2025 Ford Ranger vs 2025 Ram 1500
The Ford Ranger wins clearly, 89 to 72.4, on tech & comfort, safety. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo and performance.
2025 Ford Ranger
The 2025 Ford Ranger is sold in the U.S. as a gas large pickup truck with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Ranger 2WD, is EPA-rated a…
2025 Ram 1500
The 2025 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large pickup truck with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 1500 HFE 2WD, is E…
2025 Ford Ranger
Clear winThe Ford Ranger wins clearly, 89 to 72.4, on tech & comfort, safety. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo and performance.
| Category · weight | 2025 Ford Rangeroverall 89 | 2025 Ram 1500overall 72.4 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 70 | 67.2 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 90.7 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 92.3 | 95.8 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 17.6 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 89 | 72.4 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Ford Ranger: base trim XL RWD · Ram 1500: base trim Tradesman 4X2. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Ford Ranger wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (45 against 371 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 5.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (25.5 points against 4.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2025 Ram 1500 answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 64 against 40).
- It carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4.
What they share
- The same EPA fuel cost ($2,900 a year).
- 23 combined.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
45 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 2,300 cc | 3,604 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 eTorque, 60-degree gasoline V-6 with VVT, liquid-cooled |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless |
| Valve configuration | DOHC | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 270 hp | 305 hp |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | 271 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.73:1 | 3.21, 3.55 |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8.8 in | 7.8 in |
| Overall height | 73.9 in | 77.5 in |
| Overall length | 211 in | 228 in |
| Overall width | 86.7 in | 81.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 129 in | 141 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 43.5 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 98.3 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 6 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41 in | 40.9 in |
| Third-row headroom | — | 39.2 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.7 in | 40.9 in |
| Third-row legroom | 34.6 in | 35.3 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,203 lbs | — |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,050 lbs | — |
| Payload capacity | 1,788 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Short- and long-arm independent and tubular stabilizer bar | Upper and lower A-arms, twin-tube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | Hotchkiss-type nonindependent live, leaf springs and outboard shock absorbers | Five-link with track bar, stabilizer bar, twin-tube shock absorbers, solid axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric power-assisted, rack-and-pinion | Electric power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 42.5 ft | 45.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 311 mm | 378 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | vented disc, 2-piston pin-slider caliper with ABS |
| Rear brake diameter | 308 mm | 375 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | disc, single-piston pin-slider caliper with ABS |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 20 in |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 255/70R17 A/T BSW | 275/55R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 18 gal | 26 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | FordPass Connect | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.1 in | 66 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 56.7 in | 65.7 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
97 features · differences first, then sharedSafety22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) (Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Dynamic Brake Support) | std | — |
| Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Airbags – Driver and Passenger Front | std | — |
| Lane-Keeping Aid | std | — |
| ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and center lines | — | std |
| Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain Airbags | std | — |
| Active Lane Management | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | — | std |
| Advanced Safety Group | — | opt |
| AdvanceTrac® Electronic Stability Control | std | — |
| Auto High-Beam Headlamps | std | — |
| Belt-Minder® (safety belt reminder) | std | — |
| Blind-spot Monitoring with trailer coverage and Rear Cross Path detection | — | std |
| Brakes – Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) | std | — |
| ParkSense front and rear park assist with automatic reverse stop | — | std |
| Perimeter Anti-Theft Alarm | std | — |
| Post-Collision Braking | std | — |
| SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System | std | — |
| Trailer Reverse Steering Control | — | opt |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | — |
Infotainment12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| FordPass Connect™ – Remotely start, lock and unlock vehicle | std | — |
| 4G LTE Wi-Fi® hotspot connects up to 10 devices | std | — |
| 10" Display in Center Stack (SYNC® 4A) | std | — |
| 911 Assist® | std | — |
| AM/FM stereo and Six (6) Speakers | std | — |
| Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Compatibility | std | — |
| Base — six-speaker sound system | — | std |
| FordPass Connect™ (4G) – 4G LTE Wi-Fi® hotspot connects up to 10 devices | std | — |
