If you were in the market for a mid-size pickup truck that handles its own off the beaten path, which would you choose between the Ranger and Tacoma? The obvious answer is Ranger, but hold up! The Raptor isn’t available in the United States. Given these circumstances, the FX4 Off-Road Package will have to make do.
The Fast Lane Truck took the Ranger FX4 off-roading against the Tacoma TRD Off-Road, and both of them are adept at this type of driving conditions. One of the reviewers would take the Toyota home because of the six-speed manual transmission which the Ford doesn’t offer.
On the other hand, the Ranger’s engine makes it the most interesting proposition in the segment. Paired to the 10-speed automatic transmission found in the Mustang and F-150, the 2.3-liter EcoBoost also enables best-in-class towing and payload capacities. There’s also the technological aspect, which the Ford has it covered to a greater extent than the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road.
PickupTrucks.com chose a different approach to their comparison test, bringing the two together for a real-world test with an off-road venture. These fellows highlight how the crawl control in the Toyota generates sounds the trail control in the Ford doesn’t. But at the end of the day, both rigs held their own without problem in difficult terrain.
Both publications report the Ranger also drives better on the road, handling well for mid-size pickup. Don’t forget, however, that the N/A powertrain of the Tacoma translates to superior reliability. In regard to resale value, the Tacoma comes out on top once again.
Although close in these scenarios and in terms of pricing, the Ford and Toyota are different in character and the philosophy behind them. It all boils down to what the customer wants and expects from his or her truck, which has been the case for as long as pickup trucks have been on sale in the U.S. of A.
If it were your money, which of the two would you take home?
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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