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The midsize pickup truck market has always been hotly contested, but in recent years, it’s become even more competitive. The Toyota Tacoma has been the sales leader in the class for several years, but the Ford Ranger is one of its strongest rivals. With both these trucks having been redesigned for the new model year, how does the 2024 Toyota Tacoma stack up against the new Ford Ranger? Here at Keith Pierson Toyota in Jacksonville, Florida, we’ve put together a midsize truck comparison.
Comparing the 2024 Toyota Tacoma and 2024 Ford Ranger
The all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma has been fully redesigned with more rugged and aggressive styling, a new engine lineup, and a more comfortable, contemporary interior. It’s offered in eight trim levels, including specialized off-road models. You can choose from an extended two-door, two-seat XtraCab, and a 6-foot bed or a four-door Double Cab with a 5- or 6-foot bed, depending on the trim. The lower four trims come standard with rear-wheel drive or the option of four-wheel drive, which is standard on higher trims.
The 2024 Ford Ranger has also had a full revamp with an interior makeover and a new front-end design inspired by the bigger F-150. It’s available in four trim levels, including a Raptor high-performance off-road variant. The Ranger is only offered in the four-door SuperCrew cab with a 5-foot bed. Rear-wheel drive is standard, or you can opt for four-wheel drive on all but the Raptor for which it’s standard.
Performance and Capability
Under the Tacoma SR’s hood is a turbocharged i-FORCE 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 228 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque via an eight-speed automatic transmission. In other trims, this engine is boosted to create 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque and can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission in some models.
Standard for the Tacoma TRD Pro and Trailhunter and optional on some other trims is the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain that combines the turbocharged engine with a 48-horsepower electric motor for an outstanding system output of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque.
When properly equipped, the Tacoma has a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds and a payload of up to 1,710 pounds. Off-road models get special equipment to handle the toughest trails, with a higher ride height, all-terrain tires, a range of suspension options, crawl control, and underbody skid plates.
The Ranger is powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The Ranger will also offer the option of a 2.7-liter V-6 turbo, delivering 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The Raptor features a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that generates 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Each engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The Ranger has a maximum payload of 1,805 pounds and, with the available Trailer Tow Package, can tow up to 7,500 pounds. Unlike Tacoma off-road models, the Ranger Raptor doesn’t get a suspension lift, but it does get specialized equipment to handle the tough trails and desert terrain.
Technology and Safety
For entertainment, the 2024 Tacoma’s standard infotainment system offers an 8-inch touch screen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a six-speaker sound system with a trial subscription for satellite radio. Available features include a 14-inch touch screen and a 10-speaker JBL audio system.
All Tacoma trucks come with the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of driver-assistance technologies. It includes proactive driver assist, radar cruise control, a pre-collision system with automatic braking and pedestrian detection, lane departure mitigation, road sign assist, and automatic high beams. Moving up the model line gets you features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, a panoramic view monitor, a head-up display, and a multiterrain monitor. For easy trailer maneuvering, you can get a trailer backup guide and an integrated trailer brake controller.
The Ranger’s base infotainment system has a 10-inch touch screen, wired smartphone connectivity, and a six-speaker audio system. Available upgrades include a 12-inch touch screen and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. For safety features, the base Ranger XL offers pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, and auto high beams. The XLT gets lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring, while higher trims offer adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and enhanced parking assist. You can also opt for packages for trailer towing and backup technologies.
Interior Comfort
In the Tacoma XtraCab, you’ll find comfortable seating for two and extra storage space behind the front seats. In the spacious Double Cab, the 60/40-split rear seats offer underseat storage. The Ranger’s five-seat Crew Cab has a fold-flat rear bench with storage beneath.
The higher trims of both trucks offer available features such as upgraded upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, and a heated steering wheel that add to comfort levels.
Fuel Efficiency
With their standard engines, the Tacoma and Ranger offer similar fuel economy. The Tacoma returns from 18 to 21 mpg in the city and 23 to 26 mpg on the highway. The Ranger returns up to 21 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Figures for the Toyota i-FORCE MAX hybrid engine and the Ford 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine were not available at the time of writing.
Pricing and Value
When it comes to pricing for the Tacoma vs. Ranger, the base Tacoma SR has a starting MSRP of $31,500, while the midrange TRD Sport starts at $39,400. The base MSRP for the luxurious Tacoma Limited trim is $52,100. At the time of writing, pricing for the rugged Trailhunter and TRD Pro models was unavailable. For the Ford Ranger 2024 truck models, the MSRP starts at $32,670 for the XL and rises to $43,630 for the Lariat trim. The Raptor starts at $55,470.
For warranty coverage, both the Tacoma and Ranger offer a three-year or 36,000-mile standard warranty and a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Toyota gives you two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance. Ford offers five-year roadside assistance but no free maintenance.
Tacoma vs. Ranger
So, the Tacoma clearly comes out on top. It offers more trims and configurations to suit every need and has a lower starting price. It also has more powerful engines yet gives you better fuel economy. The Ranger has slightly higher payload and towing capacities, but the Tacoma has more than enough capability for most users. The best way to determine the best truck for you is to drive both vehicles. Contact us today at Keith Pierson Toyota in Jacksonville to schedule a test drive in the 2024 Toyota Tacoma.
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