Comparing the Frontier to the Honda Ridgeline

Long before Nissan of Rochester’s time, it was in the late 70s and early 80s that compact pickup trucks made major inroads in the US marketplace. Small, 2-door only, and with 4-cylinder engines that were frugal for their time, they offered an efficient alternative to full-size trucks to a public recently hit by gas price hikes. But as they grew in size over time and added V6 engines and gas prices settled, many truck shoppers turned back to full-size models.

Many compact truck models dropped out, but others, like the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma, carried on uninterrupted. Now, as full-size pickup trucks have grown larger, the midsize trucks are making a comeback. The Frontier led this resurgence with a complete redesign in 2022. Since then, most of its competitors have been redesigned as well. Unlike the Frontier, most use turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. They deliver the power but not the smoothness. Let’s compare the Frontier to the other mid-size truck with a standard V6 engine, the Honda Ridgeline.

Big Structural Differences

The most blatant difference between these trucks is how they are constructed. Like most pickup trucks, the Frontier has body-on-frame construction. This means a dedicated truck chassis provides the vehicle’s structure with the body placed over it. It is the standard structure for vehicles expected to do tough work. By contrast, the Ridgeline is based on the Pilot crossover with car-like unibody construction in which the body and structure are all one piece. This means the Ridgeline also has a front-wheel drive (FWD) configuration with a transverse-mounted engine and transmission primarily driving the front wheels with a standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system that sends power to the rear wheels as needed. The Frontier has the more traditional truck arrangement of a front engine with the transmission behind it driving the rear wheels, with the option of a transfer case sending power to the front wheels when activated on four-wheel-drive (4WD) models.

Surprising Commonalities

Despite those significant differences, both models actually share some commonalities. As mentioned, both stand out in this segment for having standard V-6 engines. Both also have 9-speed transmissions, and with the Frontier in King Cab 2WD form, both have the exact same EPA-Estimated fuel economy of 18 city/24 highway/21 combined. The vehicles also share the same overall length of 210.2 inches.

As with many current midsize trucks, the Ridgeline is a one-size-fits-all proposition, with all models having four doors, a 5’4” bed length, and all-wheel drive. By contrast, the Frontier offers a choice of 2WD or 4WD, extended King Cab, or 4-door Crew Cab. Exclusive to the segment, the Crew Cab is available in both a short bed (4’12”) or long bed (6’1”), while all King Cab models have a long bed.

Power and Capability

The Frontier has the power advantage. Its standard 3.8-liter V6 produces 310 horsepower to the Ridgeline’s 280 and 281 lb-ft of torque compared to the 262 for the Honda. Combined with the difference in construction, this means the Frontier can be configured to tow up to 6,650 pounds vs the Ridgeline’s 5,000-pound limit. The maximum payload for both model lines is about the same, with the Frontier at 1,590 and the Ridgeline just 7 pounds less.

If you want your truck to feel like a car, the Ridgeline’s construction will do that, feeling more like the Pilot it is based upon than most pickup trucks. On the flip side, if you want to head off-road, the Frontier will take you farther off the beaten track, with its 4WD system providing greater off-road traction. And that is even before you get to the Pro-4X off-road advantages with its Bilstein shocks and locking rear differential.

Exteriors are a matter of taste. Outside, the Frontier has a hard-edged look, while the Ridgeline is formed with gentle curves. Interior also goes to personal preference, though the Frontier has the advantage of being redesigned in 2022, while the Ridgeline has not significantly changed from its 2016 re-introduction.

Finally, we come to price; here, the Frontier shows a clear advantage. The starting price for a Frontier King Cab 4×2 starts at $31,540, while the Ridgeline starts at $39,750. When configured as a Crew Cab, Short Bed 4×4 to match the Ridgeline, the Frontier still undercuts the Honda at $38,840. In fact, even the top-ranging Frontier PRO-4X starting MSRP of $41,070 is similar to the entry-level Ridgeline.

The short of it is that the Ridgeline is basically a crossover shaped like a pickup so that it can do pickup truck-like things. By contrast, the Frontier is a pickup from the ground up and bumper to bumper. If a fully-capable smaller pickup truck with V-6 power and smoothness appeals to you, Nissan of Rochester is the place to get one.