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- [Announcer] The latest Toyota Tacoma has arrived
and it's better than ever.
There's a reason why Tacoma accounts for nearly
half of all sales in its class
and a reason why it's been the best-selling
midsize truck for well over a decade.
That said, being on top means
the competition is always gunning for you
and that's never been more true than with the reintroduction
of the Ford Ranger, an impressive new entry
into the segment.
Let's spend a few minutes to see how these two vehicles
compare and discover why Tacoma remains a top choice.
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Tacoma's heritage dates back to 1995,
when it first hit the scene as a replacement
for the aptly named Toyota Pickup,
also known internationally as the Hilux.
And while the Hilux continued
to sell overseas, North America
and a few other markets were instead
graced by the all-new Tacoma, at the time, classified
as a compact pickup, rather than midsize as it is now.
Here in the U.S., it burst onto the scene
and became legendary for its winning performance
in the Baja 500 race.
And over the 25 years that followed,
Tacoma evolved across three generations,
with each year further honing its winning formula of quality
and durability, mixed with capability and performance.
Ranger has a similar story in that it's been around
for quite a long time, however, its heritage isn't rooted
in off-road racing and quality, durability and reliability.
The first Ranger technically arrived in 1983,
but its roots can actually be traced back
to the 1972 Ford Courier, the brand's first compact pickup.
From then until 2011, Ranger went through
two major generation updates
before being discontinued for 2012.
And although the model lived on overseas,
it didn't return to the U.S. market
until 2019's debut of the new fourth generation model,
a model that has actually been
available internationally since 2015.
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Tacoma's lineup is structured around six grades;
the SR work truck
and the all-around utility SR5, the fully loaded Limited,
and three performance
and off-road-oriented trims; TRD Sport,
which is tuned for on-road fun, TRD Off-Road,
the perfect truck for getting off the beaten path,
and the incredible TRD Pro, a no-holds-barred off-roader
that's made to tackle the toughest trails out there.
Now, when it comes to trucks,
versatility is the name of the game,
and Tacoma ensures it offers something for everyone,
not just through its six grades themselves,
but through a variety of configurations within each one,
making for a 32-vehicle lineup,
spreading various bed lengths, cab sizes,
engines, transmissions, and drive systems.
Ranger, on the other hand,
is offered across just three grades; XL, XLT, and Lariat.
And although all three of these can be found
in either SuperCab with six-foot bed
and SuperCrew with five-foot bed variants,
as well as outfitted with four-wheel drive,
Ranger still only offers one engine
and one transmission, making for a grand total
of just 12 possible configurations.
Under the hood, Tacoma is no slouch.
It offers an engine choice between an efficient
and practical 2.7-liter four-cylinder
and a 3.5-liter V6 that boasts a whopping 278 horsepower
and includes standard Class-IV towing equipment.
Depending on model, these engines can be paired with either
a six-speed automatic transmission
or a six-speed manual transmission,
a rarity in today's market
and a blessing to drivers that want to row their own gears.
Additionally, Tacoma can be had in either
two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive,
the latter of which offers some
seriously cool available off-road features,
like a locking rear differential,
multi-terrain Select, Crawl Control, and more.
Now, while it's true that Ranger only offers one powertrain,
at least it's a good one.
Its 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine
and 10-speed automatic transmission
offer an impressive balance of power and efficiency.
In fact, even though it can't quite match
Tacoma's total horsepower, it does produce
best-in-class torque, a very useful thing in a truck,
but don't let that fool you into believing
that Tacoma can't meet everyday hauling and towing demands.
And Ranger's lack of a manual transmission also means
that stick shift enthusiasts are simply out of luck.
Plus, its standard ground clearance tops out at 8.9 inches,
which can't quite match Tacoma's standard 9.4-inch figure.
Same goes for its standard approach angle,
which tops out at 28.7 degrees, while Tacoma TRD models
boast approach angles as steep as 35 degrees.
Like Tacoma, Ranger can be outfitted with four-wheel drive,
although it doesn't offer any dedicated
off-road models to match Tacoma's TRD range.
This clearly represents an advantage for Tacoma
and its wide range of active lifestyle enthusiasts,
so instead, Ranger relies on the FX4 Off-Road Package
to satisfy enthusiasts with features
like sport-tuned shocks, tires,
and skid plates, as well as Terrain Management
and Trail Control systems.
That said, to equip this off-road package on XL models,
two other packages must also be added,
quickly changing Ranger's value proposition.
Similarly, its Trailer Tow Package
must be equipped separately, as opposed to Tacoma's
V6 Tow Package, which comes standard on all V6 models.
(mellow rock music)
When it comes to standard features,
Tacoma is not messing around.
Ranger also offers some great features, but many of them
are either not standard or not offered on all models.
For example, Tacoma's already well-equipped cabin
now features Toyota's latest Audio Multimedia
touchscreen systems on all models,
which include great modern features
like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto,
and Amazon Alexa compatibility,
as well as integration with Toyota's line
of Connected Services.
Meanwhile, Ranger's similar Sync 3 multimedia system
is only standard on Lariat, which means that XL models
have to make do with the base, non-touchscreen Sync system,
while even XLT buyers would need
to pony up extra money to equip Sync 3
and enjoy the larger touchscreen display
with modern features like Apple CarPlay.
And as far as safety, Tacoma stays true to Toyota form
with all models coming standard
with the Toyota Safety Sense P suite
of advanced active safety technologies,
which include Pre-Collision System,
Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beams,
and the incredibly useful
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control system that automatically
manages your cruising speed based on the vehicle ahead.
Ranger's active safety bundle, Ford Co-Pilot360,
does include several similar features,
but it isn't standard across the board,
and even traditional cruise control
is an extra-cost feature,
while Adaptive Cruise Control is simply not offered.
Meanwhile, XLT grades can only add Adaptive Cruise Control
if the vehicle is also upgraded with
both the Technology Package
and 301A Package, while even the top Lariat model still only
includes Adaptive Cruise Control as an extra cost add-on.
And speaking of safety, Tacoma also comes
with eight airbags, including side knee airbags
that aren't offered on Ranger.
Plus, Tacoma offers some features
that Ranger simply can't match.
For instance, while Tacoma has an available
power-sliding rear window, Ranger is only offered
with a manual sliding rear window.
Ranger also has no available moonroof like Tacoma does
and it has to make do with USB device charging
instead of Tacoma's available Qi wireless tray.
(mellow music)
So that's a look at some of the key facts
between Tacoma and Ranger.
And while both models offer great convenience, capability,
and performance, Tacoma edges out when it comes to offering
a versatile lineup that's jam-packed
with great standard equipment, suited to meet the demands
of your day-to-day life or your weekend adventures.
So even though Ranger's starting price of $24,300
undercuts Tacoma's $26,050 entry point,
that story quickly changes when you consider
the extra-cost packages often required
for Ranger to truly go spec-for-spec.
Ranger's pricing also doesn't take into account
the great ownership benefits that come
with driving a Toyota, like Tacoma's
famously strong long-term cost estimates
and resale values, Toyota's legendary reputation
for quality, durability, and reliability,
and even the ToyotaCare No Cost Maintenance Plan
and Roadside Assistance that comes with every new Toyota.
So as impressive as Ranger's return may be,
it's not enough to shake Tacoma from its spot
as America's favorite midsize pickup.
(mellow music)