The Ridgeline is what happens when Honda builds a truck for people who hate driving trucks, unibody construction means it rides like a Pilot, the cabin stays quiet, and owners routinely sail past 100k miles without drama. Fuel economy lands at 16-21 MPG, though, which stings for a Honda, and the Ford Maverick undercuts it by thousands while doing most of the same light-duty work; first-gen models also risk expensive timing belt failures on an interference engine, so stick with 2017 or newer. Buy if you want a pickup that won't punish your commute or your back, hauls weekend projects without fuss, and values refinement over towing capacity; walk if you need serious off-road chops, tow above 5,000 pounds regularly, or want maximum value for occasional truck tasks.
Nissan's full-size underdog runs a bulletproof 5.6L V8 that'll hit 200k miles while costing $10-15k less than an F-150. The hydraulic steering and column shifter feel refreshingly analog, the warranty is class-leading, and owners who ignore the badge report trouble-free ownership. The 2016-2018 models had a cylinder 7 scoring issue, warranty-covered and fixed by 2019, but the bigger problem is fuel economy that makes other half-tons look thrifty and an interior that feels a decade behind. The rare 5.0L Cummins diesel is a disaster; stick with gas. Buy this if you want a simple, capable workhorse and don't need to flex at the job site. Skip it if resale value or cutting-edge tech matters, or if you're shopping 2016-2018 without extended warranty coverage.