2022 Ford Maverick vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline was designed with a focus on traditional truck aesthetics, featuring a long, flat hood, an aggressive grille, and bulging fenders. Honda revamped the Ridgeline's front end and added a new rear bumper with exposed dual exhaust outlets, giving it a more rugged appearance. The truck's new wheel designs in black and gunmetal, along with aggressive shoulder tread tires, contributed to its robust look. The interior, modeled after the Honda Pilot SUV, emphasized functionality with generous storage and easy-to-clean hard plastic surfaces. The Ridgeline offered a range of trims, from Sport to Black Edition, with a starting MSRP of $44,355.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Maverick embraced a more conventional pickup design, drawing inspiration from larger Ford trucks like the F-150 and Ranger. Its smaller size, at 5,073 mm in length, made it more compact than the Ranger, with a shorter bed and lower height. The Maverick's interior was notable for its creative use of plastic, with multicoloured surfaces and exposed fasteners adding character. The Maverick's design team focused on affordability without sacrificing style, resulting in an interior that was both functional and visually appealing. The Maverick's crew-cab configuration provided ample legroom, and its innovative storage solutions, like the Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS), set it apart.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline was powered by a 280-horsepower V6 engine, delivering 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive with Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4). The Ridgeline's torque-vectoring AWD system could direct up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel, enhancing its agility. With a ground clearance of 194 mm, the Ridgeline excelled on flat terrain but wasn't designed for rock-crawling. Its towing capacity of 2,267 kg and payload rating of 694 kg were competitive, though not class-leading. The Ridgeline's unibody construction and independent rear suspension contributed to its smooth and enjoyable driving experience.

The 2022 Ford Maverick offered two powertrain options: a standard hybrid with a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine and a single electric motor, producing 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged engine with 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid was front-wheel drive, while the EcoBoost offered all-wheel drive. The Maverick's FX4 off-road package added features like hill-descent control and all-terrain tires. On pavement, the Maverick's unibody platform provided a car-like driving experience, with superior ride quality compared to body-on-frame trucks. The hybrid powertrain was praised for its smoothness and refinement, while the EcoBoost offered more towing capability and spirited acceleration.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline excelled in comfort and utility, with a spacious interior and numerous storage solutions. It featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat and a 4-way power-adjustable passenger seat, both heated. The rear seat was the roomiest in its class, and standard features included triple-zone automatic climate control and a power moonroof. The Ridgeline's composite cargo bed was dent- and scratch-resistant, with 960 litres of cargo space and a 207-litre in-bed trunk. The dual-action tailgate and weatherproof trunk added to its practicality.

The 2022 Ford Maverick, available only in a crew-cab configuration, offered more legroom than the Toyota Tacoma and Hyundai Santa Cruz. Its interior boasted numerous storage options, including cubbies, a large storage bin, and the FITS system for customizable accessories. The Maverick's 1,382 mm bed had a payload capacity of 680 kg and featured an in-bed power outlet and tailgate tiedowns. The FlexBed system allowed for creative use of the bed space, with indents for dividers and a multi-position tailgate for securing large items. The Maverick's towing capacity, with the 4K Tow Package, was 1,814 kg, providing ample capability for most needs.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It included a seven-speaker sound system, text-messaging capability, and basic HondaLink connected services. Higher trims added features like SiriusXM, HD Radio, and a premium sound system. The Ridgeline's technology offerings were straightforward, focusing on essential connectivity.

The 2022 Ford Maverick featured the older Sync 3 infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. An 8-inch touchscreen and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot were standard, though the system lacked embedded navigation. The Maverick's infotainment was basic but functional, with thoughtful design elements like a large phone slot and USB port access. Hybrids included a brake-coaching feature to optimize regenerative braking.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline included the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. While these features were generally helpful, they were not infallible, as demonstrated during a test drive. The Ridgeline also featured a multi-angle reversing camera and automatic high-beam headlights. It met Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) crashworthiness standards, earning high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though the 2021 redesign affected its small overlap front crash test score.

The 2022 Ford Maverick's safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane centring.