| SYNC® 4A – Enhanced Voice Recognition Communications and Entertainment System | std | — |
| Uconnect 12-in. Radio | — | opt |
| Uconnect 8.4 AM/FM/Bluetooth/SiriusXM Radio | — | std |
| USB Ports – A & C | std | — |
Convenience3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 120V/400W In-Cab and In-Bed Power Outlets and LED Bed Lighting | opt | — |
| Powerpoint 12V | std | — |
| Remote Keyless-Entry w/Remote Tailgate Lock | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Air Conditioning, Single Zone | std | — |
Seating7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way Power Driver Seat | — | opt |
| Heated front seats and steering wheel | — | opt |
| 8-Way Manual Adjustable Driver Seat including Lumbar | std | — |
| 2-way Power Driver Lumbar | — | opt |
| Cloth Bench Seat (Rear) | std | — |
| Cloth Bucket Seats | std | — |
| Seat, Rear – Armrest | std | — |
Interior11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats and steering wheel | — | opt |
| 8" Digital Instrument Cluster | std | — |
| Black Vinyl Floor Covering | std | — |
| Extended Service Interval Monitor | std | — |
| Flow-through Console with Shifter | std | — |
| Rear Seat Under Seat Storage | std | — |
| Day/Night Rearview Mirror | std | — |
| Steering Wheel – Manual Tilt/Telescoping | std | — |
| Carpet Floor Covering with Carpet Floor Mats | opt | — |
| Visor – Driver & Passenger | std | — |
| Carpet Floor Covering | opt | — |
Exterior16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4 Off-road Group (standard on Rebel models) | — | opt |
| Crew Cab 5-ft. 7-in. box — 144.5-in. wheelbase | — | opt |
| Crew Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 153.5-in. wheelbase | — | opt |
| Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) – Configurable | std | — |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel-Filler | std | — |
| Fixed Rear Window w/ Privacy Glass | std | — |
| Fog Lamps – Halogen (incl. with STX Appearance Package) | opt | — |
| Fully Boxed Steel Frame | std | — |
| LED Reflector Headlamps | opt | — |
| Low Sport Package | — | opt |
| Night Edition Package | — | opt |
| Protection Group (4x4 models only) | — | opt |
| Quad Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 140.5-in. wheelbase | — | std |
| Spare Tire (Full Sized) | std | — |
| Tires – 255/70R17 All-Terrain (A/T) BSW | std | — |
| Wiper-Activated Headlamps | std | — |
Powertrain19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3L EcoBoost® Engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology | std | — |
| 26-gallon fuel tank | — | std |
| 3.0-liter Twin Turbo, Standard Output (SST), eight-speed automatic transmission | — | opt |
| 3.21 axle ratio | — | std |
| 3.55 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar eTorque, eight-speed automatic transmission | — | std |
| 3.92 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 33-gallon fuel tank | — | opt |
| 4x2 | — | std |
| 4x4 | — | opt |
| Anti-spin differential (electronic locking and anti-spin are mutually exclusive) | — | opt |
| Auto Start-Stop Technology | std | — |
| Electronic 10-Speed Automatic Transmission | std | — |
| Electronic part-time transfer case | — | std |
| Electronic Power-Assist Steering (EPAS) | std | — |
| Electronic-locking differential | — | opt |
| Electronic-Locking Rear Differential | opt | — |
| Electronic-Shift-On-the-Fly (ESOF) – 4x4 only | std | — |
| Selectable Drive Modes: Normal, ECO, Sport, Tow/Haul, Slippery | std | — |
Cargo6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer Tow Package (Class IV Trailer Hitch Receiver) | opt | — |
| Selectable Drive Modes: Tow/Haul | std | — |
| Bed Utility Group | — | opt |
| Integrated electronic trailer brake controller (requires Class IV trailer hitch; included with Trailer-tow Group) | — | opt |
| Trailer Technology Package | — | opt |
| Trailer-tow Group | — | opt |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Ranger
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V238000 · 140,201 vehicles · filed unfixed
- critical Suspension 25V310000 · 4,497 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
- high Seats 26V268000 · 179,698 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V122000 · 47,804 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V104000 · 4,381,878 vehicles
Ram 1500
Top recalls
- high Seat Belts 26V495000 · 1,271,294 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V225000 · 65,348 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V059000 · 456,287 vehicles
- high Exterior Lighting 24V942000 · 53 vehicles
- high Wheels 24V794000 · 33,777 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 26V560000 · 239,130 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford RangerXL RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 9 trims | — 12 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Ranger 2WD | 1500 HFE 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 23 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,900 | $2,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Ford Ranger or the 2025 Ram 1500?
The Ford Ranger wins clearly, 89 to 72.4, on tech & comfort, safety. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Ford Ranger scores 89 and the 2025 Ram 1500 72.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Ford Ranger or the 2025 Ram 1500?
2025 Ford Ranger: 4 NHTSA stars, grade F, 13 recalls (1 filed with no repair available). 2025 Ram 1500: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 8 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Ford Ranger and the 2025 Ram 1500?
Where the 2025 Ford Ranger wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (45 against 371 filed with NHTSA), lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 5, and lists more comfort and tech equipment (25.5 points against 4.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2025 Ram 1500 answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 64 against 40) and carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4. What they share: the same EPA fuel cost ($2,900 a year) and 23 combined.