Compare the2023 Honda RidgelineVS 2024 Jeep Gladiator

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Gladiator’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Ridgeline’s 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. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Ridgeline RTL-E/Black Edition has standard Parking Sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

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 Gladiator uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Ridgeline and the Gladiator 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems 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 Honda Ridgeline is safer than the Jeep Gladiator:

	Ridgeline	Gladiator
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	104	220
Neck Injury Risk	27%	34.9%
Neck Stress	166 lbs.	292 lbs.
Neck Compression	20 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	41/39 lbs.	576/707 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	168	180
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	121 lbs.	243 lbs.
Neck Compression	56 lbs.	84 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Ridgeline, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 9.8% less likely to roll over than the Gladiator, which received a three-star rating.

Reliability

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

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 17 points higher than the Gladiator.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 21 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Ridgeline is faster than the Jeep Gladiator (automatics tested):

	Ridgeline	Gladiator
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.2 MPH	83.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Ridgeline
	Auto	3.5 SOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
Gladiator
	Manual	3.6 DOHC V6	16 city/23 hwy
	Auto	3.6 DOHC V6	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 Gladiator doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

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 Gladiator doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Ridgeline has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Gladiator. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The Honda Ridgeline comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Gladiator.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Ridgeline, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Gladiator.

Brakes and Stopping

The Ridgeline stops much shorter than the Gladiator:

	Ridgeline	Gladiator
70 to 0 MPH	181 feet	194 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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 Gladiator Sport’s standard 75 series tires. The Ridgeline’s tires are lower profile than the Gladiator Rubicon/Mojave’s 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ridgeline has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Gladiator.

Suspension and Handling

The Honda Ridgeline’s independent front suspension is much lighter than the Jeep Gladiator’s solid front axle, which allows the Ridgeline’s wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road’s surface, improving both ride and handling.

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 Jeep Gladiator has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Ridgeline has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Gladiator.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Ridgeline is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Gladiator.

The Ridgeline Sport handles at .80 G’s, while the Gladiator Sport pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ridgeline Black Edition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Gladiator Rubicon (27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.4 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ridgeline’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Gladiator 4x4’s (43.4 feet vs. 44.5 feet). The Ridgeline’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Gladiator 4x4 Rubicon/Mojave’s (43.4 feet vs. 44.7 feet).

Chassis

The Honda Ridgeline may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 500 pounds less than the Jeep Gladiator.

The Ridgeline is 7.8 inches shorter than the Gladiator, making the Ridgeline easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the Ridgeline’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Gladiator doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Ridgeline has standard flush composite headlights. The Gladiator has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

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

Passenger Space

The Ridgeline has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Gladiator (109.7 vs. 102.9).

The Ridgeline has 5.2 inches more front hip room, 6.3 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear hip room and 5.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Gladiator.

The front step up height for the Ridgeline is 4.9 inches lower than the Gladiator (20.1” vs. 25”). The Ridgeline’s rear step up height is 5.8 inches lower than the Gladiator’s (20.2” vs. 26”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Ridgeline	Gladiator
Length (short/long)	63”	60.3”
Max Width	59.6”	56.8”
Min Width	50”	44.8”
Height	16.9”	17.7”

Payload and Towing

The Ridgeline’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Gladiator’s (5000 vs. 4000 pounds).

The Ridgeline has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Gladiator (1583 vs. 1150 lbs.).

Ergonomics

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 Gladiator 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 Gladiator doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Ridgeline’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. Power windows cost extra on the Gladiator.

The Ridgeline’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Gladiator’s optional power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The Ridgeline’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Gladiator’s optional power window controls are down in the center of the dashboard, away from the windows and mixed with controls for unrelated features.

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 Gladiator can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Ridgeline’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. Power locks cost extra on the Gladiator.

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

The Ridgeline has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Gladiator only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The Ridgeline has standard power remote mirrors. The Gladiator only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them 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 Gladiator’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 Gladiator offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Ridgeline has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Gladiator Sport/Willys/Freedom doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

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 Gladiator.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Ridgeline RTL-E/Black Edition has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Gladiator doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its May 2019 issue and they ranked the Honda Ridgeline RTL-E higher than the Jeep Gladiator Overland.