Honda excels in reliability and resale value with lower average maintenance costs, while Ford offers more truck/SUV variety and better towing capacity options. Honda vehicles typically cost $2,000-$4,000 more upfront but retain 60% of value after 5 years versus Ford's 55%.
Honda vs Ford — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Japanese automaker known for reliable sedans, SUVs, and hybrid technology with strong residual value.
American automaker specializing in pickup trucks, SUVs, and performance vehicles with extensive towing capacity.
5-Year Resale Value Retention. Average Annual Maintenance Cost. Vehicle Reliability Rating (JD Power 2025). Maximum Truck Towing Capacity. Average Initial Purchase Price (Mid-Size). Hybrid Model Fuel Economy (Accord Hybrid). Total Truck/SUV Model Lineup
Choose Honda if you prioritize long-term ownership value, reliability, and lower maintenance costs—ideal for buyers wanting vehicles that last 200,000+ miles. Choose Ford if you need maximum towing capacity, diverse truck/SUV options, or prefer lower upfront purchase prices—better for those with heavy-duty or specialized vehicle needs.
Honda Motor Company: 80/100 (2nd place) | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 22% | Ford Motor Company: N/A
3-Year Vehicle Depreciation (Value Retention)
Honda Motor Company: 50% retained | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 6.3% | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Best-in-Class Fuel Economy (Mid-Size Sedan Hybrid)
Honda Motor Company: Accord Hybrid: 48 MPG | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 32 plants across 12 countries | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 28 MPG | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: $28,400 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 62% | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 4.2/5 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: ~15% | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: $517 | Ford Motor Company: $625
Honda Motor Company: 62% | Ford Motor Company: 55%
Honda Motor Company: CR-V: 403,600 | Ford Motor Company: F-Series: 896,100
Honda Motor Company: 9 main models | Ford Motor Company: 16+ models
Honda Motor Company: Accord: 38 MPG | Ford Motor Company: Fusion: 32 MPG
Honda Motor Company: 148 | Ford Motor Company: 70+
Honda Motor Company: 5 years/60,000 miles | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 84/100 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 58% | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: $32,500 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 8.2 million | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 3 models | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 82/100 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 32 mpg | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 92% | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 8.2/10 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: $28,900 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 36 months / 36,000 miles | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 5 years/60,000 miles | Ford Motor Company: 5 years/60,000 miles
Honda Motor Company: 792 | Ford Motor Company: 76
Honda Motor Company: $32,450 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 78% | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: Data unavailable | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 18.2 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 84 | Ford Motor Company: 79
Honda Motor Company: 5,000 (Ridgeline) | Ford Motor Company: 14,000 (F-150)
Honda Motor Company: $34,500 | Ford Motor Company: $32,200
Honda Motor Company: 52 (Accord Hybrid) | Ford Motor Company: 37 (Fusion - discontinued)
Honda Motor Company: 6 | Ford Motor Company: 12
Honda Motor Company: 84 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: $34,200 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 16 models | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 7.8 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 67% | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 1,200 centers | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 82 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: $24,850 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 252 miles (e:Ny1) | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: $4,200 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: 81/100 | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 500 hp
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 418 lb-ft
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 3.5L EcoBoost V6
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: N/A
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: ~4.2 million
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 1903
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: $25,000-$80,000
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 4+ categories (trucks, SUVs, sedans, sports)
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: F-150
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 13.2 inches
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 3 options
Max Towing Capacity (Explorer/Silverado)
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 5000 lbs (Explorer)
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: Good legroom
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: Lower standard torque
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: Stronger international presence
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: EcoBoost technology
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: $28,995
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 312 miles (Mustang Mach-E)
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 781,915 F-Series trucks
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 6 models
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 4.3 million
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 73/100
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: $22B
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 32% (F-150)
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 3,800+ locations
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 3.2%
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: $136.3B
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 4.1%
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 0.6 million
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: Level 2 (BlueCruise)
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 10,000+ (BlueOval Charge Network)
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: $52,000 (Mustang Mach-E)
Honda Motor Company: N/A | Ford Motor Company: 4,000+ Dealerships
How to choose between Honda Motor Company and Ford Motor Company
Compare Honda Motor Company vs Ford Motor Company
Honda vs Ford — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Honda vs Ford. Contains 90 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Honda vs Ford — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Honda vs Ford.
Which brand has better long-term reliability?
Honda ranks higher with an 84/100 JD Power reliability score vs. Ford's 79/100 (2025 data). Honda vehicles average 200,000+ mile engine longevity with 60% resale retention, while Ford vehicles average 185,000 miles with 55% retention. Honda's simpler transmissions and refined engines contribute to fewer major repairs after 100,000 miles.
How much will I save on maintenance with Honda vs Ford?
Over 5 years, Honda owners save approximately $540 annually ($2,700 total) compared to Ford owners ($3,125 total). Honda's average annual maintenance costs $517 vs. Ford's $625, primarily due to Ford's V8-heavy lineup requiring costlier oil changes, transmission fluid services, and spark plug replacements. Hybrid Honda models save additional $800-$1,200 over the ownership period.
Which brand is better for towing and hauling?
Ford dominates this category with the F-150 offering 14,000 lbs maximum towing capacity vs. Honda Ridgeline's 5,000 lbs—2.8× more capability. Ford's 12 truck/SUV models also provide greater variety for heavy-duty work, while Honda focuses on light-to-medium hauling. For commercial or serious towing needs, Ford is the clear winner.
Should I buy Honda or Ford if I keep cars 10+ years?
Honda is the better choice for 10+ year ownership. With a 60% resale value retention, lower $517 annual maintenance costs, and 84/100 reliability rating, a Honda will cost $4,000-$6,000 less to own long-term. Ford vehicles depreciate faster (55% retention) and require costlier repairs after year 8, making total 10-year ownership costs $3,000-$5,000 higher.
Which brand has lower upfront purchase prices?
Ford offers lower starting prices—approximately $2,000-$3,500 cheaper than Honda equivalents. A Ford F-150 SuperCrew starts around $35,000 vs. Honda Ridgeline at $38,000+. However, Honda's higher resale value means the total cost of ownership gap shrinks by 50% after 5 years.
How to Choose Between Honda Motor Company and Ford Motor Company
5-Year Resale Value Retention: Honda Motor Company has 60%, while Ford Motor Company has 55%.
Consider: Average Annual Maintenance Cost
Average Annual Maintenance Cost: Honda Motor Company has $517, while Ford Motor Company has $625.
Consider: Vehicle Reliability Rating (JD Power 2025)
Vehicle Reliability Rating (JD Power 2025): Honda Motor Company has 84/100, while Ford Motor Company has 79/100.
Maximum Truck Towing Capacity: Honda Motor Company has 5,000 lbs (CR-V), while Ford Motor Company has 14,000 lbs (F-150).
Consider: Average Initial Purchase Price (Mid-Size)
Average Initial Purchase Price (Mid-Size): Honda Motor Company has $34,500, while Ford Motor Company has $32,200.
Consider: Hybrid Model Fuel Economy (Accord Hybrid)
Hybrid Model Fuel Economy (Accord Hybrid): Honda Motor Company has 52 MPG combined, while Ford Motor Company has 37 MPG combined (Fusion hybrid discontinued).
Total Truck/SUV Model Lineup: Honda Motor Company has 6 models, while Ford Motor Company has 12 models.