Head-to-head
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs 2026 Ram 1500
The Honda Ridgeline wins clearly, 95.9 to 70.1, on tech & comfort, safety. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo and fuel & range.
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2026 Honda Ridgeline
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is sold in the U.S. as a gas large pickup truck with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Ridgeline AWD, is EPA-…
vs
D2026 Ram 1500
The 2026 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large pickup truck with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 1500 2WD, is EPA-…
More Honda Ridgeline head-to-heads More Ram 1500 head-to-heads Every Ridgeline vs Ram 1500 model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Honda Ridgeline
Clear winThe Honda Ridgeline wins clearly, 95.9 to 70.1, on tech & comfort, safety. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo and fuel & range.
Tech & comfort 2026 Honda Ridgeline leads by 93.2
Safety 2026 Honda Ridgeline leads by 34.6
Space & cargo 2026 Ram 1500 leads by 16.7
| Category · weight | 2026 Honda Ridgelineoverall 95.9 | 2026 Ram 1500overall 70.1 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 95.4 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 65.4 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 83.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 95.1 | 99.9 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 6.8 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 95.9 | 70.1 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Honda Ridgeline: base trim Sport AWD · Ram 1500: base trim Tradesman 4X2. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Honda Ridgeline wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (12 against 103 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 5.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (37 points against 2.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 Ram 1500 answers
- It seats 6 against 5.
- It makes 305 hp against 280.
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
48 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 3,471 cc | 3,604 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 3.5L V6 SOHC i-VTEC 24-Valve | 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 eTorque |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | Sequential multiport electronic returnless |
| Valve configuration | SOHC | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 280 hp | 305 hp |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 271 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 18 mpg | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 21 mpg | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 24 mpg | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.33 | 3.21, 3.55 |
| Transmission speeds | 9 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.6 in | 7.8 in |
| Overall height | 70.8 in | 77.5 in |
| Overall length | 210 in | 228 in |
| Overall width | 78.6 in | 81.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 125 in | 141 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 33.9 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 110 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 6 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.1 in | 40.9 in |
| Second-row headroom | 38.8 in | 39.2 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 40.9 in | 40.9 in |
| Second-row legroom | 36.7 in | 35.3 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,420 lbs | 5,253 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,420 lbs | 4,836 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,019 lbs | 7,200 lbs |
| Payload capacity | 1,583 lbs | 2,360 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson Strut | Upper and lower A-arms, twin-tube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-Link | Five-link with track bar, stabilizer bar, twin-tube shock absorbers, solid axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion | Electric power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 21.7 ft | 45.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 320 mm | 378 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | vented disc |
| Rear brake diameter | 330 mm | 375 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | — |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 245/60R18 105H | 275/55R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 19.5 gal | 26 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | HondaLink | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 36 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 36 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 62 in | 66 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 61.5 in | 65.7 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
133 features · differences first, then sharedSafety32 differ · 32 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Intersection Collision Warning | std | — |
| Advanced Front Airbags | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | std | — |
| Multi View Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | std | — |
| Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| SmartVent® Front Side Airbags | std | — |
| Active Lane Management system | — | std |
| Adaptive cruise control | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | std | — |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | std | — |
| Advanced Safety Group — surround 360-degree camera, evasive steer assist, intersection collision assist, traffic sign recognition, drowsy driver detection, hands-free active driving assist | — | opt |
| Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) | std | — |
| Auto High-Beam Headlights | std | — |
| Blind Spot Information System (BSI) | std | — |
| Blind-spot Monitoring with trailer coverage and Rear Cross Path detection | — | std |
| Brake Assist | std | — |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) | std | — |
| Cross Traffic Monitor (CTM) | std | — |
| Direct Ignition System with Immobilizer | std | — |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Seat-Belt Reminder | std | — |
| Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row All), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All) | std | — |
| ParkSense front/rear park assist with automatic reverse stop | — | std |
| ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and center lines | — | std |
| Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) | std | — |
| Security System with Remote Entry | std | — |
| Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Tire Fill Assist and Location and Pressure Indicators | std | — |
Infotainment16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 215-Watt Audio System with 7 Speakers, including Subwoofer | std | — |
| 7-Inch Meter Display | std | — |
| 9-Inch Color Touchscreen | std | — |
| 9-Speed Automatic Transmission (9AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | std | — |
| Base — six-speaker sound system | — | std |
| Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Streaming Audio | std | — |
| HondaLink® | std | — |
| Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC) | std | — |
| Uconnect 12-in. Radio | — | opt |
| Uconnect 8.4 AM/FM/Bluetooth/SiriusXM Radio | — | std |
| USB-A 2.5A Data Port - Front Console (1 Port) | std | — |
| USB-C 3.0A Charging Port - Front Console (1 Port) | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto™ Compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Phone Charger (Qi) | std | — |
Convenience9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Key Fob Activated Remote Engine Start | std | — |
| Push Button Start | std | — |
| 12-Volt Power Outlets (Front & 2nd Row) | std | — |
| Capless Fuel Filler | std | — |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | std | — |
| Power Door and Tailgate Locks | std | — |
| Power Windows with Auto-Up / Down Driver's and Front Passenger's Window | std | — |
| Remote Fuel Filler Door Release | std | — |
| Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock® | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control System with Humidity Control and Air Filtration | std | — |
| Rear-Seat Heater Ducts | std | — |
Seating2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Person Seating Capacity | std | — |
| 60 / 40 Split Lift-Up Rear Seat with Underseat Storage | std | — |
Interior11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancellation™ (ANC) | std | — |
| Beverage Holders (Front and Rear) | std | — |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Seatback Pockets | std | — |
| Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls | std | — |
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | std | — |
| Lockable Glove Compartment | std | — |
| Multi-Functional Center Console Storage | std | — |
| Sliding Sunvisor Vanity (Driver & Passenger) | std | — |
| Sunglasses Holder | std | — |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column | std | — |
| Floor Mats | std | — |
Exterior18 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4 Off-road Group — tow hooks, skid plates, rear electronic locking axle, off-road shocks, hill-descent control, all-terrain tires | — | opt |
| All-Season Tires: 245 / 60 R18 105H | std | — |
| Crew Cab 5-ft. 7-in. box — 144.5-in. wheelbase | — | opt |
| Crew Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 153.5-in. wheelbase | — | opt |
| Dual Chrome Exhaust Finisher | std | — |
| Dual-Action Tailgate | std | — |
| Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna | std | — |
| LED Brake Lights | std | — |
| LED Fog Lights | std | — |
| LED Low-Beam Headlights with Auto-On / Off | std | — |
| Power Side Mirrors | std | — |
| Protection Group (4x4 models only) — tow hooks, front suspension skid plate, transfer case skid plate, electronic power steering skid plate, fuel tank skid plate | — | opt |
| Quad Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 140.5-in. wheelbase | — | std |
| Truck-Bed Lights | std | — |
| Wheels: 18 in Shark Gray Alloys / 18 in Pewter Gray Machine-Finished Alloys / TrailSport 18 in Shark Gray Alloys / 18 in Berlina Black Alloys | std | — |
| Rear Privacy Glass | std | — |
| Rear-Window Defroster with Timer | std | — |
| Compact Spare Tire | std | — |
Powertrain30 differ · 30 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VTM4®) AWD System | std | — |
