When Ford brought back its midsize truck in 2019, it re-entered a crowded field. Here it is a few years later, and the rivalry seems to have become settled between the 2021 Ford Ranger and the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. In this comparison, we’ll look at the numbers and facts to see what you get for your money.
Ford Ranger vs Chevy Colorado: By the Numbers
The 2021 Ford Ranger earns 26 miles per gallon on the highway and 21 in the city. Colorados earn 25 mpg highway and 19 mpg city. Ford takes the win in this Ford Ranger vs Chevy Colorado comparison. You can value your trade online.
Despite earning better gas mileage, the Ranger’s performance is better. The Ranger turbo I-4, which is standard, kicks out 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado performance is 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. Once again, the Ranger comes out on top.
You can step up to the more expensive V6. It increases horsepower to 308, a win for the Chevy. Yet it decreases Chevy Colorado fuel economy and can’t win the torque battle as it is rated at only 275 pound-feet, trailing the Ranger by 35 pound-feet. That would seem to point to another Ford win in this Ranger vs Colorado comparison.
If you look at the Chevy Colorado Turbodiesel, you step up in price even more. You gain more torque, but you lose 81 horsepower. You get better gas mileage, but you will be paying diesel prices rather than regular gasoline prices. Looking at the equation, the numbers continue to point to the 2021 Ford Ranger as the common sense choice. Speaking of common sense, it helps to know your loan choices before you go shopping. You can click here to get pre-approved.
Ford Ranger vs Chevy Colorado: Tow Rating and Payload
At this point, you may be wondering which truck is best for towing. The Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds. The Chevy Colorado tow rating is 3,500 pounds with the basic engine. The V6 boosts that to 7,000 pounds, although it will cost another ten thousand or so over the price of the Ranger. Finally the turbodiesel can claim 7,700 pounds, but this makes the price even steeper. With a slim margin of 200 pounds, is the Chevy Colorado turbodiesel worth the higher price?
Top Chevy Colorado payload is 1,578 pounds. Here again, the 2021 Ford Ranger payload comes out ahead. Its payload is best-in-class at 1,860 pounds. Since this demonstrates the strength not only of the engine, but of the body and bed of the truck, payload definitely gives the win to the Ranger again.
In this battle over numbers, there’s one more to consider. The standard Chevy Colorado transmission is a six-speed automatic. It adds an eight-speed with the V6. Ford has paired a ten-speed automatic with its Ranger engine. With two or four more gears, Ford scores another win for the Ranger. The Ranger is competitively priced as you can see with this quick quote.
Ford Ranger vs Chevy Colorado Conclusion
The shopper knows best when it comes to choosing a midsize truck. However, if you go strictly by the numbers, the 2021 Ford Ranger is definitely winning in this matchup. The Chevy Colorado can’t win unless the brand asks you to pay more. Even then, Ford still manages to win in many categories.
If you want to find out what the Ford Ranger cabin is like and how it drives, we recommend a test drive. For those who prefer to shop from home, we recommend the ease of No Bull Express. We can even bring the truck to you for a test drive before you sign.
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