2026 Ford Ranger vs 2026 Ram 1500
The Ford Ranger wins clearly, 77.3 to 64.7, on safety, fuel & range.
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 Ram 1500
The 2026 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large pickup truck with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 1500 2WD, is EPA-…
2026 Ford Ranger
Clear winThe Ford Ranger wins clearly, 77.3 to 64.7, on safety, fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Rangeroverall 77.3 | 2026 Ram 1500overall 64.7 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | no data | no data |
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 95 |
| Safetyw 4 | 60.3 | 42 |
| Space & cargow 2 | no data | no data |
| Performancew 2 | no data | no data |
| Tech & comfortw 3 | no data | no data |
| Warrantyw 2 | no data | no data |
| Overall | 77.3 | 64.7 |
Ford Ranger: model-level data · Ram 1500: base trim Tradesman 4X2. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Specifications side by side
41 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford Ranger | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | — | 6 |
| Engine displacement | — | 3,604 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | — | 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 eTorque |
| Fuel injection system | — | Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 305 hp |
| Torque | — | 271 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission speeds | — | 8 |
| Transmission type | — | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 8.3 in |
| Overall height | — | 77.5 in |
| Overall length | — | 228 in |
| Overall width | — | 81.2 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 141 in |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 6 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 40.9 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 39.2 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 40.9 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 35.3 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 5,077 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,836 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 7,200 lbs |
| Payload capacity | — | 2,360 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | Upper and lower A-arms, twin-tube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | — | Five-link with track bar, stabilizer bar, twin-tube shock absorbers, solid axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | Electric power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 23.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 378 mm |
| Front brake type | — | vented disc with two-piston pin-slider caliper and ABS |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 375 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | disc with single-piston pin-slider caliper and ABS |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 20 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 275/55R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 26 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 66 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 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
35 features · differences first, then sharedSafety6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Ford Ranger | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Active Lane Management system | — | std |
| Adaptive cruise control | — | std |
| Advanced Safety Group | — | opt |
| Blind-spot Monitoring with trailer coverage and Rear Cross Path detection | — | std |
| ParkSense front/rear park assist with automatic reverse stop | — | std |
| ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and center lines | — | std |
Infotainment3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford Ranger | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Base — six-speaker sound system | — | std |
| Uconnect 12-in. Radio | — | opt |
| Uconnect 8.4 AM/FM/Bluetooth/SiriusXM Radio | — | std |
Interior1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford Ranger | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tradesman Level 1 Equipment Group | — | opt |
Exterior7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Ford Ranger | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4 Off-road Group (standard on Warlock and 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 |
| 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 |
Powertrain13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Ford Ranger | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 eTorque, eight-speed automatic transmission | — | opt |
| Anti-spin differential (electronic locking and anti-spin are mutually exclusive) | — | opt |
| Electronic part-time transfer case | — | std |
| Electronic-locking differential | — | opt |
Cargo5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Ford Ranger | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bed Utility Group | — | opt |
| Integrated electronic trailer brake controller (requires Class IV trailer hitch; included with Trailer-tow Group) | — | opt |
| Trailer reverse steering control | — | 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
- criticalElectrical System26V238000 · 140,201 vehicles
- highEngine And Engine Cooling26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles
- highEngine And Engine Cooling26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
- highSeats26V268000 · 179,698 vehicles
- highAir Bags25V541000 · 100,900 vehicles
- minorEquipment26V335000 · 268 vehicles
Ram 1500
Top recalls
- highSeat Belts26V495000 · 1,271,294 vehicles
- highExterior Lighting26V421000 · 12,592 vehicles
- highElectrical System26V225000 · 65,348 vehicles
- highExterior Lighting26V059000 · 456,287 vehicles
- highElectrical System25V826000 · 72,509 vehicles
- minorBack Over Prevention26V560000 · 239,131 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford Ranger | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — | — 14 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Ranger 2WD | 1500 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 23 | 22 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,700 | $2,850 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Ford Ranger or the 2026 Ram 1500?
The Ford Ranger wins clearly, 77.3 to 64.7, on safety, fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Ford Ranger scores 77.3 and the 2026 Ram 1500 64.7. 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 2026 Ford Ranger or the 2026 Ram 1500?
2026 Ford Ranger: 4 NHTSA stars, grade F, 7 recalls. 2026 Ram 1500: no NHTSA rating yet, grade F, 7 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 differences between the 2026 Ford Ranger and the 2026 Ram 1500?
This page puts 41 specifications and 35 equipment items side by side, with the better value marked on every row where the direction is unambiguous and the differences listed before the things both cars share.