Honda Ridgeline Vs. Frontier: The Ultimate Midsize Pickup Showdown

What To Know

  • The Ridgeline gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, while the Frontier gets an EPA-estimated 17 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.
  • The Honda Ridgeline is more fuel-efficient, getting an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway compared to the Nissan Frontier’s 17 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.
  • The Honda Ridgeline has a more comfortable and refined interior with features like a touchscreen infotainment system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated front seats.

The Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier are two of the most popular compact pickup trucks on the market. Both offer a unique blend of capability, comfort, and style. But which one is the right choice for you? In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll put the Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier head-to-head to help you make an informed decision.

Performance and Capability

The Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier offer different powertrain options. The Ridgeline comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The Frontier, on the other hand, offers a choice between a 3.8-liter V6 engine that produces 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 152 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque.

In terms of towing and payload capacity, the Ridgeline has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a maximum payload capacity of 1,584 pounds. The Frontier, on the other hand, has a maximum towing capacity of 6,720 pounds and a maximum payload capacity of 1,610 pounds.

Fuel Efficiency

The Honda Ridgeline is more fuel-efficient than the Nissan Frontier. The Ridgeline gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, while the Frontier gets an EPA-estimated 17 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

Interior and Comfort

The Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier offer comfortable and spacious interiors. The Ridgeline has a more modern and upscale interior, with features like a touchscreen infotainment system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated front seats. The Frontier has a more rugged and utilitarian interior, with features like a cloth upholstery, a plastic steering wheel, and manual air conditioning.

Safety

The Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier both offer a variety of safety features. The Ridgeline comes standard with features like lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Frontier comes standard with features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking.

Value

The Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier are both priced competitively. The Ridgeline starts at $36,490, while the Frontier starts at $30,590. However, the Ridgeline comes standard with more features than the Frontier, so it offers a better value for the money.

Which One is Right for You?

The Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier are both excellent compact pickup trucks. The Ridgeline is a more refined and fuel-efficient choice, while the Frontier is a more rugged and capable choice. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

Final Verdict: The Honda Ridgeline Takes the Crown

After careful consideration of all the factors, we believe that the Honda Ridgeline is the better choice over the Nissan Frontier. The Ridgeline offers a more comfortable and refined ride, better fuel efficiency, and a more comprehensive suite of safety features. It also comes standard with more features than the Frontier, making it a better value for the money.

Common Questions and Answers

Q: Which truck has a higher towing capacity?

A: The Nissan Frontier has a higher towing capacity of 6,720 pounds compared to the Honda Ridgeline‘s 5,000 pounds.

Q: Which truck has a higher payload capacity?

A: The Nissan Frontier has a higher payload capacity of 1,610 pounds compared to the Honda Ridgeline‘s 1,584 pounds.

Q: Which truck is more fuel-efficient?

A: The Honda Ridgeline is more fuel-efficient, getting an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway compared to the Nissan Frontier‘s 17 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

Q: Which truck has a more comfortable interior?

A: The Honda Ridgeline has a more comfortable and refined interior with features like a touchscreen infotainment system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated front seats.

Q: Which truck has more safety features?

A: The Honda Ridgeline has more safety features, including lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control, while the Nissan Frontier has blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking.