For years, the Tacoma has dominated the mid-size pickup segment, but we might have a new king to crown.
Fresh Competition
For quite some time, the Toyota Tacoma has remained America's most popular mid-size pickup. Mostly because, well, it was either that or the Nissan Frontier, which hasn't received any significant updates in years. Now, the Chevrolet Colorado and Ford Ranger are providing some fresh competition for the segment stalwart, and there are signs that Ford's reborn Ranger is the new king of the hill.
Photos: Ford
Towing and Payload
The Tacoma's first sign of weakness comes in the form of towing and payload capacity. The Ranger quite simply blows away the Tacoma in terms of max payload rating, hauling up to 1,650 pounds versus just 1,095 pounds. And when equipped with the right goodies, it'll tow more, too - 7,500 pounds versus 6,400 in the Tacoma.
Photos: Toyota
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger over the Tacoma right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Size Matters
Though they're direct competitors, the Tacoma and Ranger are quite different in terms of packaging. The Toyota is 1.5 inches longer, but the Ranger is an inch taller and a whopping 10 inches wider. The Ranger also has a much longer bed - 72.8 inches versus 60.5. That last tidbit is obviously important for consumers who're looking to haul things at least occasionally.
Photos: Ford
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger over the Tacoma right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Powertrains
Many believe that Toyota has been a little too complacent in its reign atop the mid-size segment, and that notion rings true when you compare drivetrains. The Tacoma's 3.5-liter V8 makes a bit more horsepower (278 vs. 270), but far less torque than Ford's 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4 (310 vs. 265). The Tacoma also comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the Ranger offers 10 speeds. The Ranger is also more economical than the Tacoma, returning 20 miles-per-gallon in the city and 24 on the highway, versus 18 and 22 mpgs respectively for the Toyota.
Photos: Toyota
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger over the Tacoma right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Off-Road Capability
Both the Ranger and Tacoma offer some pretty nice off-road focused packages. Ford's FX2 and FX4 offerings compare nicely to Toyota's TRD packages, so it's somewhat hard to declare a true winner here. Perhaps we'll see a proper comparison between these two soon that pits them against each other in a variety of rugged terrain. But at least in terms of equipment, they're quite similar.
Photos: Ford
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger over the Tacoma right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Interior
One place where the Tacoma really shows its age is inside the cab, where not much has changed over the years. The Ranger's infotainment system is much more modern, and the Lariat offers up some very luxurious appointments for those who like to be pampered in their pickups. Meanwhile, the overall look and feel of the Tacoma's interior is decidedly outdated and in need of a major redo.
Photos: Toyota
>>Join the conversation about the Ranger over the Tacoma right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Pricing
In the end, as it often does, this comparison boils down to pricing. A bare-bones Tacoma can be had for as little as $26,050, but the Ranger is cheaper at $24,110. A Tacoma Limited will cost at least $38,905, while the Ranger Lariat starts out at $32,500. Of course, there are many configurations available for each that carry wide-ranging prices. But the Ranger, on the surface, seems like a better deal, especially given its superiority in virtually every other category.
Photos: Ford
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