Toyota Tacoma vs. Ford Ranger
DARE TO COMPARE
Toyota Tacoma vs. Ford Ranger
At a Glance: Tacoma vs. Ranger
Imagine this: It’s early morning, and nothing but a bumpy hill stands between you and the rising orange and pink mosaic in the sky. With both hands on the wheel, you embark on this terrain—no dip or divot stands a chance against your automotive beast. You can see the tip of the sunrise peeking over the horizon.
In the Toyota Tacoma or the Ford Ranger, nothing can stand between you and nature’s most beautiful moments. At Mark Jacobson Toyota near Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cary, and Apex, NC, these off-road-ready trucks are waiting for you to take the helm. Learn more about their performance, capabilities, and safety technologies below!
PASSENGERS
5 | 5
Tacoma vs Ranger
MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER
278 HP | 270 HP
Tacoma vs Ranger
STANDARD GROUND CLEARANCE
9.4" | 8.4"
Tacoma vs Ranger
See the Difference for Yourself
Select a category below to learn more about how the Toyota Tacoma compares to the Ford Ranger.
PERFORMANCE
Do you love adventuring through nature’s playground? Are you unafraid of a little (or a lot) of dirt, dust, or mud? If you’re ready to hit the trail, the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger are both ideal for off-road fun.
Epic Made Possible
To start, these trucks offer impressive engines under the hood to satisfy your call to the wild.
The Tacoma equips an available spirited 3.5L V6 engine that produces 278 horsepower. The Ranger’s 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 engine generates 270 horsepower. While close figures, the Tacoma offers slightly smoother acceleration.
Ready to Roll Over Anything
No matter what the terrain, the Tacoma’s available 4WDemand part-time 4WD system can make even the bumpiest of roads smooth sailing. The Ranger also comes standard with 2-wheel drive and makes 4-wheel drive optional.
If you enjoy smoother acceleration mixed with control over all four wheels while on- and off-road, the Toyota Tacoma may be the better choice for you.
CAPABILITY
It’s no secret: The Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger are built for adventure. Adventures come in all shapes, sizes, and terrains. Luckily, both trucks offer drive-mode systems and helpful technologies to accommodate your current driving situation.
Making Anthills Out of Mountains
The Toyota’s available Multi-Terrain Select offers five modes, while Ford’s available Terrain Management System™ offers four modes to toggle between.
Both trucks also offer available driver-activated cruise control systems built for tough off-road situations. The Tacoma’s Crawl Control and the Ranger’s Trail Control™ modulate throttle and brakes so you can keep your attention on navigating the terrain ahead.
Tackling Terrain and Taking Names
The Toyota Tacoma also offers multiple off-roading amenities, including:
- Standard Hill Start Assist Control: To get up any hill safely and confidently, this system helps minimize backward roll. You’ll see the morning sunrise over the hill in no time.
- Available Multi-Terrain Monitor: Stuck between a rock and a hard place? This advanced camera system lets you check your immediate surroundings for any obstacles standing in your way.
- 9.4-inch ground clearance: This impressive ground clearance is important when hitting the trails, crossing muddy ditches, or navigating small streams you encounter during your adventure. A higher ground clearance can help prevent undercarriage damage.
The Ford Ranger offers a standard 8.4-inch ground clearance. While this is a grand figure, it falls short of the Tacoma. Getting that extra inch of clearance can potentially help avoid damage to the underside of your truck. Additionally, fewer off-roading features mean less assistance on trickier treks.
SAFETY
While adventuring can get a bit dirty, it’s important to keep safety top of mind. After all, no adventurer embarks on a journey without their necessary tools, gear, and protection. To help you be like the modern adventurer, the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger equip various driver-assistance aids.
Safe and Serene
The 2023 Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger equip excellent suites of safety features to keep you truckin’ from the highway to the hiking trail. They share these similar features:
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Automatic High Beams
- Lane Departure Alert
While both vehicles offer these features, they come standard on all Tacoma trim levels, whereas they’re optional for all Ford Ranger trims. For guaranteed safety on the roads, the Toyota Tacoma is a good choice for you.
Take the Edge Off of Driving
Whether you’re backing out of your campsite, your driveway, or your current parking spot, the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger have you covered. Both trucks come with rear-view cameras and available rear parking assist sonar systems to help you sense traffic behind your truck.
When you’re on the way home from a long week of adventuring, the Tacoma can help you take a load off with standard Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Intended for highway usage, this system maintains a set speed over 25 MPH and keeps a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. The Ranger makes its cruise control feature optional.
Which Pickup Are You Taking on Your Next Adventure?
When comparing the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger side by side, you can see both trucks are more than capable of taking the road less traveled. However, thanks to its performance, capabilities, and safety features, our team at Mark Jacobson Toyota believes the Tacoma is the right choice for your next adventure.
Start your adventure near Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cary, and Apex, NC, by scheduling a test drive today!
All of the tools you need to move forward with experiencing a new 2023 Tacoma for yourself are conveniently available right here online.
Which One Will You Choose?
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