Midsize pickups offer buyers much of the capacity of full-size trucks without burdening them with massive footprints. Two great options in this segment are the new-for-2019 Ford Ranger and the 2019 Honda Ridgeline. Which of these smaller pickup trucks works best for your family? Find out
Exterior
Visually, the Honda Ridgeline looks more like a crossover with a truck bed than a midsize pickup, and there is a logical reason for that: It is a crossover modified to fit a truck bed. Honda based the Ridgeline off its popular Pilot crossover, giving it a look that appeals to a larger section of buyers. Sure, traditional pickup buyers may scoff at its soft appearance, but this is not the target demographic.
The Ford Ranger is not what we’d call a rugged pickup, but its proportions are more in line with a traditional truck. Helping it appeal to a wider range of buyers in the midsize truck market are its smoother lines and rounded edges. Things get a little more rugged when you add the FX4 package, which includes upgraded off-road wheels, tow hooks, bash plates, a lifted suspension, and more. The Ridgeline offers nothing to compete with the FX4 package.
In terms of size, the 2019 Ford Ranger is larger in every key measurable. It also offers two cab options to the single cab offering of the Ridgeline. The Ranger’s larger body gives it up to a 17.9-cubic-foot advantage in its bed, but the Honda has its unique in-bed trunk that adds an extra 7.3 cubes of protected storage that can double as a cooler.
| Measurement | 2019 Ford Ranger | 2019 Honda Ridgeline | Difference |
| Length | 210.8 inches | 210 inches | +0.8 inches |
| Width | 85.8 inches | 78.6 inches | +7.2 inches |
| Height | 70.7 to 77.8 inches | 70.2 to 70.8 inches | +0.5 to +7 inches |
| Wheelbase | 126.8 inches | 125.2 inches | +1.6 inches |
| Ground Clearance | 8.4 to 8.9 inches | 7.3 to 7.9 inches | +1 to +1.1 inches |
| Curb weight | 4,232 to 4,441 pounds | 4,235 to 4,508 pounds | -67 to -3 pounds |
| Bed cargo room | 43.3 to 51.8 cubic feet | 33.9 cubic feet (7.3 cubic feet in-bed trunk) | +9.9 to +17.9 cubic feet |
Advantage: 2019 Honda Ridgeline
- Soft styling fits more buyers’ taste
- Smaller and easier to manage
- Slick-looking Black Edition
Advantage:2019 Ford Ranger
- Larger bed
- More cab options
- Rugger FX4 package
Interior
Inside, the Honda Ridgeline continues with its Pilot-like looks from top to bottom. This cabin may not appeal to traditional truck buyers, but those who would prefer an easygoing crossover will appreciate this combination. Plus, being based on the smooth-riding Pilot makes the Ridgeline one of the smoothest and quietest pickups available.
The 2019 Ranger’s cabin is all pickup truck with its upright dash and hard angles, but it has plenty of style too with its available leather seating and more. Despite some of its niceties, the Ranger fits traditional truck buyers’ preferred look.
As for features, the 2019 Ranger has a surprisingly long list of standard features that includes a six-speaker audio system, SYNC, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Ford MyKey, a rearview camera, and more. But it is also ready for work with its standard vinyl flooring. As you move through the trim levels, things just get better for the Ranger.
The Ridgeline is no slouch in standard equipment with its 200-watt audio system, dual USB ports and more. The problem is this comes in about $5,000 more than the base Ranger, making it a tough financial pill to swallow unless you really want a crossover-like cabin.
Despite having a smaller body than the Ranger, the Ridgeline’s cabin is roomier. Other than front headroom and legroom, the Honda Ridgeline is noticeably roomier than the Ranger in every key measurable.
| Measurement | 2019 Ford Ranger | 2019 Honda Ridgeline | Difference |
| Front headroom | 39.8 inches | 39.5 to 40.1 inches | -0.3 to +0.3 inches |
| Front legroom | 43.1 inches | 40.9 inches | +2.2 inches |
| Front shoulder room | 56.7 inches | 62 inches | -5.3 inches |
| Front hip room | 55.8 inches | 59.1 inches | -3.3 inches |
| Rear headroom (SuperCab) | 35.9 inches |
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| Rear legroom (SuperCab) | 30.4 inches |
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| Rear shoulder room (SuperCab) | 55.2 inches |
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| Rear hip room (SuperCab) | 55.3 inches |
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| Rear headroom (SuperCrew/Base) | 38.3 inches | 38.8 inches | -0.5 inches |
| Rear legroom (SuperCrew/Base) | 34.5 inches | 36.7 inches | -2.2 inches |
| Rear shoulder room (SuperCrew/Base) | 56.3 inches | 61.5 inches | -5.2 inches |
| Rear hip room (SuperCrew/Base) | 53.5 inches | 56.6 inches | -3.1 inches |
Advantage: 2019 Honda Ridgeline
- SUV-size cabin
- Limited road noise
- Loads of comfort
Advantage: 2019 Ford Ranger
- Work-ready vinyl floors
- Tons of front-seat legroom
- Great tech
Performance
Under their respective hoods, the 2019 Ranger and 2019 Ridgeline each has only one engine option. The Ridgeline goes the more traditional route with a 3.5-liter V-6 that pumps out 280 horsepower. This power heads to the front wheels as standard — yes, this is a front-driven pickup — or all four wheels. This sprints the Ridgeline to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds.
