2021 Toyota Tacoma vs 2020 Ford Ranger

Midsize pickup trucks are not designed for the worksite. They lack the size or capability for the rigors of commercial use. These smaller trucks are lifestyle vehicles, designed for hauling bikes and kayaks. They are more at home at the campsite than the worksite.

The 2020 Ford Ranger has decent fuel economy for a pickup truck, and the optional infotainment system is terrific. It also has the towing and hauling abilities for a boat trailer or a truckload of home improvement gear. But where does the 2020 Ford Ranger stack up against other midsize pickups? Read on to find out.

Last redesigned for the 2016 model year, The Tacoma once dominated midsize-truck sales. In recent years, though, it’s faced stronger competition from the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon twins, the Ford Ranger, and the Jeep Gladiator. A redesigned Nissan Frontier and heavily-updated Honda Ridgeline are also on the way.

Meanwhile, the Tacoma enters the 2021 model year largely unchanged. The only updates are two new special editions—the Nightshade Edition and Trail Special Edition—and standard dual-zone automatic climate control on all V6 models.

Pickup truck buyers tend to want choices, and Toyota delivers. The Tacoma is available with four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines, Access Cab and four-door Double Cab body styles, rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), and six trim levels— SR, SR5, TRD Off Road, TRD Sport, Limited, and TRD Pro—plus the two special editions.

Our test vehicle was a Tacoma TRD Pro Double Cab. The TRD Pro is the most off-road focused of the Tacoma models, so naturally, it gets standard 4WD drive. While Toyota does offer a more comfort-oriented Tacoma Limited model, the TRD Pro is also positioned at the top of the lineup.

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