2024 Chevy Colorado and the 2024 Ford Ranger Are At It Again

Who doesn’t enjoy a classic matchup between two rivals? Chevy and Ford are two manufacturers whose names resonate deep in the hearts of millions of Americans spanning generations. Rivalries are common in the automotive industry, and Chevy and Ford are constantly at the forefront of debates and comparisons. Today is no different. The 2024 Chevy Colorado vs. 2024 Ford Ranger is what we’re discussing today––two midsize trucks for sale with plenty to offer. It’s time for Chevy and Ford to step into the ring once again and see who’s victorious in this year’s battle of the midsize truck. Let’s begin!

The TurboMax Difference

The 2024 Colorado and 2024 Ranger only have similar powertrains if you consider both trucks use turbocharged engines. Aside from RWD coming standard with optional 4WD, the similarities between the two trucks end there. Your 2024 Chevy Colorado uses a turbocharged 2.7L I-4 engine, but there are two variants. Which engine variant you get depends on the model you buy. The alternative turbocharged engine variant has identical displacement and an equal number of cylinders, but it’s built with TurboMax technology. 

TurboMax is a GM-patented term utilized for their higher-output turbocharged engines, like the one in the 2024 Colorado. With the TurboMax engine under the hood, the 2024 Colorado pulls a higher towing capacity than the Ranger, even with a turbocharged 2.7L engine under its hood––a V6, to further illustrate our point. The TurboMax underpinnings of the turbocharged 2.7L I-4 engine means it’s a more performant engine than a turbocharged V6 engine with identical displacement.

What’s positive about the 2024 Ranger’s turbocharged 2.7L V6 engine is its 315 hp––slightly more than the 310 hp of the 2024 Colorado’s TurboMax engine. However, a 1.6% increase in horsepower has no tangible difference. A larger difference is in torque output, with the TurboMax engine in the 2024 Colorado outputting 430 lb-ft of torque––7.5% more than the turbocharged 2.7L V6 engine in the 2024 Ranger. The TurboMax difference doesn’t end there because purchasing a 2024 Colorado with the TurboMax engine means getting a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 lbs––the best the 2024 Ranger can muster is 7,500 lbs. 

A More Accessible Pickup Truck

The 2024 Colorado and 2024 Ranger are great midsize pickup trucks, but one of them has a better advantage in accessibility owing to a lower starting price. The price difference between the 2024 Colorado and Ranger is larger than you might think, and while we wouldn’t consider the Ranger overpriced, there’s no denying the lower starting price of the 2024 Colorado gives it an accessibility advantage. 

If you’re in the market for a midsize pickup truck, the 2024 Colorado starts at an MSRP of $29,800.^[a] The 2024 Ford Ranger, its largest competitor, has a starting price of $32,720. It’s hard to ignore a nearly 10% lower starting price, especially when you consider you’re buying the pickup truck with the longer bed and larger standard infotainment center, among other things. 

The Colorado and Ranger have several trims you can choose from, including the Colorado WT, LT, Trailboss, Z71, or the off-roading-ready ZR2, complete with a 3-inch factory-installed lift, 33-inch tires, segment-exclusive Multimatic DSSV dampers, and more. The Ranger’s trims include the XL, XLT, Lariat, and the Raptor, the latter of which is the most performant off-road-ready Ford truck, but with a price tag higher than any 2024 Colorado model. 

Size and Capability

The 2024 Colorado and Ranger are midsize trucks, so bed sizes measure less than six feet long, unlike the full-size counterparts like the F-150 and Silverado 1500. Both trucks also come in a similar configuration without the ability to customize cab and bed combinations. The Colorado comes with a Crew Cab and a Short Bed, while Ford’s Ranger comes with a SuperCrew Cab and a Short Bed. Despite the misnomer, the cabs are roughly the same when it comes to interior space, although the Colorado does beat the Ranger with 45.17 inches of front legroom as opposed to 43.7 inches in Ford’s midsize pickup. 

Similarly to the Silverado 1500, which has a longer bed than Ford’s full-size truck, the Colorado’s 5.2′-long bed is longer than the Ford Ranger’s 5′-long bed. The bed being even just this small amount longer can make a big difference when loading up the cargo area. Plus, with the Colorado’s available StowFlex Tailgate with lockable storage that can be converted into a drainable cooler, the Colorado not only has better length but also much more versatility.

Safety Features

The 2024 Colorado and Ranger have safety suites designed by their respective manufacturers, with Ford Co-Pilot360 and Chevy Safety Assist standards for the Ranger and Colorado, respectively. Many features are designed for similar functions, but Chevy has exclusive features you won’t find on Ford vehicles, like Teen Driver, which is a parental tool tailored to teach a newly licensed driver proper road etiquette and safe driving habits, and since it’s your vehicle, what you say goes––speed limits, Buckle-to-Drive protocol, sound limits, you name it. These features help you ensure your new driver practices safe driving behaviors whether you’re in the car with them or not.

Is there a catch, then? If you’re purchasing a brand-new truck and feel you should maximize your dollar, then the 2024 Ford Ranger isn’t as appealing with its higher price and similar features; with some functions exclusive to Chevy, such as Teen Driver Technology, the 2024 Colorado is a better value. With the 2024 Colorado, you get the latest safety features that serve the same purpose as the Ranger’s safety suite but are thousands of dollars cheaper. 

The 2024 Colorado comes standard with Forward Collision Alert and Automatic Emergency Braking, with Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking, helping to prevent or mitigate collision damage if you fail to stop in time. The Ranger can perform similar functions via the standard Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking. Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning is standard on the 2024 Colorado to avoid accidentally steering into the wrong lane, whether on a multi- or single-lane road, by signaling for you to realign yourself. The 2024 Colorado will gently glide your car to the center of your lane if you don’t realign yourself timely. With the Ranger, Ford uses its Lane-Keeping System for a similar function, but again, the Ranger costs far more than the Colorado. 

A class-exclusive feature the 2024 Colorado offers on trims like the Z71 and ZR2 if you purchase them are Underbody Cameras. The Underbody Cameras are only available for the Z71 and ZR2 because those are the two most off-roading-focused trims of the lot. The underbody views give you an impeccable advantage during off-roading sessions, as you’ll have a perfect view of the bottom of your car to ensure everything is working properly. You may wonder how you keep the lens from being damaged, and that’s a fair concern. Luckily, if you opt for Underbody Cameras, lens protectors come standard, along with washers to maintain them. Ford doesn’t offer underbody cameras for the Ford Ranger at this time.

The Colorado Is the Truck You Need for Your Midsize Adventures

The rivalry between Chevy and Ford is as heated as it gets in the automotive industry, and both manufacturers are constantly nipping at each other’s heels to assert dominance in an ever-growing market with little to no room for error. The Colorado and Ranger have many similarities; there’s no denying it. However, the 2024 Colorado is the more innovative truck, between the features you won’t find on the Ranger, while also providing much of what the Ranger is capable of, but at thousands of dollars less. It also helps that if you want the best towing performance of the bunch, the 2024 Colorado has you covered, too, with the available TurobMax engines. Do yourself a favor and visit us about a Chevy Colorado because that’s the best choice.  

---

 ^[a] MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.

Posted in Trucks for Sale | No Comments »