The Ford Ranger is Going Strong
Americans love pickup trucks, but not everyone needs or can afford a full-size pickup. Enter the Ford Ranger. The latest iteration of the midsize pickup offers plenty of capability at a much lower price tag, leading to a sales jump of 43% compared to the previous model year. Available from $33,080, the Ford Ranger is one of the more affordable trucks on the market, but price doesn’t tell the whole story.
Redesigned for the 2024 model year, the Ford Ranger arrives with two engine options: a standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6. Power is sent through a 10-speed automatic transmission, and all trims are available with rear- or four-wheel drive. The midsize Ranger is offered in a single configuration with a crew cab and a five-foot bed. In terms of efficiency, the Ford Ranger earns up to an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
The smaller of the two engine options produces 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty of power to make driving the midsize pickup more fun than a chore. The V6 engine ups the ante with 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. While it may only be available in a single configuration, the Ford Ranger is just as capable as ever. Regardless of engine option, the midsize pickup can tow up to 7,500 lbs.
Inside, the Ford Ranger features a modern design, complete with an eight-inch digital gauge display and a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility come standard. For better or for worse, most of the physical controls are now included as a part of the infotainment system.
If luxury is more your style, the Lariat trim, available from $43,880, comes with leather-trimmed heated front seats and a leather-trimmed bench seat in the rear. A leather-wrapped heated steering wheel comes standard as well. In terms of tech, the Lariat trim includes a 10-speaker B&O sound system, a wireless charging pad, and a 12.4-inch touchscreen display in place of the smaller screens in the base model.
Ford
If you prefer performance, the Ford Ranger Raptor ups the ante with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. That powertrain produces 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The Raptor also comes equipped with plenty of off-road equipment, including an active exhaust system, Watts-link rear suspension, and Fox 2.5-inch racing shocks. The Ford Ranger Raptor will cost you $55,820, a pretty significant jump from the upscale Lariat trim. Unfortunately, the Ford Ranger Raptor also sees its towing capability drop to 5,510 lbs.
Toyota Tacoma
The midsize truck segment has quite a few close competitors, and the Toyota Tacoma is a heavy competitor to the Ford Ranger. Starting at $31,590, the Tacoma is one of the few vehicles still available with a six-speed manual transmission. Like the Ford Ranger, Toyota’s midsize pickup is available in rear—and four-wheel drive.
Toyota
Every Toyota Tacoma comes powered by one of two variants of a 2.4-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine paired with either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The base SR model’s engine produces 228 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. All other trim levels come equipped with the more powerful version that generates 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. At its peak, the Toyota Tacoma earns up to an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in combined city/highway driving. As far as capability goes, the midsize pickup can tow up to 6,500 lbs. and haul up to 1,705 lbs.
Notably, the Tacoma features different rear suspensions across trim levels. All of Toyota’s midsize pickups feature body-on-frame construction, but the SR, SR5 extended cab, and TRD PreRunner ride on leaf springs, while all other trims feature coil springs that offer a more refined ride.
Toyota
The Toyota Tacoma is also available with a hybrid powertrain. The i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain produces 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. While it offers more power, the hybrid model earns up to 23 mpg combined, putting it in the same realm as the standard Tacoma when it comes to efficiency. When properly equipped, it tows up to 6,000 lbs. Getting behind the wheel of a hybrid Toyota Tacoma will cost you $46,320.
Chevrolet Colorado
Available from $31,900, the Chevrolet Colorado is another midsize truck designed to take on the Ford Ranger. The American pickup rolls out with a trim level for every driver. Like the Ranger, the Colorado is only available in a single configuration: a crew cab with a five-foot bed. All Colorado models are available with rear- and all-wheel drivetrains.
Chevrolet
Under the hood of every trim is a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. That powertrain also powers the full-size Silverado 1500 but generates 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque in the Colorado. Chevrolet’s midsize pickup is capable of towing up to 7,700 lbs. when properly equipped. In terms of efficiency, the Chevrolet Colorado is rated for an EPA-estimated 20 mpg combined.
While the Colorado features an independent front suspension paired with a solid rear axle and leaf springs, it’s worth noting that the off-road-oriented ZR2 trim comes equipped with spool-valve dampers as well as power-locking front and rear differentials. Like in the Ranger Raptor, the off-road Colorado ZR2 sees its maximum towing capacity drop to 6,000 lbs.
Chevrolet
The ZR2 Bison tops the trim line and takes off-road capability a step further. The fruits of a collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles, the Colorado ZR2 Bison features a best-in-class 12.2-inch ground clearance and rides on 35-inch tires. Five steel skid plates protect the pickup’s underbody while off-roading. Opting for the ZR2 Bison Edition will cost an extra $11,200 on top of the ZR2’s $49,600 price tag.
GMC Canyon
Starting at $38,400, the GMC Canyon is the mechanical twin of the Chevrolet Colorado. Like its twin, the Canyon features a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Power is channeled through a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, and towing capacity is 7,700 lbs.
GMC
While the Chevrolet Colorado is available in numerous trim levels, the GMC Canyon is available in just three models. While the two pickups may be identical mechanically, the Canyon comes with a more upscale spec sheet. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility come standard, as do an 11.3-inch touchscreen display and an 11-inch driver information display. Convenience is noticeably better compared to the Colorado thanks to heated exterior mirrors, Blind Zone Steering Assist with Trailering, and a rearview camera with hitch view.
Like the ZR2, the Canyon has an off-road AT4 trim, available from $45,700. Four-wheel drive with an automatic locking rear differential is standard, along with a two-speed Autotrac transfer case and transfer case shield. Advanced Hill Descent Control is also a standard system.
GMC
At the top of the range lies the Denali trim, which starts at $52,000 and rides on exclusive 20-inch diamond-cut aluminum wheels. Inside, the Denali trim comes equipped with a head-up display, surround vision camera, wireless charging pad, as well as heated and ventilated front seats. A laser-etched open-pore wood trim meshes well with the jet black interior and teak accents.
A Truly Heated Competition
The midsize pickup segment is a tough category to compete in, but the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Denali all manage to hold their own. When it comes to price alone, the Toyota Tacoma has the upper hand, starting at $31,590. Of the four, however, the Tacoma also offers the lowest towing capacity.
The Chevrolet Colorado follows close behind in price, starting at $31,900, but it offers the highest towing capacity in the midsize pickup segment. The GMC Canyon matches the Colorado mechanically, but it offers a more upscale list of standard amenities, albeit with a $38,400 price tag. The Ford Ranger manages to land in the middle of it all, starting at $33,080.
If I find myself in need of a truck for towing and hauling, the Ford Ranger is my top choice. While the Chevrolet Colorado is cheaper, it can only tow up to 3,500 lbs. in the entry-level WT and LT trims. It’s the same story with the Toyota Tacoma, whose base model can only tow up to 3,500 lbs. The Ford Ranger can tow up to 7,500 lbs. regardless of trim level, making it a hard model to beat when it comes down to capability and affordability.
Final thoughts
It may not have the best-in-class towing capacity or the most affordable price, but the Ford Ranger offers a great combination of the two. The Chevrolet Colorado offers the segment’s highest towing capacity, but if you have a higher budget, the GMC Canyon comes with more upscale amenities. If you’re on a tight budget, the Toyota Tacoma could be ideal for lightweight towing on a budget, and it holds its value fairly well. If you’re in the market for a rough, tough, off-road truck, the Ford Ranger Raptor and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 are top picks in that arena.
