If you need power in your next truck and a vehicle that is going to see each job through to the end, the 2023 Ford Ranger is going to be your best bet. But, why choose the Ranger over the Honda Ridgeline if they're both highly efficient trucks? We'll show you why.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Ranger is more affordable and offers better gas mileage and more cargo space than the Ridgeline.
- Similar safety features, but some additional features when choosing a Ranger.
- The towing capacity on a Ridgeline doesn't compare to what a Ragner has to offer thanks to its engine and its torque combined.
THE RANGER OFFERS MORE WITH ITS ENGINE
The Ridgeline indeed has the more powerful engine. But when you get down to it, it's not by much, especially when compared to what the Ford truck can accomplish with its engine. Both with only one engine option, the Ridgeline has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, maxing its horsepower at 280 and the Ranger offers a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 270 horsepower. Not off by much with only a 10 horsepower difference; the real difference here is in the torque and how efficiently these trucks are generating power to their wheels. The Ranger generates 310 lb-ft of torque while the Ridgeline maxes its torque out at 262 lb-ft. You'll find that with this added, superior statistic the Ranger can accomplish a bit more as far as how much work it can do.
GAS MILEAGE: 2023 RANGER
Despite having the more horse-powered engine, the Ridgeline doesn't offer the same gas efficiency as the Ranger does. The Ranger gives drivers an EPA fuel estimate of 21 mpg in city drives and 26 on the highway, while the Ridgeline it's 18 and 24 mpg, respectively.
SMALLER ENGINE, BETTER PERFORMANCE: 2023 RANGER
With its higher horsepower engine, but less capable torque, the Ridgeline has a capacity of 5,000 pounds of towing potential. By comparison, the Ranger maxes out at an impressive 7,500 pounds of towing. The Ranger continues to beat the Ridgeline with its payload size by being able to handle 1,860 pounds while the Ridgeline gets 1,600 pounds. As far as cargo space goes, the Ranger continues to supersede the Ridgeline with 50 cubic feet of space, nearly 20 feet more than the Ridgeline's 33 cu-ft. Undoubtedly the Ranger is a workhorse of a truck. Between towing, payloads, and cargo space it has the advantage and still looks great while doing it.
WHAT ELSE TO LOOK FOR: FEATURES OF THE RANGER VS. RIDGELINE
If you're a fan of off-roading, then the Ranger is going to be your truck. The rear-wheel-drive models of the Ranger offer 8.4 inches of ground clearance while four-wheel-drive versions get almost 10 inches. That's a huge cut above what the Ridleine offers at only 7.3-8.2 inches. None of the Honda Ridgelines offer a four-wheel drivetrain, making the Ranger a little more capable when taking it on rugged terrain. Also, the Ranger comes available with a Terrain Management system that offers four drive modes ranging from normal, to grass, mud, and sand.
The Ranger lives up to its name while off-roading and offers explorers a huge range of safety features that gives drivers a smooth expedition, no matter what the trail looks like. As far as entertainment while on the road (or not on the road) you're going to find many of the same features in either the Ridgeline or the Ranger. Both offer an 8"inch infotainment system, Apple Carplay, and Android Auto in their standard models. With different trims come different make-specific features, like the in-bed audio system on the Ridgeline and Wi-Fi hotspots on the Ranger. However, if you plan on having small kids on board more often than not, then the child safety locks the Ridgeline offers may be worth it to you as you choose to forgo some of the Ranger's specific features.
AND THE WINNER IS...
Our choice for the better truck goes to the 2023 Ford Ranger. Its super features offer more out of a daily-use truck, while still giving all the benefits of a work truck for much cheaper than a Ridgeline. Estimates for a Ridgeline start at $38,800 and the Ranger starts at $27,400. By siding with the more affordable Ford, you're going to get a truck that works for you every time in every condition.