Compare the2024 Honda RidgelineVS 2023 Ford Ranger

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
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 Ranger’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 Ranger. Four-wheel drive of any type costs extra on the Ranger.

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 Ranger.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Ridgeline has standard Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. Ford charges extra for Cross Traffic Alert on the Ranger.

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

Both the Ridgeline and the Ranger 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

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 Ford Ranger:

	Ridgeline	Ranger
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	104	137
Neck Injury Risk	27%	35%
Neck Stress	166 lbs.	363 lbs.
Neck Compression	20 lbs.	94 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	41/39 lbs.	705/152 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	168	344
Neck Injury Risk	32%	41%
Neck Stress	121 lbs.	194 lbs.
Neck Compression	56 lbs.	110 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	154/511 lbs.	509/287 lbs.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Ridgeline is safer than the Ford Ranger:

	Ridgeline	Ranger
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	151 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	615 lbs.	683 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda Ridgeline is safer than the Ranger SuperCrew:

	Ridgeline	Ranger
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	6 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	121	344
Head Peak Forces	no contact	73 G’s
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	1.18 in	2.32 in
Shoulder Force	290 lbs.	357 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

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 8.7% to 12.3% less likely to roll over than the Ranger, which received a three-star rating.

Warranty

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ridgeline for 2 years or 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Ranger.

Reliability

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

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 Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 17 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The Ridgeline’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 10 more horsepower (280 vs. 270) than the Ranger’s 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Ridgeline is faster than the Ford Ranger:

	Ridgeline	Ranger
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.2 MPH	91 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Ridgeline uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Ranger requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Ridgeline has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Ranger (19.5 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Ranger. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Ridgeline	Ranger
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12.2 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.1 inches

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Ridgeline has standard Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Ranger doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The Ridgeline stops much shorter than the Ranger:

	Ridgeline	Ranger
70 to 0 MPH	181 feet	193 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	140 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	150 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 Ranger’s standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ridgeline has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Ranger.

The Ridgeline has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Ranger doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension 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 Ford Ranger 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 Ranger’s 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 Ranger, 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 inches wider in the front and 4.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Ranger.

The Ridgeline Sport handles at .80 G’s, while the Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4x4 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 1.4 seconds quicker than the Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4x4 (27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.1 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Chassis

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 Ranger doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

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

Passenger Space

The Ridgeline has 12.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Ranger SuperCrew (109.7 vs. 97.6).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Ridgeline RTL/TrailSport/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 Ranger doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Ridgeline RTL/TrailSport/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 Ranger 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 Ranger’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 Ranger 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 Ranger’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Ridgeline’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Ranger’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 Ranger 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 Ranger’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Ridgeline and the Ranger offer available heated front seats. The Ridgeline Black Edition also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Ranger.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Ridgeline Black Edition keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Ranger doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Ridgeline TrailSport/Black Edition’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Ranger doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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 Ranger.

Both the Ridgeline and the Ranger 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 Ranger doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Ridgeline, connecting the driver and passenger’s cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle’s stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Bluetooth costs extra on the Ranger.

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

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ridgeline owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ridgeline will cost $190 less than the Ranger over a five-year period.

Recommendations

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its May 2019 issue and they ranked the Honda Ridgeline two places higher than the Ford Ranger XLT SuperCrew 4x4.

The Honda Ridgeline outsold the Ford Ranger by 61% during 2023.

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