The Ranger’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Ridgeline doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
The Ranger has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions 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 Ranger and the Ridgeline have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available four-wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.
There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ranger’s warranty.
A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Ranger’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.
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 Ranger’s reliability 30 points higher than the Ridgeline.
J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ranger first among midsize pickups in their 2019 Initial Quality Study. The Ridgeline isn’t in the top three.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 16th, below the industry average.
The Ranger’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.
For better traction, the Ranger has larger standard tires than the Ridgeline (255/70R16 vs. 245/60R18). The Ranger’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ridgeline (265/65R17 vs. 245/60R18).
The Ford Ranger’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Honda Ridgeline only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.
The Ranger has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Ridgeline’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.
For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ranger’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Ridgeline (126.8 inches vs. 125.2 inches).
The Ranger XLT SuperCrew 4x4 handles at .78 G’s, while the Ridgeline RTL-E pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.
For better maneuverability, the Ranger’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Ridgeline’s (42 feet vs. 44.4 feet).
For greater off-road capability the Ranger has a 1.03 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Ridgeline (8.9 vs. 7.87 inches), allowing the Ranger to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.
In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ranger’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Ridgeline doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.
In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ranger’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Ridgeline doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.
The Ranger Lariat’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Ridgeline’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.
Consumer Reports rated the Ranger’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Ridgeline’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”
IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Ranger will be $17 to $384 less than for the Honda Ridgeline.
J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ranger first among midsize pickups in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Ridgeline isn’t in the top three.
The Ford Ranger outsold the Honda Ridgeline by almost three to one during 2019.
