2019 Ranger vs 2019 Colorado: Rivalry Renewed
Daily Slideshow: This may not be the compact Ford Ranger vs. Chevy S-10 battle of the old days, but it's still going to be a good one.
Classic Pickup Battle
For years, the domestic compact truck battle consisted of essentially two classic competitors: the Ford Ranger and the Chevy S-10. Chevrolet retired its much-beloved model (at least in America) back in 2004. A couple of years later, the Ranger followed suit.
But now, this classic rivalry is alive once again, even if the players are quite a bit different. This time around, the smallish S-10 and Ranger have moved upmarket, and Chevy's offering is now known as the Colorado. Thus, it's worth taking a look at the hard numbers to decide which one is poised to come out on top.
Established Player
The Colorado has one advantage over the Ranger right off the bat - it's already an established player in the mid-size truck market. But it is a little behind the game in terms of styling and technology, with its last redesign happening back in 2015.
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger vs the Colorado right here in Ford-trucks.com.
More Options
Despite its newness, the Ranger is set to debut in fewer configurations than its rival. You can get three different engine choices in the Colorado versus just one in the Ranger. In addition, it's available in two different wheelbase options as well.
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger vs the Colorado right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Measuring Up
Both the Colorado and Ranger have grown a lot since the days of compact pickups, of course. The Ranger sports a wheelbase of 126.8 inches, versus the Colorado's 128.3 (extended and crew cab) and 140.5 (crew cab with 6'2" bed option). The Ranger is also slightly shorter in overall length at 210.8 inches versus the Colorado's 212.7 (extended and crew cab) and 224.9 inch measurements (crew cab with longer bed).
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger vs the Colorado right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Standing Tall
From there, things get a little murkier. Ford says the Ranger is 85.8 inches wide, but that's from mirror to mirror. Chevy doesn't include the mirrors in its 74.3-inch measurement. Height-wise, the Ranger stands a little taller at 71.1 inches (SuperCrew 4x2 and SuperCab 4x4), 71.5 (SuperCrew 4x4), and 70.7 (SuperCab 4x2) versus the Colorado's 70.4 or 70.3 (extended cab 2WD/4WD), 70.7 or 70.6 (crew cab, 5'2" bed 2WD/4WD) and 70.6 or 70.5 inches (crew cab, 6'2" bed with 2WD or 4WD).
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger vs the Colorado right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Decisions, Decisions
In terms of drivetrains, the 2019 Ranger offers only one (for now): a turbocharged 2.3-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder producing 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, backed up by a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The Colorado offers three engine options: a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder (200 hp, 191 lb-ft of torque), 3.6-liter V6 (308 hp, 275 lb-ft), and a 2.8-liter inline four-cylinder turbo-diesel (181 hp, 369 lb-ft). Four-cylinder buyers can opt for either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission while diesel customers are stuck with the automatic. The V6 is available only with an 8-speed automatic.
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger vs the Colorado right here in Ford-trucks.com.
More Miles Per Gallon
Despite the Colorado's twin gasoline engine offerings, neither can beat the Ranger's EPA fuel economy ratings of 21/26/23 mpg city/highway/combined (2WD) and 20/24/22 mpg (4WD). Ratings for the various Colorado variants are 20/26/22 (2WD four-cylinder), 19/24/21 (4WD four-cylinder), 18/25/20 (2WD V6), 17/24/19 (4WD V6), 16/18/17 (ZR2 V6), and 18/22/19 (ZR2 diesel). In base trim, the diesel does offer up slightly better mileage at 20/30/23 (2WD) and 19/28/22 (4WD).
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger vs the Colorado right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Haul Away
In terms of bed size, the Ranger is slightly smaller than the Colorado at 61 inches (SuperCrew) and 72.8 inches (SuperCab), versus 62 and 74 for the Chevy. Max payload capacity, however, isn't even close. The Ranger is rated at 1,560 pounds (SuperCrew 4x4), 1,650 (SuperCab 4x4), 1,770 (SuperCrew 4x2), and 1,860 (SuperCab 4x2).
Meanwhile, the Colorado comes in at just 1,100 pounds (ZR2), 1,366 (Z71 extended cab, 5'2" bed, 2WD four-cylinder, and Z71 crew cab, 6'2" bed with 4WD diesel) and 1,574 (Work Truck extended cab, 5'2" bed with 2WD V6).
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger vs the Colorado right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Major Disadvantage
The same goes for towing capacity, where the Ranger has a clear advantage unless you opt for very specific features on the Colorado. The Ranger is rated at 7,500 pounds, way beyond the Colorado's 3,500 pounds (2WD extended cab with either bed and four-cylinder) to 7,000 (2WD and 4WD models with max tow package and V6). To beat Ford's excellent rating, Chevy buyers must opt for the diesel, 2WD, and the max tow package, which ups that figure to 7,700 pounds.
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger vs the Colorado right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Early Winner
Of course, there are many other things to consider - styling (both exterior and interior), technology, quality, and the overall driving experience. But the more modern Ranger looks to be the winner in all those categories, at least for now. Throw in better fuel economy, payload capacity, and tow ratings, and we know exactly which horse we're going to bet on this time around.
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger vs the Colorado right here in Ford-trucks.com.
For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our How-to section in the forum.