Compare the2024 Ford RangerVS 2023 Toyota Tacoma

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Ranger have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota Tacoma doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Ranger has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Ranger XLT/Lariat has a standard Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Tacoma doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Ranger and the Tacoma have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

There are over 2 times as many Ford dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ranger’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Ranger’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Tacoma’s camshafts. If the Tacoma’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The Ranger has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Ranger has a standard 700-amp battery (800 optional). The Tacoma’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The Ranger’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 111 more horsepower (270 vs. 159) and 130 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 180) than the Tacoma’s standard 2.7 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Ranger’s 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 265) than the Tacoma’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6. The Ranger’s optional 2.7 turbo V6 produces 37 more horsepower (315 vs. 278) and 135 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 265) than the Tacoma’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Ranger gets better mileage than the Tacoma:

			MPG
Ranger
RWD	Auto	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/25 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
Tacoma
RWD	Auto	2.7 DOHC 4-cyl.	20 city/23 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/24 hwy
AWD	Manual	3.5 DOHC V6	17 city/21 hwy
		TRD-PRO 3.5 DOHC V6	17 city/20 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.7 DOHC 4-cyl.	19 city/22 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/22 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Ranger’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Ranger has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Ranger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Tacoma.

For better stopping power the Ranger’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Tacoma:

	Ranger	Tacoma
Front Rotors	12.2 inches	10.75 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	10” drums

The Ford Ranger has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Tacoma. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

For better traction, the Ranger has larger tires than the Tacoma (255/70R17 vs. 245/75R16).

The Ranger’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 70 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tacoma’s standard 75 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ranger has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Tacoma.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ranger’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab (128.7 inches vs. 127.4 inches).

The Ranger has a much larger cargo box than the Tacoma Double Cab shortbed (43.5 vs. 34.8 cubic feet). The Ranger has a much larger cargo box than the Tacoma Double Cab longbed (43.5 vs. 42.6 cubic feet).

The Ranger’s cargo box is larger than the Tacoma’s in almost every dimension:

	Ranger	Tacoma Access Cab	Tacoma Double Cab
Length (short/long)	59.6”	73.7”	60.5”/73.7”
Max Width	62.4”	56.7”	56.7”
Min Width	48.2”	41.5”	41.5”
Height	20.9”	19.1”	19.1”

The Ford Ranger offers an optional Integrated Box Side Step, which allows for much easier access to the cargo area. The Toyota Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear cargo step.

The Ranger’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tacoma’s (7500 vs. 3500 pounds).

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on all models of the Ranger, using the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. Only the Tacoma V6 offers a trailer sway program.

The Ranger has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Tacoma:

	Ranger	Tacoma
Crew Cab	1805 lbs.	1525 lbs.
Crew Cab 4x4	1711 lbs.	1135 lbs.

The Ranger 4x4 has a much higher optional payload capacity than the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab 4x4 (1711 vs. 1155 lbs.).

The Ranger XLT/Lariat has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When three different drivers share the Ranger Lariat, the memory seats make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Tacoma doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Ranger Lariat’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Ranger’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Tacoma does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Ranger’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Tacoma has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Ranger’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Tacoma’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

If the windows are left open on the Ranger the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Tacoma can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ranger’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Ranger Lariat’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Tacoma’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Ranger’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Tacoma’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Ranger has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Tacoma only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

On extremely cold winter days, the Ranger Lariat’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Ranger has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Ranger (except XL)’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an automated parking system.