The 2020 Ford Ranger is one of the most capable, well-rounded, vehicles in the compact pickup truck class. The 2020 Toyota Tacoma is also a contender in its class, but the comparisons will make your choice clear.
Design
The Ranger seats four people in SuperCab models and five in SuperCrew models, with comfortable and roomy front seats in both models. The standard extended-cab SuperCab Ranger comes with a 6-foot bed, while the crew-cab SuperCrew model has a 5-foot bed. Payload capacities range from 1,560 to 1,860 pounds, the latter of which leads the class by a long shot. Its turbocharged engine feels energetic in just about every driving situation, and it handles well on winding roads.
The Toyota Tacoma has two available cab styles. The standard Access Cab seats four and has a small two-seat second row, while the larger Double Cab has an extended three-person second row and seats five. If you’ll be carrying passengers, the Double Cab is what you’ll want, as there is just 24.6 inches of legroom in the Access Cab, and the seats are hard and upright with little cushioning or support. The Tacoma comes with either a 5-foot standard bed or a 6-foot-1-inch long bed. Access Cab models are only paired with the long bed, while the Double Cab is available with both. The Tacoma has a maximum payload of 1,685 pound.
The Ranger's turbo-four engine is superior to the Tacoma's base four-cylinder, as it's significantly more powerful. Every Ranger comes with a powerful turbocharged engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission that combine for smooth and seamless acceleration. The Ranger also has better towing and hauling capabilities than the Tacoma. It can tow up to 7,500 pounds, which places it among the class leaders. The Ranger features a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It's capable whether you're driving to work or towing a trailer down the highway. Acceleration is generally quick, and the 10-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth shifts. When equipped with rear-wheel drive, the Ranger gets 21/26 mpg in the city and highway. With four-wheel drive, ratings drop to 20/24 mpg in the city and highway.
The Toyota Tacoma comes standard with a four-cylinder engine that puts out a meager 159 horsepower. This delivers a sluggish acceleration especially if you are carrying passengers and cargo. Your other option is a 278-horsepower V6. It's a little better at higher speeds than the four-cylinder, but it can still feel lackluster. The six-speed automatic transmission that's outdated hampers both engines and struggles to find the right gear. The 2020 Tacoma with the base engine and rear-wheel drive gets an estimated 20/23 mpg in the city and on the highway. Models with the optional V6 get an estimated 19/24 mpg in the city and on the highway. These numbers aren’t great for a compact pickup truck. The maximum towing capacity of the Tacoma is 6,800 pounds.
Ford delivers a line of standard driver assistance features in the Ranger that include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The standard Ford's MyKey system lets you do things like set speed and audio volume limits for secondary drivers. Ford also delivers a line of available active safety features that include front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert with trailer coverage. Tech features include Bluetooth, four speakers, a WIFI hotspot and a USB port. You can also upgrade to Ford’s impressive SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and navigation.
The Tacoma comes standard with a rearview camera and Toyota's Safety Sense P bundle of driver assistance technology. This package includes lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. New standard features for the 2020 Tacoma is Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa and a 7-inch touch screen.
Overall
The 2020 Ford Ranger delivers almost everything that a compact pickup truck buyer could want. It's capable, easy to drive, and has the power and handling you need. Come take a ride at Brighton Ford today.