For a long time, the Honda Ridgeline occupied a sort of “no man’s land” in the pickup truck marketplace. Though it had outstanding reliability, handling, and comfort, it didn’t match up to other full-size pickup trucks in power and was much more expensive than smaller competitors like the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Chevy Colorado. However, with the introduction of the Jeep Gladiator, it has something much more its size and price. In the battle of mid-size trucks, it’s the Honda Ridgeline vs. the Jeep Gladiator!
Pricing for the two mid-size trucks
The 2023 Honda Ridgeline is available in four trims, including the Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition, with the base Sport option available from $38,800. The high-end Black Edition can be had for a $46,230 starting price.
The 2023 Jeep Gladiator’s base Sport trim is similarly priced at $38,775. However, there are eight other trims, i.e., the Willys Sport, Sport S, Willys, Freedom, Overland, Mojave, Rubicon, and sitting at the top, the High Altitude model. Naturally, the High Altitude trim is the most expensive, with a $54,475 MSRP.
Honda Ridgeline vs. Jeep Gladiator: Performance and capacities
2023 Honda Ridgeline | American Honda Motor Co., Inc
The Honda Ridgeline’s powertrain features a 3.5-liter V6 putting out 280 horsepower in addition to 262 lb-ft of torque. The 2023 Jeep Gladiator‘s performance figures are almost similar, given its 3.6-liter V6 can produce 260 lb-ft of torque and 285 horsepower.
However, the two mid-size trucks are quite different regarding the towing capacities. Five trims of the 2023 Jeep Gladiator, including the Sport, Sport S, Willys, Willys Sport, and the Freedom, can tow up to 4,000 lbs with a 1,700-lb towing capacity.
The Mojave and Rubicon trims are next up the chain with a 4,500-lb towing capacity. However, the payload capacity for these trims also drops to 1,200 lbs. Finally, the Overland and High Altitude trims have the highest towing capabilities at 6,000 lbs. However, they also have the lowest payloads in the lineup at 1,120 lbs.
In comparison, the Ridgeline’s towing capabilities remain uniform across the board at 5,000 lbs. The payload capacities range between 1,509 and 1,583 lbs, with the lowest trim having the highest maximum payload capacity.
Jeep Gladiator vs. Honda Ridgeline: Ground clearance and drivetrain options
Jeep‘s claim of having the best-in-class ground clearance holds water, given most trims feature 10 inches of ground clearance and can go up to 11.6 inches depending on trim. Comparatively, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline’s ground clearance is 7.6 inches which might be an asset when getting in. However, the Jeep’s ground clearance is much more suited to rock crawling and adventuring in rugged terrain.
The drivetrains are also different, with the Ridgeline having an AWD system. Its counterpart, the Gladiator, has 4WD. With that, the Ridgeline has a system that decides which wheels need the most power and acts on it. With the Jeep Gladiator, a full-time 4WD drive is available on several models, e.g., the Sport, Overland, and Mojave. However, with the other trims, you’ll have to engage it manually. Depending on the terrain, you’ll also have to pick between high and low-range 4WD modes.
Nevertheless, the Jeep’s 4WD system plus extra ground clearance is better suited to deserts, rock crawling, and driving through water.
Jeep Gladiator and Honda Ridgeline: Fuel economy
The Honda Ridgeline offers the better fuel economy of the two mid-size pickup trucks, with 18 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on highways, and a combined 21 mpg. Fuel economy for the Jeep Gladiator is one of two options depending on trim. In the city, you get either 16 or 17 mpg; on the highway, it’s 22 or 23 mpg. Nevertheless, the combined figure for all trims is 19 mpg.
Honda Ridgeline vs. Jeep Gladiator: Seating
Both the Jeep Gladiator and Honda Ridgeline are five-seater pickup trucks. The former has the edge in space for the driver and front passenger with superior legroom, shoulder, hip, and headroom. However, the Ridgeline offers slightly more shoulder and hip room in the rear seats.
Honda Ridgeline and Jeep Gladiator: Warranty
Warranty terms for the two mid-size trucks are pretty comparable, with both having three years of basic coverage. They also have a five-year drivetrain and rust covers. That said, the Jeep Gladiator has a superior roadside assistance cover that runs for up to five years, while the Honda Ridgeline’s only runs for three years.
The strengths of each mid-size truck
Overall, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline has better fuel economy and slightly more torque than its counterpart. It also edges out the Jeep Gladiator regarding the towing capacities for comparatively priced models and a stronger reliability history. As for the Gladiator, it has more horsepower and can carry more weight. The higher ground clearance may also be handy when driving through obstacles and rough terrain.