Ford Ranger vs Chevy Colorado: 2024 comparison

Midsize trucks have never been better. They’ve never been newer either, as three of the best sellers were completely redesigned within two years of each other (four if you count the GMC Canyon twin in Colorado). Comparing specs and impressions from Autoblog’s review, we take a look at the 2024 Ford Ranger and 2024 Chevrolet Colorado, including their off-road performance versions, the Ranger Raptor and Colorado ZR2.

Ultimately, which of these mid-size trucks is better for you will likely come down to your personal needs – are you looking for a work truck, a smaller and more agile daily driver than a full-size, or a lumbering, gorge-jumping road truck? Maybe something in between? Whatever the answer, there’s a good chance that the Ranger will be a better choice for one, while the Colorado will be a better choice for another. It may also depend on your budget or the amount of equipment you are looking for.

Let’s take a look at the various attributes below to see which of the Colorado and Ranger models might be better suited to different priorities and preferences.

Which is more powerful?

Winner: Ford

The Ranger’s standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Colorado Work Truck and LT trims are equipped with a 2.7-liter turbocharged engine that produces 237 hp and 260 Nm. If you’re looking at trucks with lower trim levels, the Ranger has a large advantage. The 2.7-liter version of the Trail Boss and Z71 significantly increases power to 310 HP and 391 Nm. The ZR2 produces 430 lb-ft. This is obviously a significant advantage over the Ford, but the Ranger will soon be available with a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine with 315 hp and 400 Nm of torque. At the time of writing, we didn’t know what trim levels it would be offered in or how much it would cost, especially compared to the high-horsepower Chevy trim levels.

Ultimately, then, this is a tough question to answer, but considering Chevy doesn’t have a real answer to the Ranger Raptor’s 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 (405 hp, 430 lb-ft), all in all, we’ll give that answer to Ford.

What provides better fuel economy?

Winner: Ford

The Ranger’s standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine returns 22 mpg combined, whether you buy the truck with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Opting for the 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine lowers fuel economy to 20 mpg combined. The Colorado’s standard 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine achieves 21 mpg combined with RWD and 20 mpg combined with 4WD. An improved, high-efficiency 2.7-liter engine lowers fuel economy to 19 mpg combined (4WD only) or 16 mpg in the ZR2. Even the Ranger Raptor clocks in at 17, so the Ford has the edge in all areas.

Which one pulls more?

Winner: Colorado

The Ranger’s maximum towing capacity is 7,500 pounds, regardless of engine or drivetrain. The Colorado weighs 7,700 pounds, so this one is plenty.

Which one has a nicer interior?

Winner: Ranger

In terms of design, we’d probably say the Colorado has a more attractive interior. This is especially the case with the upper trim pieces, which add padded faux leather to the interior surfaces and colorful contrast stitching. That said, the Ranger has more consistent material quality across the range of trim levels. There’s a much bigger difference between the difficult plastics used in the Colorado LT and the fancier components in the Z71. Of course, if you really want a nice truck interior, it’s a good idea to check out the GMC Canyon siblings in Colorado, especially the Denali.

Which has better infotainment technology?

Winner: Draw

This is really tough because both trucks have impressive touchscreen infotainment systems. Each Colorado device has an 11.3-inch, landscape-oriented touchscreen with a user-friendly interface and built-in Google software that supports Google Maps and offers additional apps from the Google Play Store. This is in addition to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ranger is available in two touchscreen sizes: 10 and 12 inches, both of which are vertically oriented. It’s actually a bit difficult to tell them apart. We like that you can split the screen between Apple’s current square screen recently developed for CarPlay, as well as Ford’s secondary native menu screen. We’ll call it a tie because both the Ford and Chevy systems are quite good, and it really comes down to personal preference.

Which one has a bigger back seat?

Winner: Draw

Both trucks are currently only offered in crew cab body styles. They also have virtually the same amount of legroom on paper – 34.6 inches for the Ranger and 34.7 inches for the Colorado. The Ranger has 1.5 inches more rear headroom, but in both cases there was a 6-foot-3 person sitting in the back, and his head didn’t touch the ceiling in either case. This is a tie.

Which has greater load capacity and functionality

Winner: Chevrolet

The rear seats may offer the same space, but the Colorado is more versatile. The seat bottom is split 60/40, making it straightforward to carry luggage or other cargo on one side while still keeping the seat open. The Ranger has a one-piece seat bottom that can be raised, or a one-piece seatback that can be folded down to accommodate cargo on top. Basically, you choose between people and cargo.

The Colorado bed is 5 feet 1 inch long. It features a clever tailgate design that includes a storage compartment and a retaining cable that can be attached to keep the tailgate half open. We also like the Colorado model’s corner stairs, which make getting into the bed easier. The Ranger has side steps between the bumper and wheel, but is more intended for leaning over the edge of the bed. The bed itself is also 5 feet long, so it’s technically smaller. Both trucks are equipped with a 120-volt power outlet located in the bed.

Clockwise from top left: Ford Ranger electrical outlets and side step; corner step and storage compartment on the tailgate of a Chevrolet Colorado

What is safer?

Winner: Inconclusive

Both the Colorado and Ranger come standard with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems, including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist. Blind-spot warning is available on all Rangers except the base XL. This feature is available in Colorado’s optional Safety Package along with enhancements not available on Ford: blind-spot steering assist and rear cross-traffic emergency braking. In both cases, adaptive cruise control is optional.

Neither the Colorado nor the Ranger have been crash-tested by a third party. As such, the Colorado may have an advantage here if you check the Safety Package box, but otherwise it won’t be conclusive without crash test ratings.

Which one is better to drive?

Winner: Ford

We didn’t have a chance to drive the pair back-to-back, but in our experience, the Ranger is the more refined truck. It still has the typical body-on-frame wobble and bounce over bumps, but its damping is precise, absorbing larger bumps while controlling rebound exceptionally well. It gives the impression of refinement. Chassis response and body movement on twisty mountain roads are also very good for a tiny truck, but the steering is too numb, especially on center, which is a disappointment considering the rest of the animated package.

The Colorado itself is impressive by tiny truck standards and has better handling than the Ranger, but we don’t think its ride and handling are as impressive. We also think its high-powered engine makes a very whistling and raspy sound, while its stock engine is a tad sassy.

Ford Ranger XLT and Chevy Colorado Trail Boss

When was the last time they were redesigned?

Winner: Draw

The Ranger is current for 2024, while the Colorado is all-new for 2023. The Ranger’s frame goes back further, though, so we’re guessing it wasn’t literally All-new. We’re not sure how much this matters. Their newness is similar, this is not a decisive factor.

Are there versions that stand out more than others?

Winner: Draw

Both the Colorado and Ranger offer off-road vehicle models that are extremely capable and extremely chilly. The Ranger Raptor (pictured below left) boasts more power and a coil-spring rear suspension, while the Colorado ZR2’s DSSV shocks with hydraulic valves provide excellent off- and on-road performance. Then the ZR2 Bison (pictured below, right) goes even further as the undisputed rock-crawling mountain goat. We’re not sure how to objectively choose between them. Depends on your taste and what you want to do.

Which provides better value?

Winner: Chevrolet

This is complicated given engine choices and differences in option packages and trim levels. Aside from the similarly priced base versions, the Colorado and Ranger trims don’t really go together. However, it is generally cheaper to get to Colorado. Even the ZR2 is about $7,000 cheaper to start than the Raptor.