2020 Nissan Frontier vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The 2020 Nissan Frontier’s design had aged gracefully, resembling a well-preserved 2005 model. The truck maintained a good appearance, especially in the PRO-4X trim, which featured a tube-style roof rack, unique 16-inch alloy wheels, knobby white-lettered tires, a standard spray-in bedliner, and cool bedside graphics. Nissan offered the Frontier in King Cab and Crew Cab styles, with various trim levels and packages to enhance its utility and aesthetics. The interior, reminiscent of mid-2000s Nissan designs, was solidly built with hard plastics and a symmetrical layout, though it lacked modern touches.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline underwent a redesign, particularly forward of the windshield and front doors, and received a new rear bumper with exposed dual exhaust outlets. The tires had a more aggressive tread, and new wheel designs were available in black, dark gray, and bronze. The HPD Package added oversized fender trim, a unique grille, and bold stickers. The Ridgeline came in Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trims, with prices ranging from $36,490 to $43,920. The interior, modeled after the Honda Pilot SUV, emphasized functionality with generous storage and easy-to-clean surfaces.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier featured a new 3.8-liter V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the old 4.0-liter V6 and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines. This new engine produced 310 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 281 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm, offering a smoother and more refined performance compared to its predecessor. The Frontier’s maximum tow rating remained at 6,720 pounds, and it achieved an average of 19.3 mpg in combined driving. However, the steering was slow and heavy, and the turning radius was wide. The PRO-4X trim’s Bilstein off-road shocks provided a mixed ride quality, absorbing trail ruts but allowing road surface irregularities to reverberate through the truck.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came with a 280-horsepower V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission, featuring Normal and Sport modes. Honda’s all-wheel-drive system with Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) was standard, capable of directing up to 70% of the engine’s power to a single rear wheel. The Ridgeline offered Snow, Sand, and Mud settings through its Intelligent Traction Management system, though it wasn’t designed for rock-crawling. With a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a payload rating of 1,583 pounds, the Ridgeline was competitive in its class. Its unibody architecture and independent rear suspension provided a smooth and athletic driving experience, making it enjoyable on pavement and capable off-road.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier offered ample storage despite some wasted space on the center console. The PRO-4X trim featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, though it wasn’t one of Nissan’s Zero Gravity designs, leading to discomfort after long drives. The rear seat was tight, with a flat bench and minimal backrest angle, lacking rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. The Frontier’s bed, equipped with a spray-in bedliner and Utili-Track channel system, had a payload capacity of 1,020 pounds and a volume of 27.1 cubic feet.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline excelled in comfort and functionality. The Sport trim included manually-adjustable front seats with inboard armrests and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. The rear seat was the roomiest in its class, complemented by standard triple-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered leather seats, heated front seats, a power sunroof, and ambient lighting. The Ridgeline’s composite cargo bed was dent- and scratch-resistant, with tie-down hooks rated for 350 pounds each. It featured a 33.9 cubic-foot capacity and a dual-action tailgate. The bed also included a 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk with a drain plug, enhancing its utility.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier’s technology was basic, featuring a 5.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with NissanConnect Apps, satellite radio, navigation, and a 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system. However, it lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, relying on Bluetooth and Siri Eyes Free for connectivity. The simplicity of the technology was both refreshing and limiting.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It included a seven-speaker sound system, text-messaging capability, basic HondaLink services, and USB ports. Higher trims added SiriusXM, HD Radio, navigation, voice recognition, traffic information, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging. The Ridgeline’s technology was more advanced and user-friendly.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier had poor safety ratings, with a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but only three stars for the driver and two stars for the front passenger in frontal-impact protection. The IIHS rated it "marginal" in the small overlap frontal-impact test, and the headlights received a "poor" rating. The Frontier’s safety features were limited to a reversing camera, antilock brakes, traction control, and stability control.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance. It also featured a multi-angle reversing camera, with blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning available on higher trims. The Ridgeline was built to Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering standards, ensuring high crashworthiness. However, new safety ratings were pending due to the redesign.