2026 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2026 Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger edges it, 91.6 to 87.8, on fuel & range, safety. The Chevrolet Colorado is ahead on price.
2026 Chevrolet Colorado
The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado is sold in the U.S. as a gas large pickup truck with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Colorado 2WD, is EP…
2026 Ford Ranger
The 2026 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…
2026 Ford Ranger
Slight edgeThe Ford Ranger edges it, 91.6 to 87.8, on fuel & range, safety. The Chevrolet Colorado is ahead on price.
| Category · weight | 2026 Chevrolet Coloradooverall 87.8 | 2026 Ford Rangeroverall 91.6 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 96.6 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 82 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 73.7 | 76 | |||||||||||||||
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 & cargonot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Warrantyw 2 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Basic and powertrain coverage in years and miles. | |||||||||||||||||
| Overall | 87.8 | 91.6 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
Chevrolet Colorado: base trim WT 4WD · Ford Ranger: base trim Ranger XL 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 2026 Ford Ranger wins
- It lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (9 against 20 filed with NHTSA).
- It costs $650 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,900 against $3,550).
Where the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 97 against 56).
- It starts $1,150 lower ($32,400 against $33,550 base MSRP).
What they share
- 4 NHTSA stars.
- A 3-year basic warranty.
- 36,000-mile basic coverage.
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
40 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $32,400 | $33,550 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.7L I-4 Turbo DOHC VVT DI with Active Fuel Management and Stop/Start | 2.3L EcoBoost with Auto Start-Stop Technology |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | Dual-overhead camshafts, four-valves per cylinder | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 237 hp | — |
| Torque | 259 lb-ft | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.42 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 10 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.9 in | 9.3 in |
| Overall height | 78.8 in | — |
| Overall length | 213 in | — |
| Overall width | 84.4 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 131 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 43.5 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.3 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 38.3 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 45.2 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | 34.7 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,716 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,716 lbs | — |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,250 lbs | — |
| Payload capacity | 1,684 lbs | 1,767 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent coil-over-shock; twin-tube shocks | Independent |
| Rear suspension type | Solid axle with semi-elliptic two-stage multi-leaf springs; twin-tube shocks | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion | Electronic Power-Assist Steering (EPAS) |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 340 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 337 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | steel | steel |
| Wheel width | 8 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P255/65R17 | 255/70 R17 A/T |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 21.3 gal | 18 gal |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.4 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 56.1 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
69 features · differences first, then sharedSafety19 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) (Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Dynamic Brake Support) | — | std |
| Airbags - Front, Driver and Passenger | — | std |
| Airbags - Safety Canopy® Side Curtains | — | std |
| Digital Rear View Camera | — | std |
| Lane-Keeping System (Lane-Keeping Aid, Lane-Keeping Alert and Driver Alert System) | — | std |
| Trailer Sway Control | — | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlamps | — | std |
| Belt-Minder® (Safety Belt Reminder) | — | std |
| Child Seat Tether Anchors | — | std |
| Child-Proof Rear-Door-Locks | — | std |
| Ford Co-Pilot360® Technology | — | opt |
| Front Parking Sensors | — | opt |
| Perimeter Anti-Theft Alarm | — | std |
| Post-Collision Braking | — | std |
| Power-assisted four-wheel discs with Duralife™ long-life brake rotors; standard ABS | std | — |
| Rear Parking Sensors | — | opt |
| Trail Control™ | — | opt |
| SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | — | std |
| Brakes - Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
