Compare the2023 Honda Ridgeline VS 2022 Nissan Frontier

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Ridgeline deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Ridgeline’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Frontier’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Full-time four-wheel drive is standard on the Ridgeline. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Frontier. Four-wheel drive of any type costs extra on the Frontier.

The Ridgeline’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Frontier.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Ridgeline uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Frontier uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

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

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ridgeline for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Frontier.

The engine in the Ridgeline has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Frontier has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Ridgeline has a standard 650-amp battery. The Frontier’s 510-amp battery 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 Ridgeline’s reliability 38 points higher than the Frontier.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 8 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Ridgeline is faster than the Nissan Frontier:

	Ridgeline	Frontier
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.2 MPH	87.9 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Ridgeline gets better fuel mileage than the Frontier 4x4 (18 city/24 hwy vs. 17 city/22 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Ridgeline’s fuel efficiency. The Frontier doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Ridgeline’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Frontier doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Ridgeline has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Frontier doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

	Ridgeline	Frontier King Cab	Frontier Crew Cab
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.1 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.3 inches	11.3 inches

The Ridgeline stops shorter than the Frontier:

	Ridgeline	Frontier
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

The Ridgeline’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Frontier’s standard 70 series tires. The Ridgeline’s tires are lower profile than the Frontier’s 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ridgeline has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Frontier. The Frontier’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Honda Ridgeline has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Nissan Frontier has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Ridgeline has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Ridgeline flat and controlled during cornering. The Frontier King Cab suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the Ridgeline uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Frontier, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Ridgeline is 5.1 inches wider in the front and 5 inches wider in the rear than on the Frontier.

The Ridgeline is 1 foot, 1.9 inches shorter than the Frontier LWB Crew Cab, making the Ridgeline easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction makes the Ridgeline’s chassis much stiffer, which contributes to better handling, and enables softer springs to be used for a better ride. Unibody construction’s stiffness also contributes to better durability and less body squeaks and rattles. The Frontier doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Ridgeline has an electronically controlled liquid-filled main engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The Frontier uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Ridgeline uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Frontier doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ridgeline has 9.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Frontier Crew Cab (109.7 vs. 100.1).

The Ridgeline’s cargo box is larger than the Frontier’s in almost every dimension:

	Ridgeline	Frontier Crew Cab	Frontier King Cab
Length (short/long)	63”	59.5”/72.7”	73.3”
Max Width	59.6”	58.8”	58.8”
Min Width	50”	44.5”	44.5”
Height	16.9”	19.4”	19.4”

The Ridgeline has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Frontier Crew Cab 4x4 (1583 vs. 1260 lbs.).

The Ridgeline has a much higher optional payload capacity than the Frontier Crew Cab 4x4 (1583 vs. 1290 lbs.).

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Ridgeline has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Frontier doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

When two different drivers share the Ridgeline RTL/RTL-E/Black Edition, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Frontier doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Ridgeline RTL/RTL-E/Black Edition’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Frontier doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Ridgeline’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Frontier’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Ridgeline the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Frontier can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Ridgeline’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Frontier’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Ridgeline has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Frontier doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Ridgeline’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Frontier’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Ridgeline has standard power remote mirrors. The Frontier S doesn’t offer either a remote driver side or passenger side mirror. The driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

When the Ridgeline RTL-E/Black Edition is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Frontier’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Ridgeline RTL/RTL-E/Black Edition’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Frontier offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Ridgeline has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Frontier and isn’t available on the Frontier S.

The Ridgeline’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Frontier S doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ridgeline has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Frontier King Cab doesn’t offer rear vents.

Both the Ridgeline and the Frontier offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ridgeline has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Frontier Crew Cab doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Ridgeline, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Frontier isn't recommended.

The Ridgeline was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The Frontier has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Ridgeline as the 2017 North American Truck of the Year. The Frontier has never been chosen.