The short answer
Maverick wins on price (starts ~$10k less), hybrid powertrain (37 mpg city, no Ridgeline equivalent), and tighter footprint for parking. Ridgeline wins on cabin space, midsize payload (~1,500 lbs), V6 power (280 hp standard), and Honda reliability reputation. Different sizes, different missions. Pick by parking size, hybrid priority, and budget.
Size
Maverick: 199.7" length, 72.6" width — fits compact SUV parking. Ridgeline: 210.2" length, 78.6" width — full midsize footprint. If parking size matters, Maverick has a real advantage.
Engines
Maverick: 2.5L Hybrid (191 hp combined, 37/33 mpg) or 2.0L EcoBoost AWD (250 hp, ~25/30 mpg). Ridgeline: 3.5L V6 (280 hp), AWD only, ~18/24 mpg. Maverick Hybrid is the runaway fuel-economy play; Ridgeline V6 is more powerful with no hybrid option.
Payload and towing
Maverick: 1,500 lbs payload, up to 4,000 lbs tow (EcoBoost + 4K Tow Pkg). Ridgeline: 1,583 lbs payload, up to 5,000 lbs tow. Ridgeline edges Maverick on tow rating, but Maverick covers most retail use (jet ski, small boat, utility trailer).
Bed and cargo
Maverick: 4.5 ft bed (54.4") with FLEXBED tie-downs and 2x lumber slots — clever and useful. Ridgeline: 5.3 ft bed (64") with locking in-bed trunk under the floor — also clever and useful. Different innovations; both bed designs are best-in-class for their respective sizes.
Interior
Ridgeline cabin is significantly larger — full midsize crew cab feel. Maverick cabin is functional and well-designed but tighter. For a 6-foot driver with a rear-seat passenger 6+ feet, Ridgeline is meaningfully more comfortable.
Off-road
Maverick Tremor: light off-road / beach access — twin-clutch RDU, raised suspension, off-road tires. Ridgeline TrailSport: cosmetic + light off-road tuning, but Honda has not invested in real off-road capability for Ridgeline. Maverick Tremor edges Ridgeline TrailSport on actual off-road use.
Price
Maverick starts in the low $20s (XL Hybrid). Ridgeline starts in the high $30s (Sport). Loaded: Maverick Lariat / Tremor / Lobo mid-$30s. Ridgeline Black Edition mid-$50s. Maverick is meaningfully cheaper at every trim level.
How to decide
Pick Maverick for: lowest price, hybrid mpg (37 city), compact parking, FLEXBED. Pick Ridgeline for: bigger cabin, more tow, more power, Honda reliability reputation, in-bed trunk. If hybrid + parking + price matter, Maverick is the obvious pick. If cabin space + tow + V6 matter, Ridgeline. Eugenio at Sunrise Ford handles the Maverick side.