Honda Ridgeline vs. Nissan Frontier
The Honda Ridgeline vs. Nissan Frontier is a fair battle between two pickup trucks, with both offering something exciting to their drivers. With the Honda Ridgeline, you have a more expensive truck on average, although it isn't as fast as the Nissan Frontier or able to tow as much. In contrast, the Frontier costs less than the Ridgeline on average and has a perky 300+ horsepower engine in recent releases. Both trucks also have comparable beds and cargo volume, although their body styles and builds are different.
In this comparison post, we will look at the Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier, plus the specifications you can expect in pre-owned and more recent models from either manufacturer. Without further ado, let’s break things down below!
Honda Ridgeline vs. Nissan Frontier: At a Glance
The Honda Ridgeline and the Nissan Frontier offer something unique to their owners in different ways. With the Ridgeline, this truck has a more "car-like" feel, is known to be smooth on the road, and is more comfortable than your run-of-the-mill pickup truck. The Frontier from Nissan has better towing and feels more rugged, with most people choosing it over the Ridgeline for their jobs/work. You can think of the Ridgeline being more comfortable and day-to-day friendly, while the Frontier gets the job done better in terms of performance.
Here is how they compare in exterior, interior, performance, safety, and infotainment/connectivity:
Exterior
The outside of the Honda Ridgeline vs. Nissan Frontier is worth comparing, with the Frontier offering larger sizing if you need it. Specifically, the Ridgeline features a truck bed with a built-in trunk plus unibody construction, which helps give it a car-like feel on the road. The Frontier offers a body-on-frame design with an open bed and optional long bed configuration.
The exterior dimensions of the Ridgeline vs. Frontier:
- Honda Ridgeline: 210″ L x 79″ W x 71″ H
- Nissan Frontier: 210-224″ L x 73-75″ W x 71-73″ H
Other must-know dimensions:
Honda Ridgeline
- Body style: Crew Cab
- Bed length: 63.6″
- Bore: 3.5″
- Cab Style: Crew Cab
- Cargo volume: Up to 33.9 cubic feet
- Compression ratio: 11.5
Nissan Frontier
- Body style: King Cab and Crew Cab
- Bed length: 58.8 to 73.2″
- Bore: 3.8″
- Cab Style: Crew Cab, Extended Cab
- Cargo volume: Up to 49.6 cubic feet
- Compression ratio: 11
Interior
Looking inside the Honda Ridgeline vs Nissan Frontier, you have two different design styles. As we shared, the Ridgeline has a more elevated and car-adjacent feeling, while the Frontier is a true pickup truck meant to get dirty. The Honda Ridgeline will offer you things like a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated seating, and USB ports in the rear of the center console.
With the Nissan Frontier, you can expect less standard comfort and a more basic design, with things like a 6-way manual or 6-way power-adjustable driver's seat, standard air conditioning, front/rear heated seats, and charging at the front of the vehicle.
Passenger volume for the Honda Ridgeline vs. Nissan Frontier is something else we will share, with the Ridgeline offering 109.7 cubic feet and the Nissan Frontier giving you 100.1 cubic feet (Crew Cab model) or 85.6 cubic feet (King Cab model).
Engine, Performance, and Towing
The engine, performance, and towing figures for the Honda Ridgeline vs. Nissan Frontier show the most obvious differences in pickup trucks. The Nissan Frontier will have a 3.8-liter V-6 with 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque in recent releases, while the Honda Ridgeline sees a standard 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine that makes 262 pound-feet of torque.
The Honda Ridgeline’s towing capacity is up to 5,000 pounds, and it includes a standard integrated tow hitch with a 7-pin connector. The Nissan Frontier’s towing capacity is up to 7,150 pounds, thanks to its full-length ladder frame made from high-tensile-strength steel.
Verdict: The Frontier is your better option if you need a truck for heavy loads.
Safety Features and Driver-Assistance
The safety features of the Honda Ridgeline vs. Nissan Frontier are another thing you should compare before purchasing either pickup truck. For many years, the Ridgeline and Frontier have shifted focus to being safe for front and rear-row passengers, plus using driver-assistance technology to help add an extra set of eyes, hands, and feet to your vehicle.
Inside the Honda Ridgeline, you can expect 2020-present models to offer you things like Honda Sensing, which includes forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control.
For your Nissan Frontier, this truck has safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, rear parking sensors, and blind-spot warning.
More awarded: The Honda Ridgeline is rated higher by agencies, including IIHS and NHTSA.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The infotainment and connectivity inside the Honda Ridgeline vs. Nissan Frontier is another category we want to compare. Although both trucks' technology continues to improve, you still have decent specs for used models (2018, 2019, 2020, and so forth). With the Ridgeline, you get more car-like technology, which is on theme for that specific pickup. Newer releases include a 9-inch Display Audio touch screen, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB charging for front and rear passengers.
The Nissan Frontier sees things like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, an 8-inch standard infotainment touchscreen, and USB charging. Either way, these pickup trucks have enough to keep you connected while on the road.
Get the Nissan Frontier and Honda Ridgeline at Tim's Truck Capital
Now that we have compared the Honda Ridgeline to the Nissan Frontier, there is no better used truck dealer to check out than Tim's Truck Capital. We are located conveniently near Concord, NH, offering hundreds of vehicles to choose from. Our team is friendly and award-winning, and we can help you with a test drive as soon as today. We'll be standing by, so come to see us now!
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