I think the SC tech is way better than Honda product tech. No competition, SC warranty is way better. SC ground clearance, RL loses there also. Leg room, exactly the same. Bed size goes to the RL but SC offers a secure rear bed storage system that many here drop 1k or more to do the same. Ride, SC likely better. It’s just a lighter more nimble vehicle. Engine and trans, no doubt the SC wins that. 0-60 likely close. Quality, SC all the way, Hyundai crushes Honda on JD Power initial quality. Sound system, SC no way loses there either. Resale, RL will crush it. AWD, don’t be surprised but I bet its a draw. Rear window, RL has that. SC win with a shifter and center console. SC for the money has more features, no contest. Seating width, RL wins that. Looks, subjective, no doubt SC has an edge. Honda blew that with this model. I doubt anyone here loads the cooler with ice, but RL wins that and trunk size. Easier to haul big stuff, RL. Price paid OTD, SC gonna win that, Honda won’t budge. Uniqueness and cool factor, SC is gonna get that. SC will appeal to young buyers, RL will appeal to old buyers. Just look at this forum and who buys RLs. Interior quietness, likely RL gets that. Better options at lower trims, I think SC gets that too. Obviously if we talk lower power base engine, this debate changes. I was sticking with comparably equipped and priced. Truck qualities, RL likely barely eeks it out.
Here's my opinion..and it's just my opinion.
Tech - Who cares...before the vehicle is paid for it will be obsolete. Just give me a two knob radio and bluetooth and I'm happy
Ground clearance - Who cares...I think the biggest obstacle I take my Ridgeline over is the 2" lip of concrete I have to drive over to get into my garage. I do take it off road though...my driveway is gravel...LOL! I did ford a river in my 2019 RL. It did just fine.
Leg Room - Ridgeline has plenty for my 36" inseam. No complaints.
Bed Size - The Ridgeline is BARELY adequate for hauling my motorcycle. Any shorter and I'd be out of luck...so that lone fact removes the SC from my shopping list
Ride - The Ridgeline is pretty dang good. I'd be surprised if the SC could do a lot better
Engine - Give me a smooth, proven, Honda V6 over a turbo 4 popper any day. Turbos get heat soaked and are prone to pull back timing, but they do work well at high altitude.
Quality - I've heard horror stories about both Honda and Hyundai. I've also heard great things. I think it's probably a draw today, but in the past Honda has made vastly superior vehicles.
Sound System - Who cares. No factory audio system south of something found in a ultra high end luxury car is very good. I'd rather them just leave it out and let me go aftermarket.
Resale - I don't think I've ever bought a vehicle with resale in mind, but I from what I've seen, Honda's hold their resale value extremely well.
AWD - The Honda AWD system is one of the best made. It's an amazing system. I have no experience with the Hyundai AWD system so I can't comment on it.
Rear Window - Yep...both trucks have a rear window which allows light to pass through so you can see out of it. Works great
Shifter - Ridgeline hands down is better here. Why in the heck do you want a big pole sticking out of your console on an automatic trans car? I get tired of banging my drinks into it.
Features - Let's see...engine, doors, tires, transmission, seats, door locks, gauges...both have them. Everything else is just crap to break and useless stuff I don't want or need.
Seating - Ridgeline Sport seats in my truck are just fine. They hold my butt off the floor and thankfully they are manually adjustable so I don't have to listen to "wurrrrrrrrrr" for 15 seconds as I move my seat back after my wife or daughter drive the truck.
Looks - Function before form...I wouldn't care if either truck was a completely square box and painted pink and purple. If it runs and drives good, is comfortable, reliable, and meets my needs...I'm happy
Trunk - Best feature on the Ridgeline is the tailgate and trunk. SC tried to copy it...a swing and a miss.
Hauling - Ridgeline hauls more by virtue of it's larger bed
Price - I paid $28k for my 2019 Sport that stickered for $34k and I paid $34k for my 2021 that stickered for $36k during the middle of an inventory shortage. So I'd say Honda "budges"
Cool Factor - They are both unibody trucks. They aren't cool.
Young Buyers - I'm almost 50 I have no idea what young buyers want. When they grow up they'll realize buying cars will keep your broke and they'll be pumping money into retirement and college funds for their kids until they get in their 60's and buy a Corvette or 911. LOL!
Quietness - Having never driven a SC...I can't comment here
Lower Trim Options - I don't know about the SC..but I priced out comparable midsize trucks with what comes standard on the RL Sport and they were all MUCH more expensive. The Sport trim is the value proposition for the Ridgeline
The advantage the Santa Cruz has over the Ridgeline is the fact that Hyundai went the direction Honda should have gone. Stop trying to compete with trucks and target the huge market for people who want a truck but don't like trucks. My wife would NEVER own a truck. But when she drove my Ridgeline she loved it. She even said, "If I'd have known it was this easy to drive I might have gotten one myself". Hey Honda...STOP TRYING TO COMPETE WITH REGULAR OLD TRUCKS! Use the features that make you unique to show why you're BETTER than a "real truck". That's what Hyundai is doing with their design language. It doesn't look like a truck...and that's on purpose. There is a reason Steve Jobs made the iPod and not just another Walkman. He created a market. He's quoted as saying something similar to, "People don't know what they want until I tell them" or something like that. Same with these new crop of trucks.
