What are you looking for in your next truck? Between the 2023 Ford Maverick and the 2023 Honda Ridgeline there’s going to be a lot you’ll find impressive. Each truck is impressive in its own way. We’ve done the work to examine each vehicle to give you a definitive answer on which truck we think is the superior vehicle.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Powertrain on the Maverick is a fuel-efficient hybrid system, giving it excellent gas mileage.
- Maverick is much slimmer than the Ridgeline making maneuverability a breeze.
- Honda ridgeline has an impressive towing capacity.
FUEL EFFICIENCY: THE MAVERICK DOES THINGS DIFFERENTLY
The Maverick is not shying away from letting its audience know that its primary goal is to help driver’s pockets in the long run. As the only compact truck in the market, it wins for so many drivers. The base engine for the Maverick is a fuel-efficient gas/hybrid electric. It’s a 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder engine that gets up to 42 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway. The miles per gallon the Maverick can accomplish is nearly double the Ridgeline’s capability. Granted, the Ridgeline is still working with a 3.5L V6 Cylinder Engine, completely running on gasoline, and if that is what you’re used to for the jobs you work, then Ridgeline is your ride. However, the Ridgeline doesn’t offer any other engine upgrades outside of its standard engine, whereas the Maverick does give drivers the option to upgrade to a fully gas powered 2.0-liter V4.
WHICH TRUCK HAS MORE SPACE: A TIE
Both trucks seat five comfortably, with virtually the same numbers in head and leg room for each passenger and driver. The cargo space in the truck bed is also about 33 cubic feet for both cars; any home improvement or gardening supplies will fit easily into the back of both trucks. The Maverick manages to be six inches thinner, helping it earn more handling and maneuverability points. There’s some more peace of mind with the Maverick when it comes to off roading as well, as it has a couple more inches of ground clearance than the Ridgeline.
WHICH TRUCK IS MORE POWERFUL?
The Ridgeline, as a standard light duty truck, is the more powerful vehicle with its classic engine. The Ridgeline sticks to the job it knows how to do and that is hauling. The Ridgeline is performing at 280 horsepower compared to the 191 horsepower of the base model Mavericks’ hybrid engine. Even with the option to have a turbocharged four cylinder gas engine in the Maverick, it only generates 250 horsepower. However, it is able to tow up to 4,000 lbs with this engine. Overall, the Maverick does drive much smoother than the Ridgeline thanks to a higher turning radius, making tight spots less stressful to maneuver.
BETTER COST: MAVERICK
One of the greatest aspects of the Maverick is its affordable cost, it is over $15,000 cheaper than the Ridgeline. Starting estimates on the Maverick are at around $22,000. This makes the Maverick a great starting vehicle for new truck drivers, or great for anyone looking to add a hybrid to their garage for a more practical, daily use travel truck. Starting prices for the Ridgeline are at close to $38,000, as you're paying more for the aforementioned hauling and power capabilities.
WHICH TRUCK IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
We cannot dismiss the abilities the Maverick brings to the table, and for that it has become our top pick for best trucks of 2023. Either of these trucks provide an ample number of safety features that are going to work for the driver. The Ridgeline and the Maverick share a lot of the same features in general, right down to interior space. The Ridgeline is a highly capable, powerful truck that can easily be compared to any other pickup that is looking to get heavy work done. But the trucks begin to differentiate as to why each was made, and that’s why we consistently choose the Maverick. The Maverick was made for 2023, and a new era of trucks.