These trucks are made for versatility.
Shopping for a truck? You can find trucks of all sizes to suit a variety of jobs and lifestyles. If a full-size truck is a little too large for you and you don't need the capabilities of a heavy-duty pickup, take a look at some midsize options. Trucks like the Honda Ridgeline and Jeep Gladiator offer the same basic utility of larger trucks, but in a smaller and easier-to-park package.
We've broken down the major differences between the Ridgeline and Gladiator to make it easier to decide which one is right for you. Take a look at this Honda Ridgeline vs. Jeep Gladiator comparison to learn more about each truck's features, specs, and ratings.
Side-by-Side Comparison
2020 Honda Ridge | 2020 Jeep Gladiator | |
|---|---|---|
Average Price | Less than $38,500 | Less than $44,500 |
Performance | ||
Base Engine | 3.5 L V6 | 3.6L V6 |
Horsepower | 280 hp | 285 hp |
MPG | EPA-estimated 22 mpg with front-wheel drive | EPA-estimated 19 mpg with four-wheel drive |
Interior | ||
Seating | 5 | 5 |
Cargo Space | 41.2 cu ft (including in-bed trunk) | 35.5 cu ft |
Front-seat Legroom | 40.9 inches | 41.2 inches |
Rear-seat Legroom | 36.7 inches | 38.3 inches |
Overall Interior Space | 109.7 cu ft (Sport) | 103 cu ft |
Ratings | ||
Tailpipe Emissions | 407 grams per mile with front-wheel drive | 476 grams per mile with four-wheel drive and manual transmission |
NHTSA Safety Rating | 5/5 | Not rated |
Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Click here to look up a specific vehicle.
Features and Trim Options
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline and 2020 Jeep Gladiator are both four-door pickups that offer room for five passengers. Six-cylinder power is standard, but the two trucks differ when it comes to how that translates to the road.
The base 2020 Ridgeline has front-wheel drive, but it is also available with all-wheel drive. The 2020 Jeep Gladiator comes standard with part-time four-wheel drive, making it a great choice if work or play takes you off-road. For even more off-road capability, take a look at the rugged Gladiator Rubicon.
Honda Ridgeline
Honda introduced an all-new, second-generation version of the Ridgeline with a conventionally styled bed for the 2017 model year. For 2020, Ridgelines are powered by a 3.5L V6, which gives plenty of power for commutes, daily errands, and a little off-roading.
Trim levels varied between 2017 and 2020, but the Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition were constants throughout that time span. The top-of-the-line Black Edition comes dressed exclusively in Nighthawk Black and is equipped with automatic full-time all-wheel drive.
Expect to find these features on all 2017-2020 Ridgelines:
Nine-speed automatic (2020)
In-bed trunk
Dual-action tailgate
Bluetooth® streaming audio
LED taillights
Jeep Gladiator
After a nearly 50-year hiatus, Jeep brought its Gladiator nameplate back for the 2020 model year as an all-new midsize pickup—the brand's first truck since it discontinued the Comanche in the early 1990s. Over the course of its first model year, the Gladiator lineup expanded to include the Sport, Sport S, Overland, and North Edition trim levels, plus the hardcore Mojave and Rubicon grades, which are designed to take on the roughest outdoor adventures.
No matter which 2020 Jeep Gladiator you choose, it will have these features as standard equipment:
Fold-down windshield
Removable top and doors
Five-foot bed
Push-button start
Fuel tank and transfer case skid plates
Engine Options
Both the 2020 Ridgeline and 2020 Gladiator have V6 engines as standard. There are no additional engine options, making choosing the right one for you a little simpler.
Honda Ridgeline
All 2017-2020 Honda Ridgelines have a 3.5L V6 that generates 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available to provide additional traction during inclement weather (Black Edition models come standard with AWD).
Jeep Gladiator
It's a similar story with the 2020 Gladiator, which is exclusively powered by a 3.6L V6. The difference is that the Gladiator sends its 285 hp and 260 lb-ft through a part-time four-wheel-drive system.
Fuel Economy
Despite having similarly sized engines, the Ridgeline and Gladiator have slightly different fuel economy figures. If you want to carry your family and gear to your favorite vacation spot and make fewer trips to the pump along the way, consider the Ridgeline, which returns higher mpg in every available configuration.
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline with the standard 280 hp engine gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined fuel economy with front-wheel drive.††
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline with the standard 280 hp engine gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined fuel economy with all-wheel drive.††
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator with the standard 285 hp engine and either the six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg combined fuel economy with four-wheel drive.††
Towing
If the Ridgeline's or Gladiator's bed runs out of space for your stuff, don't worry. These are capable trucks that are ready to tow. If it's maximum pulling power you're after, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator with four-wheel drive is the one for you.
