Looking to upgrade to a midsize pickup truck? Our comparison of the Chevrolet Colorado and Ford Ranger can help you make the right choice for your needs. Read now and find the perfect truck for you!
Design Comparison
One of the main aspects Chevy concentrated on when creating the new Colorado was “elevated design.” Engineers chose exquisite simplicity while they were deciding how to design it. Although it comes in a variety of trims, it lacks the competition’s numerous cab and wheelbase options. It may seem paradoxical to limit the alternatives available to customers, but doing so really makes the purchasing process simpler.
According to their research, consumers aren’t drawn to cabs that are shorter and have fewer seats, such as the Ford Ranger SuperCab, which has tiny rear jumper seats and appears to have been manufactured in the early 1990s.
Comparing Bed Use
The Ford Ranger has two bed options: a 5-foot bed for the 4-door model and a 6-foot bed for the SuperCab. If we take a deeper look, we can see that the Colorado has an exponentially greater amount of raw usefulness while only having one box size that is equal to the 5-foot in the Ranger.
You have an astounding variety of ways to utilize the bed area thanks to the availability of a class-leading number of tough tie-downs. Additionally, it has two bike tire grooves in the front that make it easier to store bicycles, dirt bikes, and motorbikes. There is also a 110-volt power outlet provided.
The tailgate, though, is what has us the most excited. It contains a hidden pocket that serves as both a secure place to keep valuable cargo and a watertight seal. It is referred to as the StowFlex Tailgate in official documentation. The storage space has a drain as well, allowing it to function as a cooler if necessary.
Interior Comfort
The Chevrolet Colorado has (in terms of front by rear space) a headroom of 40.3 by 38.3 inches, a legroom of 45.2 by 34.7 inches, a shoulder room area of 57.4 by 56.1 inches, and a hip room of 54.7 by 53.1 inches. The Ford Ranger pales in comparison to the first three criteria with a headroom of 39.8 by 38.3 inches, a legroom of 43.1 by 34.5 inches, and a shoulder room of 56.7 by 56.3 inches.
It offers a slightly better hip room than the Chevrolet Colorado, with an area of 55.8 by 53.5 inches. The Ford Ranger’s interior room is smaller in almost every measurable manner, even with the larger SuperCrew 4-door cab design. It’s close, but when it comes to the total inside space, every single inch might be the difference between riding comfortably and feeling as though you’ve been packed into a bumper car.
Infotainment and Technology Parallel
The 2023 Ranger has a 4.2-inch Color Productivity Screen in the instrument cluster in addition to an 8-inch touchscreen monitor. Although it isn’t bad for standard equipment, the Colorado‘s is far superior.
The cabin of Chevy’s truck features an available 11-inch digital dash cluster and an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display, both of which are fully adjustable to meet the needs of different drivers. The Colorado also has a record-breaking 10 camera views, including the first underbody camera view in a Colorado to date.
Additionally included as standard are Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Google Built-In, which will take your connectivity and navigation to the next level. The convenience level is increased with an enormous wireless charging pad.
Driver Assist and Modes Comparison
The 2023 Colorado now comes with Advance Chevy Assist as standard, which includes technologies like Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keeping Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Following Distance Indicator and Intellibeam Auto High Beam.
Although the Ford Ranger has a comparable range of active safety and assistance systems, the Colorado has the advantage because pedestrian detection is glaringly absent from both lists of standard safety equipment. Additional features offered as options are adaptive cruise control and HD surround vision.
The new Colorado’s ability to switch between Drive Modes on-the-fly makes it one of the best off-road pickups available. There are five options available:
- Normal – Designed to provide a comfortable, fuel-efficient ride while commuting.
- Off-Road: Increases traction for improved performance on slick surfaces like gravel and dirt.
- Terrain: Created for low-speed crawling through rough terrain, such as sizable rocks. throttle and braking control are given priority.
- Tow/Haul – Ideal for towing trailers or increasing the payload.
- Baja: Improves performance on sand-covered ground
On the other hand, the Ranger can’t match this degree of driving experience customization.
Who Tows Better?
The Colorado from this year is without a doubt the greatest little vehicle for towing. It can tow a whole 200 pounds more than the Ranger thanks to its 7,700-pound maximum capacity. That may seem like a very slim margin, but when you’re riding down the highway with a load like that, every single extra pound is a valid argument in and of itself.
The fact that this vehicle is the finest for towing is also greatly influenced by cutting-edge camera technologies. Chevy has had plenty of time to refine the system since it was first introduced in the Silverado. Hitch Guidance is included as standard, and Hitch View will be offered starting in 2023. The cherry on top is the trailering app, which offers directions and notifications during the entire hitching process.
Verdict
Since last year, Colorado has undergone a significant makeover. Indeed, Scott Bell, global VP of Chevrolet, claims that it has been “improved in every manner.” Given that the Colorado was already one of Chevy’s best-selling and best-rated nameplates, those are some rather strong statements. Examining the numerous thrilling features in more detail, both new and old, and comparing them to its major rival, the 2023 Ford Ranger, it emerges as a deserving winner.
The best compact truck award for the 2023 model year is a given. The all-new 2023 Chevy Colorado always comes out on top thanks to its increased interior volume, bed utility, technological advancements, and towing capabilities.
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