2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
Mid-size pickup trucks are the new sport utility vehicles. Owning one also makes you one of the most popular people in the neighborhood.
The 2020 Ford Ranger and 2020 Toyota Tacoma fulfill their sporting utility in similar ways and earn an identical TCC Ratings of 5.0 out of 10.
But that’s like saying every house in any subdivision is the same. The difference between these mid-size trucks is in the details.
The Tacoma benefits from a slew of different models, including the range-topping TRD Pro off-road conqueror. The 2020 Ranger is more modern than the small truck you may remember but it still prides itself on basic work truck bona fides. Here’s a closer look.
MORE: Read our 2020 Toyota Tacoma and 2020 Ford Ranger full reviews
Style and performance
The “Taco” has aged well, and Toyota’s mild updates keep the bestselling mid-size truck fresh. Flared fenders, a broad but vertical nose, as well as a stamped tailgate give it a general’s presence in the field. It comes with a short 5-foot bed in double-cab configurations or a 6-foot bed with an extended cab. The TRD Pro off-road model adds all the flourishes, including a snorkel and Army Green paint, that gives it an edge the 2020 Ford Ranger just doesn’t have.
2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
The Ranger is no slouch but its front end leans more to the Explorer side of things than the F-150. Body style configurations are the same as the Tacoma, but Ford gussies up the working truck for a night on the town in the Lariat trim, which upgrades from 16-inch steel wheels on the base XL model to 18-inch aluminum wheels and heated leather seats, as well as other SUV-like creature comforts.
But a soft-riding comfort vehicle the Ranger is not. Its 2.3-liter turbo-4 and 10-speed automatic transmission make 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The turbo-4 and the 10-speed get the best fuel economy in the mid-size class with EPA ratings of 20 mpg city, 24 highway, 22 combined with four-wheel drive. It’s more potent, more efficient, and more capable than Toyota’s V-6, and the Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds when properly equipped. But it is one bouncy ride, thanks in part to a solid rear axle and too much body motion.
The Tacoma uses a similar independent front suspension and leaf-sprung solid rear axle, so it can be bouncy and loud in the cabin as well. But it’s more composed than the Ranger and better handles double duty as an everyday worker and weekend adventurer. The TRD Pro adds Fox shocks and other off-road equipment such as a snorkel to make it the off-roader of choice, but at a steep price starting above $45,000. The Tacoma comes standard with a 159-hp 2.7-liter inline-4 that is easy to pass over for a 3.5-liter V-6 with 6-speed automatic transmission or 6-speed manual that makes 278 hp and 265 lb-ft. Properly equipped, the Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 pounds. With a V-6 and automatic transmission, the Tacoma is rated by the EPA at 18/22/20 mpg.
The Ranger has a more practical powertrain but the Tacoma has a far greater range for more nuanced needs.
2019 Ford Ranger
2019 Ford Ranger
2019 Ford Ranger
Comfort, safety, and features
The 2020 Toyota Tacoma comes better equipped than the 2020 Ford Ranger. In addition to standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, the Tacoma comes with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.
Base Tacoma SR models with the double cab start at $27,170 (including $1,120 destination), while the TRD Pro off-road model with its Fox shocks and 8.0-inch touchscreen tops $45,000. The best value is a step up from the base in the $28,945 SR5 double cab with the short bed, which comes with a power-sliding rear window (V-6 only) and 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. Adding the V-6 ($2,975) with four-wheel drive bumps up the price about $5,500 total in the SR and SR5 models. TRD Sport and above come with the V-6 standard.
2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
The Ranger doesn’t have the trim spread like the Tacoma, but has a similar price structure. The base XL is really basic, with no touchscreen or smartphone software, though it does have standard automatic emergency braking. The $25,605 (including $1,195 destination) extended cab cost reflects this basic proposition, and the double cab adds $2,400 to make it more expensive than the better-equipped base Tacoma. Four-wheel drive adds about $4,000 across the board. The Ranger can also eclipse $45,000 in Lariat trim with options such as adaptive cruise control, remote start, upgraded sound system, and more. We prefer the XLT with Ford’s suite of safety features, 8.0-inch touchscreen, four doors, four-wheel drive, and the FX4 off-road package for just under $40,000.
2020 Ford Ranger FX2
The 2020 Ford Ranger might be the more practical choice for everyday needs, but the 2020 Toyota Tacoma stands out more in physical presence, standard features, and overall value.
Summary
Styling
Performance
Comfort & Quality
Safety
Features
Fuel Economy
MSRP
Invoice
Fuel Economy – Combined City and Highway
Engine
Drivetrain
Source: Read Full Article