The 2020 Ford Ranger is the only adventure you’ll ever need. With its advanced terrain technology, it is designed to provide optimum traction, drivability, and performance. It’s one of the most capable, well-rounded, vehicles in the compact pickup truck class. Let’s compare it to the 2020 Honda Ridgeline to make your choice clear. Brighton Ford is here to give you all the details you need to purchase your new truck.
Design and Performance
The 2020 Ford Ranger is available in two body styles, with rear- or four-wheel drive. It seats four people in SuperCab models and five in SuperCrew models with comfortable and roomy front seats in both models. The standard extended-cab SuperCab Ranger comes with a 6-foot bed, while the crew-cab SuperCrew model has a 5-foot bed. There are three trim levels available - XL, XLT, and Lariat - with a variety of packages to meet your on-road or off-road experience. Payload and towing capacities are among class leaders, with payloads ranging from 1,560 to 1,860 pounds and towing capacity up to 7,500 pounds.
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline comes in only one bed length. A crew body style seats five people with plenty of space for all passengers and features premium materials throughout the interior. It offers a cushioned ride with comfortable, supportive seating. The Ridgeline delivers a maximum payload of 1,580 pounds and maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped – one of the lowest ratings in its class.
Power and Handling
Every Ranger comes with a powerful turbocharged engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission that combine for a smooth and seamless acceleration. The Ranger’s turbocharged engine features a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It's capable whether you're driving to work, towing a trailer down the highway, or driving off the road. Acceleration is generally quick, and the 10-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth shifts, and handles well on winding roads. When equipped with rear-wheel drive, the Ranger gets 21/26 mpg in the city and on the highway. With four-wheel drive, ratings drop to 20/24 mpg in the city and on the highway. The Ranger offers an affordable starting base price of $24,410 for the XL and ranges to a starting price of $32,500 for the Lariat trim. Each trim offers a few more options than the previous trim level, such as dual-zone climate control, heated front seats leather upholstery, and power-adjustable front seats.
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline lacks the rugged off-road ability and adventure of the Ford Ranger, though it does offer all-wheel drive and a traction management system in some models. The Ridgeline is offered in four trim levels: Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition. All Ridgelines are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft or torque and is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The RTL-E and Black Edition come standard with all-wheel-drive; and the Sport and RLT are standard with front-wheel drive, with an upgraded option for AWD. The Ridgeline Sport has a base price of $33,900 and ranges to a starting price of $43,520 for the Black Edition.
Safety and Tech
Ford delivers a line of standard driver assistance features in the Ranger that include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The standard Ford's MyKey system lets you do things like set speed and audio volume limits for secondary drivers. Ford also delivers a line of available active safety features that include front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert with trailer coverage. Tech features include Bluetooth, four speakers, a WIFI hotspot and a USB port. You can also upgrade to Ford’s impressive SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and navigation.
The Ridgeline standard driver assistance features on all trims include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, road departure, road departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control. It includes an infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen, seven speakers, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. While the touch screen is easy to see, it’s not very responsive, and it’s not as user friendly as some other rivals. Also included is a tri-zone automatic climate control and a push-button start.
Overall
The 2020 Ford Ranger delivers almost everything that a compact pickup truck buyer could want. It's capable, easy to drive, and has the power and handling you need for your off-road adventure. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline is a great truck, but it isn’t meant for hauling or venturing off-road. Come take a ride at Brighton Ford today.