F-150 vs Ranger: Which Pickup Is Right For You?

Making a Decision

We've finally reached a point where Blue Oval truck shoppers have a variety of sizes to choose from once again after the compact and mid-size versions disappeared from Ford's lineup for a number of years. But if you're in the market for something a bit larger than the Maverick, how do you choose between the Ranger and F-150, aside from the obvious differences in size? Well, we've put together a handy comparison here to help make that decision a bit easier.

Photos: Ford

Configurations

The Ranger is available in SuperCab or SuperCrew configurations, along with trim levels including XL, XLT, and Lariat. It's a bit more limited in that regard than the smorgasbord of options available with the F-150, which include regular cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew body styles, along with multiple bed lengths and trim levels including XL, XLT, Lariat, Platinum, King Ranch, and Limited.

Photos: Ford

Sizing

Unlike the old, compact Ranger, the new mid-size is quite a bit larger and surprisingly close to the full-size F-150. It measures 210.8 inches long and 77.8 inches wide, compared to 231.7 and 79.9 inches for the F-150, making it a bit shorter but nearly as wide as its bigger brother. The Ranger isn't quite as tall as the F-150, however - measuring 71.1 inches versus 77.2, and that might make all the difference for someone with a smaller garage.

Photos: Ford

Interior Space

As one might imagine, the F-150 touts more interior space as well thanks to its larger exterior size, with 43.9 inches of front legroom, 33.5 inches of rear legroom, and 132.0 cubic feet of total passenger volume. The Ranger, on the other hand, still does pretty good with a slightly less 43.1 inches of front legroom, 34.5 inches of rear legroom, and 97.6 cubic feet of passenger volume.

Photos: Ford

Powertrains

The Ranger soldiers on with one single engine choice - Ford's 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4, which produces 310 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The F-150, on the other hand, offers a bevy of choices including the base 3.3-liter V6, the 2.7 and 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6s, 5.0-liter Coyote V8, and the newer 3.5-liter PowerBoost V6 hybrid, all of which are mated to the 10-speed gearbox.

Photos: Ford

Pricing

The Ranger starts out at $25,285 and can be optioned far higher than that, but the F-150's price range is far broader. With an MSRP of $29,640, the full-size pickup can easily be optioned up into the $90k range, depending on how it's equipped. 

Photos: Ford

Picking a Winner

In terms of which one is right for buyers, well, that depends. The F-150 offers far more choices in terms of configurations, powertrains, features, and capability, but it does so in a larger package that may not work for folks in urban areas. The Ranger, on the other hand, is a more compact package that may be perfect for those that don't need to haul or tow as much, all in a more economical and affordable package to boot.

Photos: Ford

>>Join the conversation about the F-150 vs. Ranger choice right here in the forum.

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