Compared: 2024 Honda Ridgeline vs. 2024 Ford Ranger

Ford's traditional midsize pickup takes on Honda's innovative rival.

Connor Hoffman | 

Aug 30, 2024 | 2 min read

Honda | Ford

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline fills a niche in the truck market. It's not as small as compact unibody pickups such as the Ford Maverick or the Hyundai Santa Cruz but it, too, offers the advantages of a unibody design.

The Ridgeline is instead about the size of a midsize body-on-frame truck — such as the all-new 2024 Ford Ranger. Here's a look at how the body-on-frame Ranger and unibody Ridgeline compare in terms of price, features, and fuel economy.

Ford

The Ranger Is Cheaper and Has More Configurations

Ford's 2024 Ranger lineup starts with a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) XL model for about $34,000. It comes with cloth seats, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and Ford SYNC 4A with FordPass Connect.

Honda

Every 2024 Honda Ridgeline comes with all-wheel drive (AWD), and the base model starts at about $41,000. It offers cloth seats, a 9.0-inch display with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and safety features such as adaptive cruise control and a blind-spot monitor.

Ford

The Ranger Offers More Towing, but the Ridgeline Uses Less Gas

When it comes to towing duty, the Ranger is better equipped, able to tow 7,500 pounds on both RWD and AWD models and haul up to 1,805 pounds of payload, depending on the configuration.

Ranger models also have rear leaf springs and an optional locking rear differential. Honda builds the Ridgeline on the same car-based platform as its unibody Pilot crossover. It can tow 5,000 pounds and has a maximum payload capacity of 1,583 pounds on the base model, though that figure goes down as the trim levels rise.

Honda

Under the Ridgeline's hood is a V6 engine that's good for 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Ford Ranger trucks use a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that makes 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.

The Ranger gets better fuel economy, too, with ratings of up to 22/21/25 mpg in combined/city/highway driving for rear-wheel-drive configurations. The Ridgeline achieves up to 21/18/24 mpg.

Honda

Both Trucks Offer Dirt-Focused Models

Ford and Honda both equipped their trucks to attract drivers who want to have fun when the pavement ends. Ford offers the Ranger Raptor with a 405-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine, a coil-sprung rear suspension setup, front and rear locking differentials, and 33-inch all-terrain tires, among other specialized equipment.

Honda

Honda gives the Ridgeline an off-road-inspired model called TrailSport, which includes an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, and certain appearance parts.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Connor Hoffman

Connor Hoffman is a writer and editor based in Kansas City. Prior to becoming a freelance writer, he was an editor at a national car magazine and worked in communications at a major automaker. He loves off-roading and camping in his 4Runner, golfing (poorly), and shredding on his mountain bike.