| Intelligent Traction Management: Normal / Snow / Sand / Mud | std | — |
| 26-gallon fuel tank | — | std |
| 3.0-liter Twin Turbo, Standard Output (SST), eight-speed automatic transmission | — | opt |
| 3.21 axle ratio | — | std |
| 3.55 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar eTorque, eight-speed automatic transmission | — | std |
| 3.92 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 33-gallon fuel tank | — | opt |
| 4x2 | — | std |
| 4x4 | — | opt |
| 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 eTorque, eight-speed automatic transmission | — | opt |
| 9-Speed Automatic Transmission (9AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | std | — |
| 9-Speed Automatic Transmission (9AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | std | — |
| Active Control Engine Mount System (ACM) | std | — |
| CARB Emissions Rating: LEV4-ULEV70 | std | — |
| Direct Fuel Injection | std | — |
| Displacement (cc): 3,471 | std | — |
| Eco Assist™ System | std | — |
| Electronic part-time transfer case | — | std |
| Electronic-locking differential (raised ride height available on all axle ratios; standard ride height available only on 3.92 axle ratio; included with 4x4 Off-road Group) | — | opt |
| Engine Type: V6 | std | — |
| EPA MPG Ratings* (City / Hwy / Combined): 18 / 24 / 21 (Sport/RTL/Black Edition), 18 / 23 / 20 (TrailSport) | std | — |
| Heavy-Duty Transmission Cooler | std | — |
| High-Capacity Radiator with High-Power Fans (2) | std | — |
| Horsepower (SAE net @ rpm): 280 @ 6,000 | std | — |
| Idle-Stop | std | — |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): 262 @ 4,700 | std | — |
| Valve Train: 24-Valve SOHC i-VTEC® | std | — |
| Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) | std | — |
Chassis5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS) | std | — |
| MacPherson Strut Front Suspension | std | — |
| Multi-Link Rear Suspension | std | — |
| Power-Assisted Ventilated Front Disc / Solid Rear Disc Brakes (in.): 12.6 / 13.0 | std | — |
| Unit-Body Construction | std | — |
Cargo8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Class III Trailer Hitch with 7-Pin Connector | std | — |
| Bed Utility Group (upper adjustable tie downs, bed extender, bed step, bed lighting, spray-in bed liner) | — | opt |
| Heavy-Duty Truck Bed Tie-Down Cleats (8) | std | — |
| In-Bed Trunk® | std | — |
| Integrated electronic trailer brake controller (requires Class IV trailer hitch; included with Trailer-tow Group) | — | opt |
| Trailer reverse steering control | — | opt |
| Trailer Technology Package — trailer hitch line-up assist, integrated trailer health monitor, trailer reverse guidance, surround 360-degree trailer camera, tow-specific navigation, digital rearview mirror with tow mode | — | opt |
| Trailer-tow Group — integrated trailer brake controller, trailer tire-pressure monitoring system, trailer reverse steering control, trailer light check, trailer tow mirror | — | opt |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHonda Ridgeline
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 12 · 1 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Exterior Lighting (6), Forward Collision Avoidance (4), Engine (2)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ram 1500
Safety Signal 64 D
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 9
Owner complaints 103 · 3 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (51), Unspecified (16), Engine (13)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 26V622000 · 5 vehicles
- high Tires 26V623000 · 16,385 vehicles
- high Seat Belts 26V495000 · 1,271,294 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V225000 · 65,348 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V059000 · 456,287 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 26V560000 · 239,130 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Honda RidgelineSport AWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 4 trims | — 14 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Ridgeline AWD | 1500 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 21 | 22 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,200 | $3,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Honda Ridgeline or the 2026 Ram 1500?
The Honda Ridgeline wins clearly, 95.9 to 70.1, on tech & comfort, safety. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo and fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Honda Ridgeline scores 95.9 and the 2026 Ram 1500 70.1. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Honda Ridgeline or the 2026 Ram 1500?
2026 Honda Ridgeline: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Ram 1500: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 9 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Honda Ridgeline and the 2026 Ram 1500?
Where the 2026 Honda Ridgeline wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (12 against 103 filed with NHTSA), lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 5, and lists more comfort and tech equipment (37 points against 2.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 Ram 1500 answers: it seats 6 against 5 and makes 305 hp against 280. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.