2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2020 Ford Ranger

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty had received some updates that were noticeable to keen Blue Oval fans, though subtle to others. The front bumper featured more black painted areas and less bling, while the massive grille swapped its large two-bar design for a more restrained look. The altered grille shape made the headlights sleeker without changing their overall shape, resulting in a truck that showed some styling restraint without a complete redesign.

Ford offered the F-250 in various trims, including XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. Each trim had distinct visual features, from the black grille and bumpers of the XL to the chrome-accented running boards and two-tone paint job of the King Ranch. The Platinum trim added 20-inch alloy wheels and a unique front bumper with LED fog lights, while the Limited trim upped the luxury feel with a satin-chrome grille. The Tremor package, available on XLT-and-up trims, included a dark grille, dark wheels, and off-road tires, along with upgraded off-road gear.

The 2020 Ford Ranger returned to Ford’s American lineup in 2019 after an eight-year hiatus, based on the international version sold during that period. It was larger and more sophisticated than its predecessor, with a clean, somewhat aggressive appearance that conveyed its sporty, capable nature. The Ranger avoided the "bigger-and-blockier" trend of American trucks, resulting in a more modern and functional design.

Inside, the Ranger had a purposeful, function-first cabin with hard plastics that could take a bit of abuse. However, compared to other midsize pickups like the Jeep Gladiator and Honda Ridgeline, the Ranger’s cabin felt low-rent. The Ranger was available in XL, XLT, and Lariat trims, each offering different levels of features and comfort. The base XL came with steel wheels and a black grille, while the XLT added 17-inch aluminum wheels and body-color bumpers. The range-topping Lariat featured upscale touches like 18-inch machined aluminum wheels and a chrome-accented grille.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came standard with a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine, producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Ford also offered a 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8, which made 475 hp and an impressive 1,050 lb-ft of torque. A new 7.3-liter gas V8 was added for 2020, delivering 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. Both gas engines were paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel V8 used a six-speed automatic. The F-250 could tow up to 30,000 pounds when equipped with the 6.7-liter diesel, 3.55 axle ratio, and High Capacity Tow Package.

The Super Duty had fantastic towing and hauling capabilities, but its suspension made for a bumpy ride when not loaded down. The available FX4 off-road package added upgraded off-road shocks, skid plates, and Trail Control. The new Tremor off-road package included 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires, a 2-inch lift, rock crawl driving mode, and dark monotone styling touches.

All trims of the 2020 Ford Ranger came equipped with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A ten-speed automatic transmission routed power to the rear wheels or available four-wheel drive (4WD) with low-range gearing. The Ranger could tow up to 7,500 pounds and had a payload capacity of up to 1,860 pounds in the SuperCab with a 4x2 drivetrain.

The Ranger felt a bit stiff in normal driving, with some chatter and vibration over small bumps and body roll around corners. The FX2 and FX4 Off-Road packages added off-road tires, an electronically locking rear differential, and an off-road-tuned suspension. The FX4 package also included Trail Control and the Terrain Management System, which provided drive modes for various off-road conditions.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, extended SuperCab, and full four-door Crew Cab configurations, with either 6-foot-9-inch or 8-foot bed sizes. The cabin was spacious and functional, with deep cup holders and cubbies designed to hold large items. The center console was massive, capable of storing files, tools, or even a laptop. The rear seats on the SuperCrew and Crew Cab folded up, revealing a load floor for large items, making it convenient for storing equipment overnight.

Ford offered the 2020 Ranger in SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations. The SuperCab seated four with a 2+2 layout, and the rear seats were tight and more suited for kids. The rear seats folded up, revealing additional storage cubbies, and could be deleted altogether for more cargo space. The SuperCrew had seating for five with a full rear bench, providing more comfortable and spacious seats for adults. Both body styles had deep in-door pockets, bottle holders, and a center console bin with deep cup holders. The Ranger paired a six-foot bed with the SuperCab and a five-foot bed with the SuperCrew, offering features like a remote locking tailgate and LED bed lighting.

The base XL of the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came standard with four speakers, an AM/FM/MP3 radio unit, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-C port. The XLT added five speakers for the regular cab and seven speakers for the SuperCab and Crew Cab, along with SiriusXM satellite radio, an additional USB-C port, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect was standard across the lineup, providing a WiFi hotspot and remote vehicle access via a smartphone app.

The 2020 Ford Ranger XL had a basic entertainment setup with an AM/FM stereo, four speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. FordPass Connect was also included, offering remote vehicle access and a WiFi hotspot. The XLT trim upgraded to SYNC 3 with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The range-topping Lariat included a B&O sound system by Bang & Olufsen with ten speakers.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, trailer sway control, hill start assist, and AdvanceTrac traction control with roll stability control. Optional safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Other options included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system. The F-250 had not been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2020 Ford Ranger came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a child-seat anchoring system, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. It also included automatic headlights, automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, and pedestrian detection. The XLT trim added Ford CoPilot 360, which included lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse parking sensors. The Ranger earned top scores in most IIHS crash tests and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA. There was one recall for the 2020 Ranger involving the ten-speed automatic transmission.