Infotainment9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 10" Center Display | — | std |
| 12" Center Display | — | opt |
| 8" Cluster Display | — | std |
| 911 Assist® | — | std |
| AM/FM Stereo Radio with 6 Audio Speakers | — | std |
| AppLink® | — | std |
| Ford® App | — | std |
| SYNC® 4A with Enhanced Voice Recognition | — | std |
| USB Ports - A and C | — | std |
Convenience3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| Pro Power Onboard™ – 400 W | — | opt |
| Remote Keyless Entry System | — | std |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Air Conditioning, Single Zone | — | std |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats - Front - Cloth Bucket | — | std |
| Seats - Front - Cloth Bucket, 8-Way Manual Adjustable Driver/6-Way Manual Adjustable Passenger | — | std |
| Seats – Rear – Fold Flat Outboard Bench Seats with Armrest and Under Seat Storage | — | std |
Interior3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Black Vinyl Floor Covering | — | std |
| Rearview Mirror, Day/Night | — | std |
| Steering Wheel, Manual Tilt/Telescoping | — | std |
Exterior12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 x 8-in. steel wheels (std. WT) | std | — |
| 17" Black Painted Steel Wheels | — | std |
| 255/70 R17 A/T Tires | — | std |
| Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) - Configurable | — | std |
| Exhaust - Single - Rear | — | std |
| Fixed Rear Window with Privacy Glass | — | std |
| Fog Lamps - Halogen | — | std |
| Grille - Black with Black Center Bar and Surround (XL) | — | std |
| LED Reflector Headlamps | — | std |
| P255/65R17 all-season tires (WT) | std | — |
| STX Appearance Package | — | std |
| Tailgate - Power Locking | — | std |
Powertrain11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3L EcoBoost® Engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology | — | std |
| 2.7L I-4 Turbo Base Output: 237 hp / 259 lb-ft (Standard: WT & LT) | std | — |
| 4x2 Drivetrain | — | std |
| 4x4 Drivetrain | — | opt |
| Electronic 10-Speed Automatic Transmission | — | std |
| Electronic-Locking Rear Differential | — | opt |
| Electronic-Shift-On-the-Fly (ESOF) (4x4 Only) | — | opt |
| Fuel Tank - 18 Gallon | — | std |
| FX4® Off-Road Package | — | opt |
| Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission | std | — |
| Open differential (std. WT and LT) | std | — |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering | std | — |
| Front suspension: independent coil-over-shock; twin-tube shocks (2WD and 4WD) | std | — |
| Fully-Boxed, High-Strength Steel Frame | — | std |
| Springs, Rear - Leaf (XL/XLT/Lariat) | — | std |
Cargo3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer Tow Package | — | opt |
| Integrated Trailer Brake Controller | — | opt |
| Max Trailering 7,700 lbs. (WT & LT available; Trail Boss & Z71 standard) | opt | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPChevrolet Colorado
Top recalls
- minor Equipment 26V114000 · 5,861 vehicles
Ford Ranger
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V238000 · 140,201 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Equipment 26V605000 · 11,405 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
- high Seats 26V268000 · 179,698 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V104000 · 4,381,878 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Chevrolet ColoradoWT 4WD | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $32,400 (base trim) | $33,550 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $32,400 – $50,700 5 trims | $33,550 – $57,270 7 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Colorado 4WD | Ranger 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 19 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,550 | $2,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | 5 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado or the 2026 Ford Ranger?
The Ford Ranger edges it, 91.6 to 87.8, on fuel & range, safety. The Chevrolet Colorado is ahead on price. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Ford Ranger scores 91.6 and the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado 87.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado or the 2026 Ford Ranger?
The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado starts lower — $32,400 against $33,550, a gap of $1,150 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado or the 2026 Ford Ranger?
2026 Chevrolet Colorado: 4 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Ford Ranger: 4 NHTSA stars, grade F, 8 recalls (3 filed with no repair available). 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 2026 Chevrolet Colorado and the 2026 Ford Ranger?
Where the 2026 Ford Ranger wins: it lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 2, has drawn fewer owner complaints (9 against 20 filed with NHTSA), and costs $650 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,900 against $3,550). Where the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 97 against 56) and starts $1,150 lower ($32,400 against $33,550 base MSRP). What they share: 4 NHTSA stars, a 3-year basic warranty, and 36,000-mile basic coverage.