The 2019 Ranger uses a more modern 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that injects 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This zips the Ranger to 60 mph in just 6.8 seconds, but use care in the corners, as testers have noted it has a fair amount of body lean.
Towing falls in the Ranger’s win column at 7,500 pounds in all formats. The Ridgeline’s crossover platform limits it to 3,500 pounds with front-wheel drive and 5,000 pounds with all-wheel drive.
| 2019 Ford Ranger | 2019 Honda Ridgeline | Difference | |
| Engine | 2.3-liter turbo 4-cyl | 3.5-liter V-6 |
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| Horsepower | 270 hp at 5,500 rpm | 280 hp at 6,000 rpm | -10 hp |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm | 262 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm | +48 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 10-spd automatic | 6-spd automatic |
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| Driveline | RWD (std.) / 4WD (opt.) | FWD (std.) / AWD (opt.) |
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| 0-60 time | 6.8 seconds | 7.2 seconds | -0.4 seconds |
| Payload | 1,860 pounds (SuperCab 4×2) | 1,562 pounds | +298 pounds |
| Towing | 7,500 pounds | 5,000 pounds (w/ AWD) | +2,500 pounds |
| MPG City | 20 to 21 mpg | 18 to 19 mpg | +1 to +3 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 24 to 26 mpg | 25 to 26 mpg | -2 to +1 mpg |
| MPG Combined | 22 to 23 mpg | 21 to 22 mpg | +0 to +2 mpg |
Advantage: 2019 Honda Ridgeline
- More base horsepower
- Confident handling
- Smooth ride
Advantage: 2019 Ford Ranger
- Big-time torque rockets it to 60 mph
- Huge towing advantage
- Advanced 10-speed transmission
Pricing and Features
The 2019 Ford Ranger has just three trim levels: XL, XLT, and Lariat. Their starting prices range from $24,300 to $32,390.
The 2019 Honda Ridgeline doubles the Ranger’s number of trim levels at six. They include the RT, Sport, RTL, RTL-T, RTL-E, and Black Edition. Their starting prices range from $29,990 to $43,420.
2019 Ford Ranger Key Features and Pricing by Trim
XL: $24,300
- 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
- 10-speed automatic transmission
- Rear-wheel drive
- Auto-engine stop/start
- Automatic-on/off headlights
- Daytime running lights
- Halogen headlights
- Black-painted steel bumpers
- Six cargo tie-down hooks
- Black door handles
- Black mirrors
- Black wheel-lip moldings
- Windshield wiper de-icer
- Power front windows with one-touch driver’s window
- Manual single-zone climate control
- 2.3-inch driver information center
- Black vinyl flooring
- Intermittent windshield wipers
- Power door locks
- Two front 12-volt power outlets
- One rear 12-volt power outlet
- Black urethane steering wheel
- Tilt and telescoping steering wheel
- Six-speaker AM/FM audio system
- 4G LTE Wi-Fi
- SYNC infotainment system
- Applink
- One smart-charging USB port
- Bucket front seats
- Four-way manual front seats
- Dual-fold cloth rear seats
- Automatic emergency braking
- Ford MyKey
XLT: $28,120
- All XL features, plus
- 17-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels
- Body-color bumpers
- Fog lights
- Carbon Black mesh grille with a silver surround
- Two front tow hooks’
- Power mirrors
- Power-locking tailgate
- Body-color wheel-lip moldings
- Rear window defogger
- 110-volt rear power outlet
- 4.2-inch driver information center
- Color-coordinated carpets with floor mats
- Power door locks
- Remote keyless entry
- Cruise control
- Lane-keep assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Perimeter alarm
Lariat: $32,390
- ALl XLT features, plus
- 18-inch machined aluminum wheels with Stealth Gray pockets
- LED cargo light
- LED daytime running lights
- LED headlights
- LED fog lights
- Chrome bar grille with chrome surround
- Body-color door handles
- Power-folding, heated side mirrors
- Body-color mirror caps
- Sliding rear glass with deep tint
- Dual-zone climate control
- Dual 4.2-inches driver information screens
- Ambient lighting
- Floor mats with Nubuck edges
- Overhead console
- Keyless entry and ignition
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- SiriusXM
- SYNC 3 infotainment
- Leather seating
- Eight-way power front seats
- Heated front seats
