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| 181-308 HP | Horsepower | 270 HP |
| 191-369 LB-FT | Torque | 310 LB-FT |
| 7,700 LBS | Towing Capacity | 7,500 LBS |
Midsize trucks are a great option for a wide range of applications: from a rugged and sporty pickup that can tackle an off-road trail, to a modest option for getting some serious work done. Choosing the right midsize truck is not always easy, however, which is why it can be very helpful to compare two of them and see how they stack up. Looking at the 2020 Chevy Colorado vs 2020 Ford Ranger, for example, shows us all of the great features in two of the most popular midsize pickups on the road.
While the Ford Ranger has a lot going for it, the 2020 Chevy Colorado is simply a dominant option that gives you so much more. There is a single engine option in the Ranger, for example, while the Colorado gives you three different engines to choose from. While both of these models have off-road options, the legendary Colorado ZR2 is a dedicated trim, rather than an available package, and simply a finer choice with more going for it. Plus, you can get greater towing capacity with the Chevy Colorado than you can with the Ranger, thanks to an available turbo-diesel engine.
Inside, the 2020 Chevy Colorado gives you fantastic options, especially at high trim levels, and it includes excellent safety features for daily driving and towing. When it comes to a midsize truck, the 2020 Colorado is simply the total package – and the 2020 Ford Ranger does its best to keep up, but ultimately falls shorts. Here at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, we are proud to offer the full 2020 Chevy lineup, including the fantastic Colorado. Come visit us today to see the Colorado and the other incredible Chevy trucks for yourself – you will not be disappointed.
As with just about any other vehicle, the engine is a great place to start when looking at the options and features of midsize trucks. With the 2020 Chevy Colorado, you have three different engines to choose from, though there are some restrictions based on trim and configuration. By comparison, there is only one engine available on the 2020 Ford Ranger, so we will start there.
The 2020 Ford Ranger comes with a 2.3L EcoBoost V6 engine that delivers up to 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. To be fair, that is an excellent engine for a midsize truck and should be more than sufficient for a wide range of drivers. But with only one engine to choose from, there is no freedom or flexibility – so if you would prefer something else, or do not need that much power, then you are out of luck.
With the 2020 Chevy Colorado, on the other hand, you have three engines to choose from, starting with a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that offers up to 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. That is certainly less than what you get in the Ranger, but this is just the start. There is also an available 3.6L DOHC V6 engine for the Colorado, which delivers up to 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. You can see this is substantially more horsepower than you can get in the Ford Ranger, though a bit less torque.
If you want more torque, and greater towing power, then there is an available Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel 4-cylinder engine, which provides up to 181 hp and up to 369 lb-ft of torque. While that is less horsepower than the Ford Ranger delivers, it is significantly more torque, and it is a diesel engine, which you cannot get in the Ranger. We always prefer having more options rather than fewer (or none), which is why we love being able to offer so many engines to our midsize truck customers.
Although you will not find massive towing and payload potential with a midsize pickup compared to something like a heavy-duty truck, it should still matter to you. After all, one of the reasons to own a truck is for the functionality it provides for towing and loading up the bed with stuff. While your actual towing and payload capacity will depend on a lot of factors, including truck configuration and engine, it is worthwhile to consider your maximum options.
In terms of towing, the 2020 Chevy Colorado has a maximum towing capacity of up to 7,700 lbs thanks to its powerful, high-torque, turbo-diesel engine. With its available V6 engine, which you should consider if you do not want a diesel model, you can get up to 7,000 lbs of towing when properly configured. The 2020 Ford Ranger, on the other hand, can get up to 7,500 lbs of maximum towing capacity. As you can see, the Colorado can give you more towing – and while it is not a huge difference, it is ultimately greater.
When it comes to payload, then the Ford Ranger comes out on top, but not by very much. The 2020 Ford Ranger has a maximum payload capacity of up to 1,860 lbs. By comparison, the 2020 Chevy Colorado can have a maximum payload of up to 1,578 lbs when properly configured with the 3.6L V6 engine. That is a very minor difference that you are really not likely to ever encounter, but for the sake of fairness, we wanted to point it out.
One of the great reasons to choose a midsize truck like the 2020 Chevy Colorado is for the incredible off-road potential it can offer. While a full-size pickup can be a solid off-road option, the smaller size and lighter weight of a midsize model typically lends itself to an easier time on the trail and tackling tough off-road courses. This is especially true if you are interested in trails with narrow passes or tight areas that a larger model might have difficulty navigating. Both of these trucks have off-road options available, but the Chevy Colorado gives you a bit more.
The Colorado is one of the best midsize trucks available for going off-road thanks to its ZR2 trim, which is designed for fantastic trail performance. The ZR2 comes with a factory-installed lift that gives you greater ground clearance without the need for aftermarket lift kits. It also has exclusive Multimatic shocks to help smooth out rough terrain and bumpy trails, giving you a smoother overall ride and experience. Plus, the Colorado ZR2 features front and rear electronic locking differentials, which you have control over, and numerous skid plates to protect the underside of your vehicle.
With the 2020 Ford Ranger, you cannot choose a dedicated off-road trim; instead, it has an off-road focused package available that gives you some decent features. The FX4 package, available on all three trims, includes a steel bash plate in the front and a trail management system with trail control and an off-road tuned suspension. It has an electronic locking rear differential and skid plates to help protect the underside of the vehicle. The FX4 is a decent off-road package overall, but it falls short of what the ZR2 has to offer, particularly the Multimatic shocks and the front locking differential for more precise overall control.
No matter what you are looking for, there is a good chance that the 2020 Chevy Colorado simply does it better than the Ford Ranger – and it starts at a lower price. With more engines available, which give you the opportunity for greater horsepower or higher torque, including a turbo-diesel, there is more to choose from and customize with the Colorado. And if you are interested in going off-road, then the dedicated ZR2 trim of the 2020 Colorado sets the high-water mark for off-road midsize trucks. The power and performance of the Colorado are exceptional, both on and off-road, with interior technology and comfort features available that are both rugged and sophisticated.
If it seems like we are gushing about the 2020 Chevy Colorado, then that is because we simply cannot help ourselves. Every year the Colorado has just gotten better, and the modern incarnation has so much going for it that it really is the perfect choice for anyone interested in a midsize truck. But you do not have to take our word for it – you can see the Colorado and the rest of the 2020 Chevy lineup here at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, GA, then decide for yourself. Call or come visit us today and let us help you find the perfect truck for your needs.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.