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline with the standard 280 hp engine and front-wheel drive can tow an estimated 3,500 lbs, when properly equipped.3
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline with the standard 280 hp engine and all-wheel drive can tow an estimated 5,000 lbs, when properly equipped.3
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator with the standard 285 hp engine and four-wheel drive can tow an estimated 7,650 lbs, when properly equipped.3
Tech Features
The 2020 Ridgeline and 2020 Gladiator boast the latest infotainment and driver-assistance features. The Honda Sensing® suite of features is standard on all 2020 Ridgelines, while the 2020 Gladiator is packed with more than 80 available advanced driver-assistance and security features.
Here are the standard features you'll find on 2020 models:
Honda Ridgeline
Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration
4.2-inch color multi-information display
Eight-inch high-resolution touchscreen
Adaptive cruise control
Lane-keeping assist
Jeep Gladiator
Eight-speaker audio system
Uconnect® voice command
Standard full-function USB port in center console
Hill-start assist
Rear backup camera
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (models with Uconnect 7.0 or 8.4NAV system)
Cargo Space
At first glance, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator seems to have a more spacious bed. Its five-foot cargo box offers 35.5 cu ft of total volume, while the 2020 Honda Ridgeline's five-foot, four-inch bed maxes out at 33.9 cu ft. However, the Ridgeline's in-bed trunk provides another 7.3 cu ft of room for adventure gear and dirty shoes you don't want in the cab.
Pricing
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is the first model year of this truck and is priced higher than used models of the 2020 Ridgeline. See below for average CarMax prices for model years of the Jeep Gladiator and Honda Ridgeline.†
Honda Ridgeline
2017 - Average prices less than $31,000†
2018 - Average prices less than $32,500†
2019 - Average prices less than $33,500†
2020 - Average prices less than $38,500†
Jeep Gladiator
2020 - Average prices less than $44,500†
Safety Ratings
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline with front-wheel drive received an overall five-star safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 2020 Jeep Gladiator with four-wheel drive is not currently rated. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Click here to look up a specific vehicle.
2020 Honda Ridgeline
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Test: A head-on collision between two similar vehicles traveling at 35 mph.
Overall: 5/5
Side Barrier Crash Rating Test: A vehicle standing in an intersection sustains driver-side impact from a vehicle moving at 38.5 mph.
Overall: 5/5
Side Pole Crash Rating Test: A vehicle slides sideways at 20 mph and impacts a tree or telephone pole.
Overall: 5/5
Reliability
The Honda Ridgeline has an above-average RepairPal Reliability Rating, while the Jeep Gladiator is currently unrated. Here are more details:
RepairPal gave the Honda Ridgeline an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as above average.
Cost: RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Honda Ridgeline is $502, compared to an average of $548 for midsize trucks and $652 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Frequency: According to RepairPal, Honda Ridgeline owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.4 times per year, compared to an average of 0.2 times for midsize trucks and 0.4 times for all the vehicle models RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Severity: RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 15% for the Honda Ridgeline, compared to an average of 13% for midsize trucks and 12% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2010-2019 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
*RepairPal Reliability Ratings are provided by RepairPal and CarMax is not responsible for their accuracy. These ratings are based on RepairPal Reliability data as of 12/31/2018. Learn more.
Performance
The top speed of the 2020 Honda Ridgeline is 125 mph, while the top speed of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator is 97 mph. The 2020 Ridgeline with the V6 engine has the edge for miles per gallon at an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined for AWD models and an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined for FWD models.†† The 2020 Gladiator gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg combined from its V6, with either the manual or automatic transmission.††
From a standstill, the Honda Ridgeline reaches 60 mph in 7.2 seconds and the Jeep Gladiator in 8.1 seconds (both according to the manufacturer, when new).
Emissions
According to EPA estimates, the 2020 Honda Ridgeline has slightly fewer tailpipe emissions than the 2020 Jeep Gladiator:
According to EPA estimates, the 2020 Honda Ridgeline with the standard 280 hp engine has tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions of 407 grams per mile with front-wheel drive, and 433 grams per mile with all-wheel drive.
According to EPA estimates, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator with the standard 285 hp engine has tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions of 476 grams per mile with four-wheel drive and six-speed manual transmission, and 466 grams per mile with four-wheel drive and eight-speed manual transmission.
These estimates are based on a brand-new model. Visit fueleconomy.gov for more details.
The Bottom Line
The Honda Ridgeline is a unibody truck that offers smooth driving dynamics, comfortable passenger accommodations, clever storage solutions, and other features that make it a great truck for everyday life. Jeep's body-on-frame Gladiator is more aggressive and a better fit for off-roading enthusiasts who want the convenience of a truck bed. Either way, you'll appreciate the utility of these smart midsize pickups.
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