The Ford Ranger vs. Chevy Colorado will always be a debate among truck owners. With both of these pickup trucks falling into the light-duty classification and costing under $35,000 new, there's no reason both can't get a second look from shoppers. Here at Tim's Truck Capital, we want to make sure you make an informed decision when deciding between the Chevy Colorado and Ford Ranger, which is why we have created this post. Stick around as we dive in below.
Ford Ranger vs. Chevy Colorado: At a Glance
When looking at a Ford Ranger vs. a Chevy Colorado pickup truck, these are two popular options, new and pre-owned. The Ford Ranger tends to be more expensive than the Colorado, but with that higher price comes impressive efficiency, towing capabilities, and advanced technology. The Colorado, however, is a popular mid-size truck from Chevrolet that works as a stylish and everyday-friendly choice as well.
Exterior and Design
To compare the design and exterior of a Ford Ranger and a Chevy Colorado, these pickups share similarities, particularly in their side profiles and dimensions. Between a Ford Ranger and a Chevy Colorado, the Ranger features a more basic and rounded design outside, with LED headlights, a black front bumper equipped with tow hooks, black power side mirrors, and a locking tailgate.
On the other hand, the Chevy Colorado has an aggressive, angular design with bolder lines. Its standard features include 17-inch wheels, a CornerStep rear bumper, cab-mounted cargo lamps, and heated power mirrors.
Ford Ranger Exterior Dimensions
- Length: 210.6 inches (210.9 inches for the Ranger Raptor)
- Width: 79 inches without mirrors
- Height: 73.9 inches
- Wheelbase: 128.7 inches
- Ground Clearance: 9.3 inches
Chevy Colorado Exterior Dimensions
- Length: 213.02 - 213.21 inches
- Width (without mirrors): 74.91 inches-78.09 inches
- Height: 78.79 inches-81.8 inches
- Wheelbase: 131.36 inches
- Ground Clearance: 7.9 inches-10.73 inches
Interior and Comfort
Now, for the inside comparison of the Ford Ranger vs. Chevy Colorado, we have more differences between the two pickup trucks.
The Ford Ranger will have many standard interior features, including:
- 8-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10-inch touchscreen display
- Cloth bucket seats
- Dual-zone climate
- Black vinyl floor coverings
- Overhead console
The Chevy Colorado offers you the following:
- 11.3-inch touchscreen
- 11-inch digital instrument cluster
- Six-speaker audio system
- Cloth or Evotex upholstery
- 60/40 split folding rear bench seat
- Single-zone climate control
Note: These features are based on newer generations of the Ford Ranger and the Chevy Colorado. Older models might have smaller touchscreens.
Engine and Performance
The Ford Ranger vs. Chevy Colorado comes to a head when you compare the engine options and overall performance of either pickup truck. As of this year, the Ford Ranger comes with a standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine. This engine is turbocharged, producing 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.
With the Chevy Colorado, you will see a 2.7-liter TurboMax™ engine with 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque standard.
Verdict: Of the two, the Ford Ranger has a more eco-friendly engine, while the Chevy Colorado performs better.
Towing and Payload
Another category we'd like to cover in this article is the towing and payload capacity of the Ford Ranger vs. Chevy Colorado.
For the Ford Ranger, this mid-size truck will tow up to 7,500 pounds when properly equipped. This goes for all models. Payload capacity looks like this:
- Rear-wheel drive models: Can handle a payload of up to 1,805 pounds
- Four-wheel drive models: Can handle a payload of up to 1,711 pounds
With the Chevy Colorado, your towing capacity is up to 7,700 pounds when properly equipped. The ZR2 trim has a slightly lower towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. Your payload capacity ranges from 1,151 to 1,725 pounds, depending on the configuration and package options.
Fuel Economy and MPG
The fuel economy and MPG estimates for both the Chevy Colorado and the Ford Ranger are competitive, with the Ford Ranger coming out on top. Remember, the Ranger has an EcoBoost engine, while the Colorado does not have EcoBoost elements, so this factors into EPA estimates and range.
Here's a comparison of the 2024 Ranger to the Colorado, per the EPA.
Ford Ranger
- 2WD: 22 MPG combined, 21 city/25 highway
- 4WD: 22 MPG combined, 20 city/24 highway
Chevy Colorado
- 2WD: 21 MPG combined, 19 city/24 highway
- 4WD: 20 MPG combined, 18 city/23 highway
The overall range of the Ford Ranger is up to 414 miles on a full tank, while the Chevrolet Colorado surprises with an estimated 449 miles in 2WD configurations. Generally, the 2WD trucks perform better in terms of fuel economy across both releases, so that is something to keep in mind.
Safety
Pickup trucks are often not ranked at the top of safety lists. Still, the Chevy Colorado and the Ford Ranger do offer several standard and available safety features to make everyday travel less of a risk. It's also worth noting that both vehicles are rated well by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), earning four out of five stars overall.
Ford Ranger Safety
- Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
- Lane-Keeping System
- Rear View Camera
- Automatic High Beams
- Ford Co-Pilot360
- BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert
- AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™)
Chevy Colorado Safety
- Forward Collision Alert
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- StabiliTrak electronic stability control
- Adaptive Cruise Control (optional)
- Blind-Spot Monitoring (optional)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (optional)
Get the Ford Ranger or Chevy Colorado at Tim's Truck Capital
Whether you prefer the performance and price of the Chevy Colorado or the fuel economy and added features of the Ford Ranger, the team here at Tim's Truck Capital is happy to help find you the perfect mid-size pickup. We have hundreds of used vehicles for sale at our dealership, and we serve the wonderful communities of Concord and Manchester, NH. As soon as you're ready to come in, you're welcome, and we'll be happy to hand you over a set of keys for a test drive.