2024 Honda Ridgeline vs 2023 Ford Maverick

The 2023 Ford Maverick retained its distinctive styling, characterized by its blocky front end and headlights, which set it apart from other Ford trucks. The Maverick Tremor variant added a rugged appeal with blacked-out logos, headlights, and taillights, along with unique features like "Tremor Orange" tow hooks and a new grille with orange accents. The Avalanche Grey colour option was a standout, offering a lighter, less blue-tinged hue. The Tremor Plus Appearance Package further enhanced the truck's sporty look with special 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. Inside, the Maverick's crew cab featured a lot of hard plastic, but the Black Onyx seats with a heathered look added a touch of style.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline, while not known for its looks, received styling updates that improved its presence. The blunt nose, tall hood, and new tailgate lettering gave it a more robust appearance. The TrailSport trim added all-terrain tires for a touch of attitude. Inside, the Ridgeline's new centre console design with a wide armrest and large storage bin made a significant difference, enhancing the truck's pickup feel. The 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system brought modernity to the interior. The Ridgeline's three trims in Canada—Sport, TrailSport, and Black Edition—offered a standard 280-horsepower V6 engine and torque-vectoring AWD, with prices ranging from $49,126 to $56,126.

The 2023 Ford Maverick was notable for its hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. It featured a CVT and FWD, but the 2.0-litre, 250-hp turbo EcoBoost engine option provided an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD in Canada. The Tremor off-road package, available on XLT and Lariat trims, introduced Ford's "Advanced 4WD" system, enhancing off-road adaptability. The Tremor package also included Trail Control, special springs and shocks, steel skid plates, and a 2.5-centimetre lift for improved ground clearance and approach angles. The EcoBoost engine's 277 lb-ft of torque allowed for a towing capacity of up to 1,814 kilograms with the 4K Tow Package, though the Tremor package reduced towing and payload capacities.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and Honda's i-VTM4 AWD system. This system allowed up to 70 percent of the engine's power to be directed to a single rear wheel. The Ridgeline's towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms, and its maximum payload capacity was 687 kilograms. Off-road capabilities were limited by shallow approach, breakover, and departure angles, with a maximum ground clearance of 19.4 centimetres. On-road, the Ridgeline excelled with a smooth powertrain, quick acceleration, and responsive handling. The TrailSport's off-road suspension felt firmer on pavement, and the all-terrain tires emitted a faint whir. The automatic transmission occasionally rolled when parked, requiring caution. Fuel economy averaged 14.5 litres per 100 kilometres during testing.

The 2023 Ford Maverick, with the Tremor package, was 2.5 centimetres longer than other Mavericks, but legroom remained consistent. Gas engine models offered 1,088 millimetres of front legroom and 937 mm in the second row, while hybrid models had slightly less rear legroom at 912 mm. The Maverick's interior featured utilitarian plastic materials, but upgrades were available, such as heated seats and a soft-touch steering wheel. The XLT trim's Luxury Package added heated elements and power-adjustable seats, while the Lariat trim's package included additional tech and safety features.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline prioritized comfort and practicality. It was easy to enter and exit, with supportive cushions and ample leg support for five passengers. The TrailSport trim in Canada featured perforated leather upholstery, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, and the front passenger seat was well-positioned. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed adequate legroom, padded seatbacks, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Ridgeline's interior boasted numerous storage options, including a large centre armrest, cupholders, and a flip-up rear seat cushion for additional cargo space. The 960-litre cargo bed included a weatherproof and locking trunk with 206 litres of space, perfect for various uses.

The 2023 Ford Maverick offered basic tech features, with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that felt dated but functional. Standard connectivity included Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto. FordPass Connect provided a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with a subscription. The Lariat trim added a 6.5-inch LED driver-information display, additional USB ports, and features like a power-sliding rear window and ambient lighting. The Lariat's Luxury Package included an upgraded sound system, wireless charging, and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline came with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring a volume knob, tuning buttons, and steering wheel controls. The system was updated with a faster processor and improved graphics. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. The Ridgeline Sport benefited from these upgrades, while higher trims offered additional features like SiriusXM satellite radio and an eight-speaker premium sound system. The 7-inch digital display in the gauge cluster was well-executed and user-friendly.

The 2023 Ford Maverick included the Ford Co-Pilot 360 suite of advanced driver-assistance technology as standard, featuring automatic high beams, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. Additional safety features were available, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Maverick earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with some concerns noted in crash tests. The IIHS rated its front crash prevention as Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle and Advanced for vehicle-to-pedestrian in daytime.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline Sport gained a standard blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Honda Sensing suite included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. During testing, the ADAS performed adequately but could be more refined. The Ridgeline's Road Departure Mitigation system was effective but occasionally overzealous. The IIHS rated the Ridgeline as Acceptable in the small overlap frontal-impact test, while the NHTSA awarded it five-star ratings, except for rollover resistance.