The New Ford Ranger vs the Competition

The New Ford Ranger vs the Competition

There are some outstanding choices among mid-size pickup trucks, and that makes the competition among these competitors exceptionally fierce. Four major players in the current market, the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier, have been recently redesigned, keeping the rivalry fresh.

We've measured the Ford Ranger against its mid-size competitors in some of the most important areas, and the details are presented here by Jensen Le Mars Ford in Le Mars, IA. For the most part, these comparisons involve the lowest-priced trim with four-wheel drive and a crew-cab configurations for the 2025 model year.

A comparison of power and capability

The standard Ford Ranger is equipped with a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that creates 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. That surpasses the Tacoma's 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four, which is rated at 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet. The Ranger's powerplant also generates more torque for Sioux City, IA drivers than the Frontier's 3.8-liter V6, which measures 281 pound-feet.

When the Ford Ranger is properly equipped, it can tow up to 7,500 pounds, which is far more than the trailering capacity of the Tacoma at 3,500 pounds. It also beats the Frontier at 6,930 pounds and comes close to the Colorado's maximum of 7,700 pounds. Payload capacity is another strong point for Merrill, IA Ranger buyers. The Ranger can haul 1,788 pounds, moving it ahead of the Colorado at 1,684 pounds, the Tacoma at 1,500 pounds, and the Frontier with 1,290 pounds.

A comparison of price and ownership costs

These four mid-size pickups are relatively close in terms of base MSRP, with the 2025 Ranger XL 4WD crew cab starting at $36,850. That places it between the Chevy Colorado Work Truck at about $35,200 and the Toyota Tacoma SR at $36,990. The Nissan Frontier S is positioned just below the Tacoma at $36,450. This modest $1,770 spread between the least and most expensive base models shows how competitive the mid-size pickup market is.

These four pickups' long-term operating costs tell a similar story for Orange City, IA buyers. Edmunds estimates that the Ford Ranger's five-year ownership costs come in at $42,868 when you drive 15,000 miles per year. That's very close to the Tacoma's cost of ownership of $42,669 as well as the Frontier's at $43,152. On a cost-per-mile basis, the Ford Ranger and Tacoma average an economical $0.57, while the Frontier is slightly higher at $0.58. The average cost to own a Chevry Colorado on a per-mile basis is much higher, and starts at about $0.65, so the Ranger leads most of the field in that category.

A comparison of space and comfort

The cabin in the Ford Ranger provides 41.0 inches of front headroom, compared to the Colorado's slightly tighter 40.3 inches of headroom. The Ranger offers 43.2 inches of front legroom, which is more than the Tacoma at 41.8 inches, and the Frontier at 42.3 inches. In the back row, the Ranger has 34.6 inches of legroom, just slightly behind the Colorado's 34.7 inches but better than the Tacoma with 33.7 inches and the Frontier with 33.2 inches. We invite you to discover the other strengths of the new Ford Ranger and take a test drive at Jensen Le Mars Ford in Le Mars, IA.

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  1. Jensen Le Mars Ford

    1258 Lincoln Street Sw
    Le Mars, IA 51031

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