The Ford Ranger is back, after a long stint overseas. This compact pickup truck is a potential rival to other small pickups, like the industry stalwart Chevrolet Colorado. Which of these compacts is the best for your daily hauling needs? That’s where this comparison guide comes in handy.
Price: 2019 Chevy Colorado
The 2019 Chevy Colorado is priced to move at $20,500 and upward. How does that compare to other compact pickup trucks? The Colorado is one of the most affordable in its class. For that starting price, you get these standard features: Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, a7-inch touch-screen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth, air conditioning, power windows, a four-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a CornerStep rear bumper, a rearview camera, and the Teen Driver safety system.
The Ford Ranger is a pretty penny more, starting at $24,300. That increased price tag isn’t much of a problem if the value is there, so let’s look at the standard features. On the base trim, you get a USB port, six-speaker stereo, Wi-Fi hotspot, SYNC infotainment system with 4.2-inch display screen, rearview camera, Ford's MyKey system, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. In other words, we’re not seeing much here to justify the jump in price. For your money’s worth, the Colorado looks like the better buy.
Towing Capacity: 2019 Chevy Colorado
The truest measure of any truck, compact or no, is how much work it can do, how much it can pull. The 2019 Chevy Colorado does very well for its class, with a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds with the optional turbodiesel engine. Couple that with the payload capacity of 1,581 pounds, and we have quite the workaholic here.
Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger tows up to 7,500 pounds and hauls up to 1,860 pounds. That puts the Ranger near the Colorado in terms of towing capacity, but not quite there.
Engine Options: 2019 Chevy Colorado
The Chevy Colorado has an impressive three engine to choose from. First up is the base engine. We’re talking about the 2.5-liter inline-4 engine, dishing up 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. Then there’s the 3.6-liter V6 engine, pumping out 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. Finally, if you love the smell of diesel, there’s the 2.8-liter turbodiesel inline-4, good for 186 horsepower and an astounding 369 lb-ft of torque. Which will you choose? Depends on your preference: affordable, potent, or diesel with all the torque you’d ever need.
If you’re looking for anything in the Ford Ranger other than its base 270-horsepower inline-4, you won’t find anything. The Ranger only offers a single engine option. No diesel, no V6. The good news is that this is a very fine engine, good for 310 pound-feet of torque. The bad news is that one size doesn’t always fit all.