Fuel Economy
The Ridgeline Sport delivers lower fuel costs and fewer stops at the pump.

Before you compare
Sport vs 85th Anniversary Edition, compared on verified specifications and price.
The 85th Anniversary Edition starts about $975 less than the Sport.
At a glance
For shoppers on this Ridgeline site, the Ridgeline Sport is our pick over the Gladiator 85th Anniversary Edition.
Gladiator 85th Anniversary Edition starts at $39,820 vs $40,795.
Close call — closely matched on power: 280 hp vs 285 hp.
Ridgeline Sport returns 21 mpg combined vs 19 mpg.
Head to head
The verified differences most likely to decide it — each shown side by side, with the winner called out.
The Ridgeline Sport delivers lower fuel costs and fewer stops at the pump.
The Gladiator 85th Anniversary Edition lowers your cost of entry with a lower starting price.
Closely matched: 33.9 cu ft vs 35.5 cu ft.
Closely matched: 280 hp vs 285 hp.
The 85th Anniversary Edition starts about $975 less than the Sport.
On verified numbers, the Sport leads in combined mpg; the 85th Anniversary Edition leads in starting price. What the numbers actually mean for you here: the Sport's combined mpg edge (21 vs 19 mpg) means fewer stops at the pump and lower running costs over years of ownership.
When it matters most: if your commute is long, the Sport's combined mpg edge (21 vs 19 mpg) is worth weighting heavily.
Visual comparison


Ridgeline Sport
Gladiator 85th Anniversary Edition

Ridgeline Sport




Gladiator 85th Anniversary Edition





The bottom line
Ridgeline Sport
For shoppers on this Ridgeline site, the Ridgeline Sport is our pick over the Gladiator 85th Anniversary Edition.
What could change this: If a lower price matters most, the Gladiator 85th Anniversary Edition is the better fit.
On verified numbers, the Sport leads in combined mpg; the 85th Anniversary Edition leads in starting price.
The full picture
By the numbers
These are the figures most shoppers weigh first — price, power, efficiency, and room — with the full specification table below.
| Specification | Ridgeline Sport | Gladiator 85th Anniversary Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $40,795 | $39,820 |
| Horsepower | 280 hp | 285 hp |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 260 lb-ft |
| Combined MPG | 21 mpg | 19 mpg |
| City MPG | 18 mpg | 17 mpg |
| Highway MPG | 24 mpg | 22 mpg |
| Bed volume | 33.9 cu ft | 35.5 cu ft |
| Seating | 5 | 5 |
| Drivetrain | All Wheel Drive | Four Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | 9-Speed Automatic | — |
Make the call
Best for:
Best for:
Good to know
The questions shoppers ask most when weighing these two — answered with the verified facts.
Value comes down to the details. The 85th Anniversary Edition starts about $975 less than the Sport. Weigh the standard equipment each includes, their fuel economy, and the features you'll genuinely use. Cross-shop comparably equipped trims and let local incentives settle it.
"Nicer every day" is about the things you touch on every drive — the seats, the controls, and the screen. Comfort is personal, though: seat shape, driving position, and how intuitive the controls feel to you matter more than any feature list. Spend ten minutes in each on a route like your real commute — that test drive will tell you more about daily livability than any spec comparison.
We don't publish a feature-by-feature equipment comparison for this exact pairing, so we won't claim either way. Use the verified specifications and the verdict above — those come from confirmed data — and check each manufacturer's build-and-price tool for the equipment on the exact Sport and 85th Anniversary Edition you're considering. Equipment also moves with option packages and model year, so the trim you drive may not match a general list. A back-to-back test drive of the two specific cars you're shopping is the reliable way to see what one offers that the other doesn't.
High annual mileage puts the spotlight on running costs, and that's mostly about fuel. Here, the Ridgeline Sport returns the better EPA-estimated economy (21 mpg combined) — over 15,000 miles a year that adds up to noticeably fewer fill-ups and real money saved versus the alternative. Beyond fuel, a high-mileage driver should weigh seat comfort for all those hours and each model's reliability record — worth checking current ratings for the specific trims, since it matters most when you're piling on miles. If your year is mostly highway commuting, lean toward the more efficient, more comfortable choice; the small differences compound over 15,000 miles in a way they wouldn't for a light-use second car.
Interior preference is partly personal — dashboard layout, seat shape, and where the controls fall all factor in — so the best test is to sit in both. If a richer, more feature-laden cabin matters to you, compare the specific trims' option packages directly; if you mainly want a comfortable, sensibly-arranged space, either will serve you well day to day.
For most shoppers, the right pick follows your priorities rather than a single score. If running costs lead, the Ridgeline Sport's efficiency is the draw. Use the verdict above as the starting recommendation, then confirm it with a back-to-back test drive of the exact trims you're considering.
Find local inventory, pricing, incentives, and available trims near you.
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