2023 Honda Ridgeline vs 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, despite being a groundbreaking electric vehicle, maintained a familiar appearance akin to its gas-powered counterparts. It was available in three trims in Canada: XLT, Lariat, and Platinum, with the Pro grade reserved for fleet customers. The Lightning featured a crew cab and a 5.5-foot bed, with distinctive styling elements like a prominent LED headlight bar and a faux grille. Inside, the Lightning offered spacious seating with high-quality materials, ergonomic design, and practical features like a panoramic sunroof and ample power outlets, making it both a work truck and a family vehicle.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline had undergone a styling update, resulting in a more rugged appearance with LED lighting and larger exhaust outlets. It was available in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Black Edition, all equipped with a V6 engine and AWD. The Ridgeline shared its platform with the Honda Passport, offering a refined and comfortable interior with quality materials and excellent visibility. Despite its older design, the Ridgeline's interior remained modern and functional, providing a comfortable driving experience for all occupants.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning was powered by dual electric motors, delivering 426 horsepower with the standard range battery and 563 horsepower with the extended range battery, along with a remarkable 775 lb-ft of torque. It featured AWD and an independent rear suspension, providing a smooth ride despite its substantial weight. The Lightning's range varied from 370 kilometres with the standard battery to 515 kilometres with the extended battery. Charging options included 120-volt and 240-volt outlets, with fast charging available at DC stations.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline, on the other hand, was equipped with a 3.5-litre VTEC V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and a torque-vectoring AWD system. The Ridgeline offered a payload capacity of 694 kilograms and a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. Its unibody construction and independent suspension provided excellent ride and handling characteristics, making it a comfortable and agile vehicle for both city and highway driving. The Ridgeline's fuel economy was competitive, averaging 10.4 litres per 100 kilometres on a road trip.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning offered a 5.5-foot bed with numerous tie-down points and a unique 400-litre "Mega Power Frunk" for additional storage. It featured the Ford Intelligent Backup Power system, capable of powering a household for three days during an outage. The Lightning's towing capacity was 4,535 kilograms, with a payload capacity of 907 kilograms, although these figures could impact its driving range. Onboard scales helped manage payload weight and range estimates.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline prioritized practicality with features like shelves in the door panels, a dual-action tailgate, and an in-bed trunk. Its interior was comfortable and well-designed, with power-adjustable seats and a heated steering wheel. The Ridgeline's truck bed was 1,625 mm long and offered 960 litres of volume, with tie-down cleats and various accessories available. The in-bed trunk provided 206 litres of lockable, weatherproof storage, making it ideal for carrying groceries, gear, or hosting tailgate parties.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning featured a 12-inch touchscreen with Sync 4 and embedded navigation on lower trims, while higher trims had a 15-inch portrait-oriented screen. The Lariat trim included a wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 8-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo. The infotainment system also offered games for entertainment during charging.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline's infotainment system was dated, with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. Higher trims included a navigation system and premium audio. The system's interface was simple but lacked modern design standards, and the voice recognition system was slow to respond. The wireless charging pad was inconsistent, and the technology needed an update.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning came with Ford's Co-Pilot 360 ADAS, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included Ford BlueCruise, a hands-free driving system with a driver-facing camera for added safety.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline featured Honda Sensing, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard in Canada. The Ridgeline received favourable crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with only the headlights scoring lower.