What are new truck buyers saying about the 2023 Ford Ranger and the 2023 Nissan Frontier? In our comparison review, we analyze both great trucks and show you why the Ranger has a few key advantages of the Frontier. This is your guide to picking the best truck for you in 2023.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The Ranger is the bigger of the two trucks but still allows for great handling.
- The Ranger and the Frontier are nearly the same in price.
- A few more standard features can be found on the Ranger, giving drivers a bit more for their money.
- Gas mileage is similar for both cars, better towing on the Ranger.
DOES THE RANGER TOW AND HAUL MORE?
Starting off strong, the answer is yes it absolutely does. The power of the Ranger is built just as you would expect from a Ford truck. The size of the Ranger’s engine does not inhibit it from being the more power-hungry hauler, with a maximum tow rate of 7,000 pounds. The Frontier is getting you around 6,700 pounds of maximum trailering power, but that’s only on their upgraded trims such as the 2WD S. The Ranger engine may be small in comparison to the Frontier’s, but it is a mighty truck.
The Ranger also takes the prize for better hauling potential with the power to max out at 1,860 pounds. Again, to get even close to the Ranger’s number, you must go up the trim tiers with the Frontier’s upgrades. The King Cab trim on the Frontier gets 1,610 pounds, but still doesn’t reach the standard of the Ranger. The Ranger has a larger cargo space than the Frontier, by about five inches, and the bigger the Cargo space the bigger the potential for hauling.
POWERTRAIN: RANGER VS. FRONTIER
The Ranger and the Frontier only have one powertrain option, so this entire comparison guide matches up their standard features. With the Ranger you’re getting a gasoline fueled 2.30-liter V4 outputting 270 horsepower. The Frontier offers a 3.8-liter V6 with 310 horsepower. The Ranger gives 310 ft-lbs of torque against the Frontier’s 281 ft-lbs of torque. The Ranger, while having less horsepower, is transmitting power to its wheels significantly better than the Frontier, and we’ve seen that power used more effectively with its towing and hauling potential.
WHICH TRUCK IS THE MORE AFFORDABLE?
With the Ranger, you’re getting a more affordable truck. For just a little less horsepower than the Frontier, you’re getting about $2,000 dollars less than the Frontier. Estimates for a new 2023 Ford Ranger come out to around $27,400 while starting prices for a Frontier run about $29,000.
WHICH TRUCK HAS MORE TO OFFER FOR ITS PRICE?
Each trim of the Ranger and the Frontier comes with its own perks, with the standard editions both offering cloth interiors. The Ranger also offers better gas mileage, averaging about two miles more than the Frontier on both the highway and the city. Both trucks offer the same seating capacity, but because the Ranger is longer and wider, passengers in the Ranger have more head and leg room by almost three inches.
For both trucks, you can expect a three-year warranty for 36,000 miles, and a drivetrain warranty for five years up to 60,000 miles. There’s a five-year warranty for roadside assistance for both trucks, but the Ranger extends to 60,000 miles while the Frontier keeps it at 36,000. Both have their fair share of shared features, such as keyless entry and keyless start. The Ranger offers remote engine start as a standard feature and the Frontier does not.
OUR CHOICE FOR ONE OF THE BEST TRUCKS IN 2023
You’re going to love driving your Ranger off the lot. With its better fuel economy, better potential for heavier jobs, and better cost, the Ranger is a great all-around truck that will look perfect in anyone’s driveway. You can search our stock of trucks to see what we have in store or schedule a test drive today.