2021 Ford Ranger Comparison
Ranger vs Colorado - Point-by-Point Comparison
Both of these compact pickups have a lot going for them. They're reasonably priced, powerful for their size, and the models you'll find in 2021 have some nice luxury features too. Let's consider each point in turn:
Price
The Ford Ranger is great value for money, with models starting at $26,660 for the SuperCab, with a variety of upgrades available if you're willing to pay around $2,000 extra. The Colorado is a little more expensive, starting at $29,780, and if you want a V6 and FWD you can expect to pay around $3,500 above the base price.
Powertrain and Reliability
The Ford Ranger offers just one choice of powertrain, but offering 290hp and 310 lbs of peak torque it's an impressive compact. It can outperform the Colorado in most configurations. The Colorado, on the other hand, gives buyers a choice of three powertrains and two transmissions. The downside here is the extra expense. If you want diesel on the Colorado, you'll pay a hefty premium for it.
Both vehicles, however, are robust and have a decent towing capacity, so you can expect them to be up to the job when it comes to hauling or towing reasonably large loads. The Colorado is rated to carry around 7,000 lbs while the Ranger can handle 7,500 lbs.
Interior and Comfort
As compact pickups, both of these vehicles have only modest cabin space. The Colorado manages to have reasonable legroom in the front but any passengers will find the space rather cramped. The Ranger offers even less legroom and has a low ceiling too. Average-sized adults should find the space up front acceptable, but there's not much room for passengers at all.
The Colorado features a touchscreen entertainment system that's slightly more high-tech than the one in the Ford Ranger, but the Ranger's system is certainly fully functional and will suit most people's needs.
Safety
The Ford Ranger has a generally good safety rating according to the IIHS, although the headlights and child seat anchors are rated 'marginal'. Overall, however, the Ranger outscores the Chevy Colorado in terms of safety rating, which has similar child seat anchor issues and a 'poor' rating for the headlights. Both vehicles have good ratings for crash testing.
Fuel Economy
With such beefy engines, it's unreasonable to expect massive fuel economy, but both of these vehicles do relatively well. The 2.5-liter gasoline version of the Chevrolet Colorado offers 19 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on highways, while the 4WD offers similar city mileage and 24 MPG on highways. The diesel version offers 28MPG, but for a significant price premium.
The Ford Ranger offers slightly better performance than the gasoline version of the Colorado, delivering 21 MPG in cities and 26 MPG on highways.
Conclusion
Both of these pickups have a lot to offer. The Colorado features slightly more space for passengers and delivers better mileage in its diesel form, but for a much higher price and at the expense of towing capability. The Ford Ranger scores better in safety tests and has better towing and hauling performance, while still being competitive in terms of fuel economy.
This makes the Ranger a good choice for most people. If you're concerned about space in the cabin, then you'd be better off looking for a bigger pickup, because the space gains delivered by the Chevrolet Colorado are rather marginal.
