Honda Ridgeline vs Nissan Frontier: Specs Compared
Also searched as Nissan Frontier vs Honda Ridgeline specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Honda Ridgeline is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 22 mpg combined versus 21 mpg for the Nissan Frontier, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $150 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Honda Ridgeline leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2017–2026
Honda Ridgeline
Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD · 17 configurations
2015–2026
Nissan Frontier
Small Pickup Trucks 2WD · 57 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Honda Ridgeline | Nissan Frontier |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 22 mpg ✓ | 21 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 19 mpg | 19 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 26 mpg ✓ | 24 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,800 ✓ | $2,950 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 407 g/mi ✓ | 423 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI | SIDI, SIDI; ISS and AGS, 2.5, 4.0 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S9), Automatic 6-spd | Automatic (S9), Automatic 5-spd, Manual 5-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Regular, Gasoline or E85 |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD |
| Years covered | 2017–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 17 | 57 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Honda Ridgeline vs Nissan Frontier dimensions and size
The Nissan Frontier is 13.8 inches longer than the Honda Ridgeline on a wheelbase 14.6 inches longer, and 363.8 lbs heavier. At over 200 inches, the larger of the two is past the comfortable limit of a standard 192-inch single garage bay once you allow walking room.
| Dimension | Honda Ridgeline (2026) | Nissan Frontier (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 210.2 in | 224 in | 13.8 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 78.7 in | 72.8 in | 5.9 in |
| Height | 70.9 in | 72 in | 1.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 125.2 in | 139.8 in | 14.6 in |
| Curb weight | 4,442 lbs | 4,806 lbs | 364 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Honda Ridgeline vs Nissan Frontier: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Honda Ridgeline burns about $2,800 of fuel annually against $2,950 for the Nissan Frontier. That $150 yearly gap compounds to roughly $750 over five years and $1,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Nissan Frontier is the stronger commuter at 19 mpg city, while the Honda Ridgeline pulls ahead on the interstate at 26 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Honda Ridgeline is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI), the Nissan Frontier with 4 (SIDI, SIDI; ISS and AGS, 2.5). Across 17 recorded Honda Ridgeline configurations and 57 for the Nissan Frontier, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Honda Ridgeline is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Nissan Frontier with Rear-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD and Small Pickup Trucks 2WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Honda Ridgeline emits 407 g/mile of CO2 versus 423 g/mile for the Nissan Frontier. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Ridgeline vs Frontier: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Honda Ridgeline or the Nissan Frontier?
The Honda Ridgeline is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 22 mpg combined versus 21 mpg for the Nissan Frontier, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $150 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Honda Ridgeline runs about $2,800 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,950 for the Nissan Frontier — a difference of roughly $150 per year.
What engines do the Ridgeline and Frontier offer?
Honda Ridgeline: SIDI. Nissan Frontier: SIDI, SIDI; ISS and AGS, 2.5, 4.0.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Honda Ridgeline as Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD and the Nissan Frontier as Small Pickup Trucks 2WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Ridgeline comparisons
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