2019 Honda Ridgeline Key Features and Pricing by Trim
RT: $29,990
- 3.5-liter V-6 engine
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- Eco Assist system
- Active noise cancellation
- Hill-start assist
- Snow mode
- Electric power steering
- 18-inch silver-painted alloy wheels
- Brake Assist
- Daytime running lights
- Halogen headlights with auto-on/off
- Dual-action tailgate
- In-bed trunk
- Eight cargo tie-downs
- Tinted rear glass
- LED taillights
- Integrated Class-III hitch
- Variable-intermittent windshield wipers
- Bed lighting
- Remote keyless entry
- Black, power mirrors
- Black door handles
- Air conditioning
- Sunglasses holder
- Keyless ignition
- Power windows with one-touch up/down front glass
- Power door locks
- Cruise control
- Tilt and telescoping steering wheel
- Rear-seat heating ducts
- Steering-wheel-mounted controls
- Floor mats
- 12-volt power outlets in front and center console
- 60/40 split-lift rear seats
- 5-inch color LCD display
- Seven-speaker, 200-watt audio system
- Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming
- MP3/auxiliary jack
- One 1-amp USB port in the front console
- One 2.5-amp USB port in the center console
- 4.2-inch color multi-information display
- Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines
Sport: $33,390
- All RT features, plus
- Remote ignition
- 18-inch gray-painted wheels
- Body-color mirrors
- Body-color door handles
- Keyless unlocking
- Fog lights
- Tri-zone automatic climate control
- HomeLink universal remote
- Exterior temperature gauge.
RTL: $34,870
- All Sport features. Plus
- Exclusive 18-inch wheels
- Heated mirrors
- Acoustic windshield
- One-touch power moonroof
- Power-sliding rear window
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- 10-way power driver’s seat
- Four-way power passenger’s seat
- Leather seating
- Heated front seats
RTL-T: $37,000
- All RTL features, plus
- LED daytime running lights
- Walk-away auto-lock
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- Auto-dimming rearview mirrors
- 225-watt, seven-speaker audio system with a subwoofer
- 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay
- Android Auto
- HondaLink
- SMS text messaging function
- SiriusXM
- HD Radio
- Pandora internet radio
- Honda satellite-linked navigation
- 1.5-amp USB port in front console
- Compass
- Multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines
- Honda LaneWatch
RTL-E: $41,920
- All RTL-T features, plus
- All-wheel drive
- Snow, Sand, and Mud terrain modes
- Heavy-duty transmission cooler
- LED truck bed lights
- Chrome door handles
- Truck-bed household power outlet
- LED front map lights
- Heated steering wheel
- Conversation mirror with sunglasses holder
- Blue ambient lighting
- Two-position driver’s seat memory
- 540-watt premium audio system with eight speakers and a subwoofer
- Truck-bed audio system
- Automatic emergency braking
- Road-departure mitigation
- Forward collision warning
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Blind-spot monitoring
Black Edition: $43,420
- All RTL-E models, plus
- 18-inch black-painted alloy wheels
- Body-color door handles
- Black exterior trim
- Red ambient lighting
- Black leather seating
Who Should Buy the 2019 Ford Ranger?
The 2019 Ford Ranger is for a true pickup truck buyer who doesn’t want to commit to a full-size rig like the F-150. It offers ample towing for lighter duty, a surprising payload capacity, and spacious bed. Plus, it rings in nearly $5,000 lower than the Ridgeline in its base trim with no huge sacrifices in features.
Who Should Buy the 2019 Honda Ridgeline?
Do you need a pickup truck but don’t want to drive one? The Honda Ridgeline has the look and feel of a midsize crossover with a bed slapped in the back for hauling cargo, making it a great buy for you.
Head down to Garber Automall serving the Jacksonville area today to test drive the 2019 Ford Ranger and see what it can offer you. Whether you’re hauling sports equipment to your kids’ soccer match in Orange Park or hauling drywall for a home improvement project in Fleming Island, the 2019 Ford Ranger can handle it all. Can’t make it to our Jacksonville Ford dealership today? Navigate over to our online inventory page to see our in-stock 2019 Ranger models, choose one that suits you, then schedule a future test drive.
