of the incredible fuel efficiency, you’ll also get a better towing and payload capacity, a more impressive off-road capability, additional available comfort and technologically advanced features without sacrificing on safety features. Get buckled in and ready to ride! Near, far, or wherever you choose to go, the Ranger has your back!