Midsize pickup trucks like the 2025 Honda Ridgeline and 2025 Ford Ranger are known for their aptitude and utility. Positioned one size below popular full-size models like Ford’s F-150 and Chevrolet’s Silverado 1500, the midsize truck market offers a more affordable and often more maneuverable option to truck shoppers.
Their smaller dimensions can make them easier to position in everything from city traffic to narrow off-road trails. Honda must have had this in mind because the Ridgeline is available with the all-terrain-themed TrailSport trim offered throughout Honda’s SUV lineup.
The Ford Ranger was completely redesigned last year, with an updated exterior and interior, more engine choices, and improved onboard tech.
Want to know more? Here are some of the highlights of the latest Ridgeline and Ranger.
2025 Honda Ridgeline
2024 model shown
The 2025 Honda Ridgeline is available in four trims: Sport, RTL, TrailSport, and Black Edition. They are powered by a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard.
The Ridgeline’s $41,600 base price (including the destination fee) is higher than the competition’s, though Honda offsets this by making standard what are often extra-cost items on rivals. This includes all-wheel drive and niceties like wireless smartphone connectivity, tri-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist.
Honda Ridgeline Highlights
Car-like driving manners: The Ridgeline has a comfortable ride and agile handling, making it a cinch to drive. If you really want a truck but can live without truck-like driving dynamics — such as a jittery ride and vague steering — the Honda is for you. Credit also goes to its strong V6 engine, which works harmoniously with its silky-shifting 9-speed transmission.
Standard safety gear: The Ridgeline comes with the Honda Sensing safety suite, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure warning. Moving to the RTL, one level above the base model, adds rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.
Wireless for all: Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all trim levels of the Ridgeline.
Hidden cargo bed storage: A storage area of 7.3 cubic feet hides beneath the cargo bed floor. It’s lockable and ideal for carrying precious items you’d like to keep safely out of sight.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Ridgeline models for sale near you.
2025 Ford Ranger
The 2025 Ford Ranger has a starting price of $34,575, including a destination fee, and is available in four trims: XL, XLT, Lariat, and Raptor. Ford shoppers have a choice of three engines, along with rear-wheel (RWD) or 4-wheel drive (4WD). The most powerful engine is only available with the desert-raiding Raptor, which also comes standard with 4-wheel drive.
All-new just last year, Ford made a point to update the interior of this latest Ranger significantly, especially considering the utilitarian design of the previous model. That’s a nice way of saying the prior model looked a bit plain and dated. Not so in the 2025 Ranger; its 5-passenger cabin is thoroughly modernized, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen is standard.
Ford Ranger Highlights
Wild Raptor model: We’ll admit the Raptor version of the Ranger is overkill for most midsize truck shoppers. But boy, it’s also silly fun! Designed for desert racing, under the hood, you’ll find a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 that produces 405 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Underbody skid plates, all-terrain tires, and Fox shock absorbers are some of the Raptor’s go-anywhere goodies. You can’t get a Honda Ridgeline with that kind of performance.
Trailering and cargo hauling: When it comes to towing and hauling, the 2024 Ranger sits near the top of the midsize pickup truck market. It has a max tow rating of 7,500 pounds and a max payload capacity of 1,805 pounds. Both exceed the Honda Ridgeline’s limits. We also appreciate the smooth operation of the Ranger’s standard dampened rear tailgate.
Pro Trailer Backup Assist: This is a great item to have if you routinely need to maneuver a trailer carefully. Using a rotary dial to direct where the driver wants the trailer to head while in reverse, the system automatically takes care of necessary steering inputs.
Ford Sync 4A infotainment: Ford has kitted the 2025 Ranger with its latest SYNC 4A infotainment system. A clear and attractive 10.1-inch screen is standard, though a bigger 12.4-inch screen is available. Like the Honda Ridgeline, wireless smartphone connectivity comes along for the ride too.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Ranger models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Honda Ridgeline and Ford Ranger deliver a lot of midsize truck for your money. After its overhaul, the Ranger is a much better match for the refined Ridgeline in terms of how it gets down the road and the level of tech and safety features available.
Conclusion
These are two seriously good trucks with a lot to recommend. With the Honda Ridgeline, you get a vehicle that isn’t afraid of getting muddy and doing hard work. Yet it’s also easy to drive and maneuver if you’re also regularly dealing with city traffic and snug parking spots. It’s a truck for folks who want the comfort of a midsize SUV and the utility of a pickup.
The Ranger will appeal to more traditional truck shoppers thanks to its wider range of powertrains and higher limits in towing and scaling off-road obstacles. It’s also significantly less expensive – unless you go for the full-bore Raptor — and ever-so-slightly better in fuel economy.
New 2025 Honda Ridgeline Prices
New 2025 Ford Ranger SuperCrew Prices
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for vehicles and vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
| 2025 Honda Ridgeline | 2025 Ford Ranger | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.5-liter V6 | Turbo 2.3-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 280 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 270 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm | 310 lb-ft @ rpm |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| Fuel economy MPG | 18 city/24 highway/21 combined | 21 city/25 highway/22 combined |
| Also Available | Turbo 2.7-liter V6, Turbo 3.0-liter V6, 4WD | |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5-Star | TBD |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 125.2 inches | 128.7 inches |
| Overall Length | 210.2 inches | 210.6 inches |
| Width | 78.6 inches | 75.5 inches |
| Height | 70.8 inches | 73.9 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 43.4 feet | 42.5 |
| Headroom, Front | 40.1 inches | 41.0 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.8 inches | 38.3 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 40.9 inches | 43.7 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 36.7 inches | 34.6 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 62.0 inches | 57.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 61.5 inches | 56.7 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 33.9 cubic feet | 43.5 cubic feet |