medium size truck never been better. They’ve also never been newer at the same time, as three of the best-sellers have been completely redesigned within two years (four if you count the Colorado GMC Canyon twin). When we compared specs and impressions from Autoblog reviews, we looked Ford Ranger 2024 And Chevrolet Colorado 2024including their performance off-road versions, Ranger Raptor And Colorado ZR2.
Ultimately, which midsize truck is better for you probably depends on personal needs – are you looking for one? work truck, a daily driver that’s smaller and more maneuverable than a full-size truck, or an ugly canyon-going off-road truck? Maybe something in between? Whatever the answer, there’s a good chance forest ranger will be a better choice for one person while Colorado is better for another. It may also depend on your budget or the number of devices you are looking for.
Let’s take a look at the different attributes below to see which Colorado and Ranger might better suit different priorities and preferences.
Which is stronger?
Winner: Ford
The Ranger’s standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Colorado Work Truck and LT trims feature a 2.7-liter turbocharged engine good for 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. If you’re considering lower-end trucks, the Ranger has a big advantage. The Trail Boss and Z71 “high-output” versions of the 2.7-liter engine have significantly increased output to 310 horsepower and 391 lb-ft. ZR2 created 430 lb-ft. That’s clearly a significant advantage compared to Ford, but Ranger A 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 good for 315 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque will soon be available. We don’t know what this trim level will be offered at or what its price will be at the time of this writing, especially compared to the high output Chevy trim level.
Ultimately, this is a difficult question to answer, but considering Chevy doesn’t have a real answer for the Ranger Raptor’s 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 (405 hp, 430 lb-ft), we’ll give give this answer Ford on the whole.
Which is more fuel efficient?
Winner: Ford
The Ranger’s standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 22 mpg combined regardless of whether you buy the truck with rear- or four-wheel drive. Choose the 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine energy saving to 20 mpg combined. The Colorado’s standard 2.7-liter turbocharged engine manages 21 mpg combined with RWD and 20 mpg combined with 4WD. Upgrading to the high-output 2.7-liter engine reduces fuel economy to 19 mpg combined (4WD only) or 16 mpg with the ZR2. Even the Ranger Raptor scored 17, so Ford has the advantage overall.
Which one pulls more?
Winner: Colorado
Ranger’s max drag rated at 7,500 pounds, regardless of engine and transmission. The Colorado weighs 7,700 pounds, so it’s worth more.
Which has the nicer interior?
Winner: Ranger
In terms of design, we’d probably say the Colorado has a more attractive interior. That’s especially the case in the upper trims that add simulated leather padding to the interior surfaces and Colorful Contrast stitching. That said, the Ranger has more consistent materials quality across its trim level lineup. There’s a much bigger difference between the hard plastics on the Colorado LT and the more luxurious trim on the Z71. Of course, if you really want a nice truck interior, check out the Colorado The GMC Canyon siblings are a good idea, especially the Denali.
Which has better infotainment technology?
Winner: Tie
This is really difficult because both trucks have impressive touchscreen infotainment systems. Every Colorado features an 11.3-inch landscape-oriented touchscreen running a user-friendly interface with Google Integration software that runs Google Maps and offers additional apps from the Google Play Store. That’s in addition to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ranger has two touchscreen size options: 10 and 12 inches, both in portrait orientation. It’s actually a bit difficult to tell them apart. We like that you can split the screen between a new square screen that Apple recently invented for CarPlay along with an additional original Ford menu screen. We’ll call this a tie, because both the Ford and Chevy systems are quite good and it really comes down to personal preference.
Which has the larger back seat?
Winner: Tie
Both trucks are currently offered only in cab body styles. They also have almost the same legroom on paper at 34.6 inches for the Ranger and 34.7 inches for the Colorado. The Ranger has 1.5 inches more rear headroom, but we had someone 6-foot-3 in the back of both, and his head didn’t touch the ceiling in either case. This is a draw.
Which one has more capacity and cargo capacity?
Winner: Chevrolet
The rear seats may have the same space, but the Colorado’s is more flexible. The seat bottom is split 60/40, making it easier to carry luggage or other goods on one side while still keeping the seat clear. The Ranger has a one-piece seat bottom that can be flipped up or a one-piece seat back that can be folded down to accommodate cargo on top. Essentially, you are choosing between people or goods.
The Colorado’s bed is 5 feet 1 inch long. It has a clever tailgate design that includes a storage compartment and a support strap that can be hooked in such a way that the tailgate stays half open. We also like the Colorado’s corner steps, which make it easier to get into bed. The Ranger has a step between the bumper and the wheel, but it’s more inclined to lean over the side of the bed. The bed itself is also about 5 feet long so it’s technically smaller. Both trucks have a 120-volt power outlet in the bed.
Clockwise from top left: Ford Ranger power outlet and door sill; storage bins on the doorstep and back door Chevy Colorado
Which is safer?
Winner: No winner or loser
Both the Colorado and Ranger are equipped with a large array of driver assistance systems as standard equipment including forward collision warning and automatic emergency. brake, automatic headlights, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist. Blind-spot warning is included on all Rangers except the base XL. That feature is included in the Colorado’s optional Safety package along with enhancements not available on the Ford: blind-zone steering assist and rear-crossing emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control is optional on both.
Neither the Colorado nor the Ranger have tested the problem by a third party. As such, the Colorado might have the edge here if you check the Safety Package box, but otherwise this one won’t be convincing without crash test ratings.
Which driver is better?
Winner: Ford
We haven’t had a chance to drive the pair in person, but in our experience, the Ranger is the more refined truck. It still feels jiggly and wobbly on the conventional frame, but its damping is very adequate, handling larger bumps while controlling rebound exceptionally well. It feels sophisticated. Chassis response and body motion on winding mountain roads are also very good for a minivan, but the steering is too numb, especially on center, and is a disappointment compared to The rest of the package is dynamic.
The Colorado impresses by minivan standards with better steering than the Ranger, but we don’t think its ride and handling are quite as impressive. We also found its high-output motor to be very loud and harsh, while its base motor was a bit on the weak side.
Ford Ranger XLT and Chevy Colorado Trail Boss
When was the last time they were redesigned?
Winner: Tie
The Ranger is new for 2024, while the Colorado is all-new for 2023. However, the Ranger’s frame dates back further so we assume it’s not literally all-new. We’re not sure how important that is. Their novelty is similar, this is not the deciding factor.
Are there any versions that stand out more than others?
Winner: Tie
Both the Colorado and Ranger offer extremely powerful and cool off-road vehicles. The Ranger Raptor (pictured below left) boasts more power and a coil-spring rear suspension, while the Colorado ZR2’s DSSV spool-valve dampers work wonders on and off-road. Then the ZR2 Bison (pictured below right) goes even further as the undisputed rock crawling mountain goat of the group. We’re not sure how you objectively choose among them. Depends on taste and what you want to do.
Which offers better value?
Winner: Chevrolet
This is complicated by engine choices as well as differences in option packages and trim levels. Aside from the similarly priced entry-level trims, the Colorado and Ranger trims don’t really fit the bill. However, in general, it is cheaper to enter Colorado. Even the ZR2 starts about $7,000 cheaper than the Raptor.
