Compare the2022 Jeep GladiatorVS 2022 Honda Ridgeline

The Gladiator offers optional SOS Call, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Ridgeline doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Gladiator and the Ridgeline have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available daytime running lights, collision warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Gladiator is safer than the Honda Ridgeline:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Gladiator for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). Honda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Ridgeline.

There are over 2 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Gladiator’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Gladiator’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Ridgeline’s camshafts. If the Ridgeline’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The Gladiator has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Ridgeline’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Gladiator has a standard 180-amp alternator (220-amp - Gladiator optional and 240 optional). The Ridgeline’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Gladiator’s reliability 37 points higher than the Ridgeline.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Gladiator first among midsize pickups in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Ridgeline isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep 24th in reliability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 27th.

The Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 5 more horsepower (285 vs. 280) than the Ridgeline’s 3.5 SOHC V6.

The Gladiator’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 180 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 262) than the Ridgeline’s 3.5 SOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Gladiator gets better mileage than the Ridgeline:

The Gladiator has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Ridgeline (22 vs. 19.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Gladiator offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Ridgeline doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

For better stopping power the Gladiator’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Ridgeline:

The Gladiator’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Ridgeline are solid, not vented.

The Gladiator stops much shorter than the Ridgeline:

For better traction, the Gladiator Rubicon/Mojave’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ridgeline (285/70R17 vs. 245/60R18).

The Gladiator has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Ridgeline’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Gladiator Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Ridgeline doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Gladiator’s wheelbase is 12.1 inches longer than on the Ridgeline (137.3 inches vs. 125.2 inches).

The Gladiator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Ridgeline’s (57.1% to 42.9%). This gives the Gladiator more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Gladiator Sport has a 2.36 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Ridgeline (10 vs. 7.64 inches), allowing the Gladiator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Gladiator Mojave’s minimum ground clearance is 3.96 inches higher than on the Ridgeline (11.6 vs. 7.64 inches).

The Gladiator has .7 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear legroom than the Ridgeline.

The Gladiator has a much larger cargo box than the Ridgeline shortbed (35.5 vs. 33.9 cubic feet).

The Gladiator has bed indentations that accommodate 2x4’s for two-tiered loading to help accommodate diverse loads; the Ridgeline doesn’t offer two-tiered loading. The Gladiator also has indentations to separate the cargo box into three different sections length-wise.

Maximum trailer towing in the Honda Ridgeline is limited to 5000 pounds. The Gladiator offers up to a 7650 lbs. towing capacity.

The Gladiator can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Gladiator can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Ridgeline can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Gladiator has a higher standard payload capacity than the Ridgeline (1700 vs. 1583 lbs.).

The engine in the Gladiator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Ridgeline. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The Gladiator’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Ridgeline does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows available on both the Gladiator and the Ridgeline have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Gladiator is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Ridgeline prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Gladiator’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Ridgeline’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Gladiator’s optional power mirror controls are mounted on the door for easy access. The Ridgeline’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

The Gladiator will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Gladiator will retain 59.3% to 69.88% of its original price after five years, while the Ridgeline only retains 57.11% to 57.99%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Jeep Gladiator will be $501 to $2632 less than for the Honda Ridgeline.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Jeep Gladiator and the Honda Ridgeline, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Gladiator was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2020. The Ridgeline has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Gladiator as the 2020 North American Truck of the Year. The Ridgeline was Truck of the Year in 2017.

The Jeep Gladiator outsold the Honda Ridgeline by over two to one during the 2021 model year.