• Gladiator is a Wrangler with a bed
• Ridgeline is ideal for tailgate parties
• Jeep turns the wilderness into a playground with the Gladiator

Two midsize trucks couldn’t be different from what we see with the Ridgeline and Gladiator. The Honda offers a unibody construction to provide smooth riding on any road, while the Jeep takes on the rough stuff on the trails and untamed areas of the world. How are these two trucks situated in the same class? Only the closeness of size allows them to compete with each other.

	2022 Honda Ridgeline	2022 Jeep Gladiator
Price Range	$37,640 to $45,070	$35,610 to 52,510
Engine Options	3.5-liter V6	3.6-liter V6/3.0-liter diesel V6
Horsepower	280 horsepower	285 horsepower/260 horsepower
Torque	262 lb.-ft.	260 lb.-ft./442 lb.-ft.
Transmission	9-speed automatic	6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic
MPG Rating	18/24 mpg	16/23 manual/17/22 automatic | 22/28 automatic only

Is the 2022 Honda Ridgeline truly a truck?

Unlike the original model of the Ridgeline, this generation looks more like traditional trucks in the market. This is the only unibody truck in the midsize class, which allows it to offer several advantages over the competition. MotorTrend tells us the Ridgeline, only offered in a crew cabin, short-bed configuration has standard AWD and a tow rating of 5,000 pounds. When you need to carry stuff in the bed, you can put 1,583 pounds of payload in the rear of this Honda truck.

Honda made the Ridgeline unique with an under-bed storage area that can be a drink cooler for those times when you take this truck to the game for a tailgate party. The addition of the HPD package allows you to enjoy decent off-road performance. This package adds 18-inch wheels, Firestone all-season tires, black fender flares, a unique grille, and HPD badges. Every trim level is eligible for this unique package.

Where does the Honda Ridgeline rank?

Although the Honda Ridgeline seems to be less of a truck than other models, U.S. News and World Report gave it the highest ranking in the midsize truck class. The ranking tells us the Ridgeline has:

Pros

• Upscale cabin
• Comfortable seating for five people
• Strong powertrain
• Smooth ride and handling on the road

Cons

• Low towing capacity
• Slow infotainment system
• High price compared to this class

This Honda comes in four trim levels, Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition, to give you options for equipment and pricing. If you want a truck that can do truck stuff sometimes while delivering a smooth, refined ride, the Honda Ridgeline is the right midsize truck to drive.

The 2022 Jeep Gladiator is the meanest best in the class

Think of a Jeep Wrangler with a bed attached, and you’ve got the Gladiator. Here’s a truck made to tackle the toughest trails, roll over boulders, and push through the mud and muck. This Jeep is also configured in a crew-cab, short-bed build while offering an excellent 4WD system for every model. This truck can get the job done when you need to tow a heavy load giving you 7,650 pounds of towing capacity. The bed can carry up to 1,700 pounds of payload, making it easy to bring everything you need to the wilderness.

Because the Gladiator shares its build with the Wrangler, you can take the roof off this impressive Jeep truck and let the wind come inside. Not only does the top come off, but all four doors are also removable, offering you that feeling of being part of nature when you’re driving on the trails.

Where does the Jeep truck rank?

Another way the Jeep and Honda trucks are polar opposites is in the rankings. The same publication that ranked the Honda at the top shows the Jeep in the eighth spot. Only the Nissan Frontier is ranked lower. That being said, the Gladiator does show:

Pros

• Excellent off-road truck
• Impressive towing and hauling capabilities
• Comfortable and spacious interior
• Useful touchscreen

Cons

• Rough ride and difficult handling
• High starting price

If you want variety in your midsize truck, the Jeep Gladiator has what want. This truck comes in 10 different varieties, giving you the equipment you want for all of your off-road adventures. This could be the right truck to drive if you can overlook the rough ride on the roads.

Which truck should you drive?

When you limit your options to the Honda Ridgeline and Jeep Gladiator, you truly have polar opposites in the same class. The Ridgeline is smooth on the road, has some interesting features, and gives you a roomy cabin, but it only handles off-roading on light and medium trails. The Gladiator is at home in the wilderness, can tow a heavy load, handles all the rough stuff, but is harsher on the roads.