The 2021 Ford Ranger is a solid off-roader with a powerful engine and good towing and hauling capacities for its class. It handles well, offers comfortable seating, and gets good gas mileage. The 2021 Chevy Colorado comes with its own capabilities. Let’s look at both.
Design
The 2021 Ford Ranger is a mid-size pickup that comes in two body styles with two bed lengths. The SuperCab provides seating for four occupants and has two smaller half-doors, while the SuperCrew seats up to five and comes with four full-size doors. Its cabin is quiet and comfortable, with easy-to-use controls, but the materials inside are mostly cheap plastics with small bits of trim to make it look upscale. Its trim levels range from the base model XL to the top-of-the-line Lariat. New for 2021 is the Black appearance package which adds black 18-inch wheels and grille, black Ford oval badges, and new bedside decals. Four new exterior colors have also been added: Cactus Bray, Carbonized Gray, Cyber Orange, and Velocity Blue. Cloth upholstery comes standard, and leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated front seats are available.
The 2021 Chevy Colorado offers a smooth, comfortable ride around town or adventures on the off-road. For 2021, Colorado’s Base trim is discontinued, and now features the WT, LT, Z71, and ZR2 trims. The WT and LT trims offer available Crew Cab/short bed and Crew/long bed configurations. The Z71 and ZR2 feature off road abilities and are capable of tackling trails and terrain, and they are available in Extended Cab/long bed and Crew Cab/short bed configurations. Extended Cab models seat four, and Crew Cab models seat up to five passengers, with spacious, comfortable seating up front. There are plenty of available bed features, including multiple tie downs, a step built into the corners of the rear bumper, and an EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate. There have been some updates to the exterior, but there are plenty of hard plastics and low-grade materials throughout the cabin. Higher trims will offer a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and optional heated front seats.
Performance/Fuel and Price
The Ranger features a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It comes standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing shifts that are smooth and quick. The Ranger is available with a Terrain Management System that improves the engine’s responsiveness and transmission gearing to optimize the truck’s performance in different types of terrain. There are four drive modes that are offered: Normal, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, and Sand. A new optional Tremor off-road package includes special off-road tires, a locking rear differential, skid plates, crawl control, and an off-road-tuned suspension. The Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds and has a payload of up to 1860 pounds. Fuel is estimated at 21/26 mpg city and highway with rear-wheel drive and 20/24 mpg with four-wheel drive. The base Ranger XL has a starting price of $25,000 and ranges to a starting price of $33,000 for the Lariat.
The Chevrolet Colorado features a fuel efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission; and rear-wheel drive. With plenty of power, this is great for everyday driving needs. There are two available engines – a 3.6-liter V6 with 308-horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque or a 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine with 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The V6 is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel comes with a six-speed automatic. The Z71 and ZR2 models offer four-wheel drive, along with heavy-duty suspension and locking rear differential. The ZR2 is even more capable with driver-selectable full-locking front and rear differential. When equipped with the turbodiesel engine, maximum towing capacity reaches 7,700 pounds; and it can haul up to 1,578 pounds. Fuel is estimated at 19/25 mpg city/highway for the base four-cylinder and rear-wheel drive. The WT has a starting price of $25,200 for the Extended Cab/long bed and ranges to a starting price of $43,200 for the ZR2 Crew Cab/short bed configuration.
Safety and Technology
Standard advanced safety features on the Ford Ranger include a rearview camera, MyKey that lets you set speed and audio volume limits, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Available advanced safety features 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. Standard technology features include an infotainment system with a USB port, Bluetooth, four speakers, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Available features include SYNC 3 system, a 4.2-inch display, an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, a six- or 10-speaker audio system, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, satellite radio, HD Radio, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, and push-button start are also available.
The Chevy Colorado’s available OnStar System provides emergency crash notification, stolen-vehicle notification, and remote locking and unlocking. This safety package comes standard on the LT and above. Also available on the LT and Z71 models includes forward collision and lane departure warning systems. A rearview camera and the Teen Driver Mode comes standard on all models, and lets you have custom key settings for secondary drivers and provides in-vehicle reports. Chevrolet’s Infotainment 3 system comes standard in the Colorado and includes a 7-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system. Its infotainment system is easy-to-use with easy to reach controls and an intuitive menu layout. An 8-inch touch screen, a seven-speaker Bose audio system, HD Radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, additional USB ports, and navigation are available; as well as remote start and automatic climate control.
Conclusion
The 2021 Ford Ranger and 2021 Chevy Colorado are two off-road vehicles with capabilities for your next adventure. The 2021 Chevy Colorado can tow slightly more, with dedicated off-road trims, but the 2021 Ford Ranger is capable on the off-road with its new Tremor off-road package and its Terrain Management System; while offering more standard features and a higher maximum payload