2020 Ford Ranger vs 2020 Chevy Colorado – Cincinnati, OH

• 2020 Ford Ranger

  

  Starting at

  $24,410

  2020 Chevy Colorado

  

  Starting at

  $21,300

  5	Seating	5
  1,860 LBS	Payload	1,578 LBS
  51.8 CU. FT.	Bed Cargo Volume	49.9 CU. FT.

  The mid-size pickup market may not be as popular as the full-size market, but there’s still a lot of competition to be had between the manufacturers there. It’s on each brand to provide an affordable pickup that can still cope with the demands of heavy towing and hauling while also providing a powerful engine and off-road capabilities. That might be a lot to ask for, but people have expressed their desires and the bar has been set. Have any brands produced a pickup that can do all of this? For a quick comparison, let’s check out the 2020 Ford Ranger vs 2020 Chevy Colorado.

  No pickup is made the same, so it’s safe to say that we’re going to see certain positive qualities with each of these vehicles, but also places where they may not shine as much. Overall, though, we want to make sure you’re able to see the differences between the two trucks that will actually matter in everyday life. While there are always going to be small features that are unique or different, they may not be too essential, at least not when compared to the very important factors like torque, maximum towing capacity, and maximum payload. You’ll find that both of these trucks have a very reasonable starting MSRP of under $25,000. That is to be expected from pickups in this category as these trucks are more looked upon as vehicles for recreation and adventure, as opposed to being tough and rugged workers.

  However, they’ll still put in the work. The 2020 Ford Ranger, for example, is quite impressive when you look at its numbers for performance and capability. With its best-in-class payload capacity and best-in-class gas torque rating, the Ranger is beating out competition like the Colorado. The Chevy Colorado will have some great features, too, but it’s tough to compete against class-leading pickups.

• Towing and Payload Capacities

  

  When it comes down to it, a truck is meant to be able to work, so it’s essential your pickup can handle the towing or hauling needs you’ll be facing. Whether it’s to take the boat and gear up to the lake or if you need to haul some firewood down to the cabin, the pickup you choose needs to be rated for the work it’ll be putting in.

  2020 Ford Ranger Capacities

  The 2020 Ford Ranger comes in three different trims with a few varying configurations available, but the best way to see what the model as a whole can handle is to just look at the top numbers it can put out. The Ranger, when properly configured, will have a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 lbs and a maximum payload of 1,860 lbs. These are some very impressive numbers that other mid-size trucks have trouble competing with. Considering the category, 7,500 lbs will be just fine for all your towing needs, while the payload capacity on the Ranger is actually the best of any truck of this class.

  2020 Chevy Colorado Capacities

  The Colorado, when in the right configuration, has a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 lbs and a maximum payload of 1,578 lbs. As you can see, the towing capacity is slightly higher here when compared to the Ranger, but overall it’s barely an increase when you’re talking about just a few hundred pounds more than the Ranger. The payload amount here suffers compared to the Ranger as it’s almost 300 lbs less.

• Safety Features

  

  While some people may think safety features aren’t as important on a pickup because they are higher up from the ground. There is also the argument that they are typically built tougher than the average sedan or SUV, but we’re here to tell you that safety features on a vehicle are always important, no matter what you drive. If you’re driving a vehicle, you better make sure it has some great safety features attached to it.

  2020 Ford Ranger Safety Features

  All three trims (XL, XLT, and Lariat) on the 2020 Ford Ranger come with Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology, which is Ford’s suite of advanced safety features. The differences between the trims will be noticeable, but fortunately, you’ll get some of these advanced features even starting out at the lowest XL trim.

  The XL comes standard with Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Trailer Sway Control, Rear View Camera, AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, and Curve Control.

  The XLT will have the same features as the XL, but it will also include the Reverse Sensing System, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, and Trailer Monitoring, Automatic high beams, and Lane-Keeping System.

  In a similar fashion, the Lariat will have those same features but also include the Forward Sensing System. The nice thing about the safety features on the Ford Ranger is you’re able to add on additional features at any trim level. For example, you can add Trail Control (which includes Hill Descent Control) across the board on any of the models. This is an off-road cruise control system that the driver can activate when navigating more difficult terrain, allowing for more of your attention to go to the steering rather than adjusting your speed.

  Adaptive Cruise Control is also available on the XLT and Lariat trims.

  2020 Chevy Colorado Safety Features

  The 2020 Chevy Colorado comes in five different trims, and the overall safety features are spread pretty thin between them. In fact, the features are so far and few between that the Colorado has to advertise one of its best safety features as being its Rear Vision Camera, a feature that is always included in new models.

  Apart from the features that all the Colorado trim levels have, like the Rear Vision Camera, StabiliTrak, and Teen Driver, the lowest trim level (Base) doesn’t appear to have any advanced safety features. Moving up to the WT trim, the features stay the same, but you do now have Rear Park Assist and OnStar & Chevrolet Connected Services as available options. On the LT, your Rear Vision Camera is now an HD Rear Vision Camera, and OnStar & Chevrolet Connected Services are included. When you reach the Z71 trim, Rear Park Assist becomes standard. Surprisingly, nothing changes in the form of safety features when you reach the ZR2, which is the highest trim level.

  Overall, it’s a bit strange not to see Chevy’s Forward Collision Alert or Lane Departure Warning come included on any of the Colorado models. And, they’re only included as available options on the LT model.

• Pricing and Trims

  

  The overall pricing between the 2020 Ford Ranger vs 2020 Chevy Colorado is pretty competitive. While the Ranger may start out at a higher MSRP of $24,410 compared to the Colorado’s $21,300, it tends to even out and then go the complete opposite way as you move up the trim levels.

  The Ranger only has three trim levels, which means you have a low, a medium, and a high. With just three trims, the features aren’t spread out in a sporadic fashion. Rather, the Ranger XL actually comes with a lot more features than the Colorado LT, including many safety features. In fact, the XL comes with more advanced safety features than the majority of the Colorado lineup, which puts the pricing into perspective a bit.

  The Chevy Colorado Z71, which is the 2nd-highest trim, starts off at $33,900 while the Ford Ranger Lariat, the highest trim, starts off at $32,500. The highest Colorado trim, the ZR2, breaches the $40,000 mark at a starting MSRP of $41,400. The Z71 and ZR2 are more built for off-roading, so that can be why the prices are higher, but they still lack some features that the Ranger trims have, and you can always add on the off-road options like the FX4 Off-Road Package and FX2 Package if you want.

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