2026 Ford Ranger vs. 2026 Honda Ridgeline

Consumer Reports says the redesigned Ford Ranger's base 2.3-liter turbo four makes 270 hp, with a 315-hp turbo V6 midlevel option and a 455-hp off-road Raptor, all on a 10-speed automatic, while the Honda Ridgeline is built on a reinforced Honda Pilot platform with unibody construction and independent suspension, handling like a family sedan and riding like some luxury SUVs, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 returning 20 mpg overall in CR's testing but with modest towing capacity at 5,000 pounds and a shallow, if longer, bed. TrueCar says the Ranger's $35,445 MSRP undercuts the Ridgeline's $42,390 TSRP by $6,945, and the Ranger also wins on fuel economy at 21 city/25 highway mpg versus the Ridgeline's 18 city/24 highway.

Which to choose, and why

Up to 455 hp for the Ranger; car-like ride for the Ridgeline

Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) says the redesigned Ford Ranger's base 2.3-liter turbo four makes 270 hp, with a 315-hp turbo V6 midlevel option and a 455-hp off-road Raptor, all on a 10-speed automatic, while the Honda Ridgeline is built on a reinforced Honda Pilot platform with unibody construction and independent suspension, handling like a family sedan and riding like some luxury SUVs, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 returning 20 mpg overall in CR's testing but with modest towing capacity at 5,000 pounds and a shallow, if longer, bed.

$6,945 cheaper, thriftier Ranger

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says the Ranger's $35,445 MSRP undercuts the Ridgeline's $42,390 TSRP by $6,945, and the Ranger also wins on fuel economy at 21 city/25 highway mpg versus the Ridgeline's 18 city/24 highway.

Questions buyers ask

Is the Honda Ridgeline body-on-frame or unibody?

Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) says unibody, built on a reinforced Honda Pilot platform.

Which is cheaper, the Ford Ranger or Honda Ridgeline?

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says the Ranger, by $6,945 at MSRP/TSRP.

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Ford Ranger: 4 records · Honda Ridgeline: 2 records.

Decision field	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline
Exact EPA records	4	2
Model / option labels	3	2
Drive layouts	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	2.3L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2.7L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI, 3L 6-cyl SIDI	3.5L 6-cyl SIDI
Transmissions	Automatic (S10)	Automatic (S9)
Fuel types	Regular	Regular
EPA classes	Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD	Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Combined efficiency	17–23 MPG/MPGe	20–21 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	Not listed	Not listed
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$2800–3800 per year	$3100–3250 per year

Head to head

Ford Ranger vs. Honda Ridgeline: size, power, capability and price.

Measure	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline
Starting price (KBB base)	$35,245	$42,290
Top trim price (KBB base)	$58,965	$49,390
Horsepower	270-405 hp	280 hp
Torque	310-430 lb-ft	262 lb-ft
Curb weight	n/a	4,420-4,504 lb
Length	210.6-210.9 in	210.2 in
Wheelbase	128.7 in	125.2 in
Cargo volume	33.9 cu ft	n/a
Towing capacity	n/a	5,000 lb
Seating	5 seats	5 seats
Basic warranty	3 years	3 years

Figures are ranges across each model’s trims from Kelley Blue Book records (2026 model year); prices are KBB base prices.

The Ford Ranger starts $7,045 lower: $35,245 against $42,290 before options and fees.
On peak horsepower, the Ford Ranger leads: 405 hp against 280 hp.
On peak torque, the Ford Ranger leads: 430 lb-ft against 262 lb-ft.
On length, the Ford Ranger leads: 210.9 in against 210.2 in.
On wheelbase, the Ford Ranger leads: 128.7 in against 125.2 in.
Both list the same seating capacity: 5 seats.
Both list the same basic warranty: 3 years.

Background on each vehicle

What public sources say about the Ford Ranger and the Honda Ridgeline.

2026 Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger is a compact or mid-size pickup truck marketed globally by Ford over a series of generations, varying between both in-house or outside development and manufacturing — and with a hiatus in North America from 2011–2018. Debuting as a compact pickup in North America in 1982 for the 1983 model year, the Ranger was later introduced in some South American countries.

Source: Ford Ranger (Wikipedia)

Recent recalls (24 campaigns across the latest model years)

September 2026, Back Over Prevention:Display Function. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10.1-inch center stack screen. The screen may lose power and fail to display the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal… Consequence: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
August 2026, Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power. Consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
May 2026, Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles. The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power. Consequence: A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

2026 Honda Ridgeline

The Honda Ridgeline is a mid-size pickup truck manufactured and marketed by Honda since the 2006 model year, over two generations in a unibody, crew–cab, short-box configuration with a transverse-mounted engine.

Awards: North American Car of the Year for 2006 and 2017. Canadian Car of the Year and Best New Pickup for 2006 MotorTrend's 2006 Truck of the Year Car and Driver's #1 mid-size truck for 2006, and 2017–2019 Autobytel's 2006 Truck of the Year Sobre Ruedas (On Wheels, a Latin American automotive magazine) 2005 Best Pick-up Truck Auto123.com's 2017 Pickup of the Year J.D.

Source: Honda Ridgeline (Wikipedia)

NHTSA rated the 2025 Honda Ridgeline overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.

Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)

May 2026, Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic… Consequence: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
May 2024, Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera. Honda (America Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ridgeline vehicles. The rearview camera (RVC) tailgate wire harness may fatigue and break, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Owners filed 89 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Honda Ridgeline, most often about exterior lighting (25), electrical system (24), engine (20).

Open both dossiers

Resolve the exact engine, drive and EPA ID.

01 · 2026Ford Ranger4 configurations →02 · 2026Honda Ridgeline2 configurations →

Comparison answer desk

12 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2026 Ford Ranger or the 2026 Honda Ridgeline?

Efficiency

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (20.5 vs. the 2026 Ford Ranger's 20 MPG/MPGe).