Head-to-head
2026 Ford Ranger vs 2026 Ram 1500
The Ford Ranger wins clearly, 89.2 to 66.2, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo.
F
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…
vs
D2026 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-…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Ford Ranger
Clear winThe Ford Ranger wins clearly, 89.2 to 66.2, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo.
Tech & comfort 2026 Ford Ranger leads by 86.1
Safety 2026 Ford Ranger leads by 9.2
Space & cargo 2026 Ram 1500 leads by 16.7
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Rangeroverall 89.2 | 2026 Ram 1500overall 66.2 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 95.3 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 76 | 66.8 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 83.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 13.9 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 89.2 | 66.2 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
Ford Ranger: base trim Ranger XL 4X2 · Ram 1500: base trim Tradesman 4X2. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Ford Ranger wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (9 against 103 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 5.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (18 points against 2.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 Ram 1500 answers
- It carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4.
- It seats 6 against 5.
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 RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $33,550 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | — | 6 |
| Engine displacement | — | 3,604 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.3L EcoBoost with Auto Start-Stop Technology | 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 eTorque |
| Fuel injection system | — | Sequential multiport electronic returnless |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 305 hp |
| Torque | — | 271 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 3.21, 3.55 |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 9.3 in | 7.8 in |
| Overall height | — | 77.5 in |
| Overall length | — | 228 in |
| Overall width | — | 81.2 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 141 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 43.5 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 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) | — | 5,253 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,836 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 7,200 lbs |
| Payload capacity | 1,767 lbs | 2,360 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent | 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 | Electronic Power-Assist Steering (EPAS) | Electric power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 45.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 378 mm |
| Front brake type | — | vented disc |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 375 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | — |
| Wheel material | steel | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 255/70 R17 A/T | 275/55R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 18 gal | 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
91 features · differences first, then sharedSafety25 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Intersection Collision Warning | 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 | — |
| Active Lane Management system | — | std |
| Adaptive cruise control | — | std |
| Advanced Safety Group — surround 360-degree camera, evasive steer assist, intersection collision assist, traffic sign recognition, drowsy driver detection, hands-free active driving assist | — | opt |
| 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 | — |
| Child Seat Tether Anchors | std | — |
| Child-Proof Rear-Door-Locks | std | — |
| Ford Co-Pilot360® Technology | opt | — |
| Front Parking Sensors | opt | — |
| ParkSense front/rear park assist with automatic reverse stop | — | std |
| ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and center lines | — | std |
| Perimeter Anti-Theft Alarm | std | — |
| Post-Collision Braking | std | — |
| Rear Parking Sensors | opt | — |
| Trail Control™ | opt | — |
| SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | — |
Infotainment12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 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 | — |
| Base — six-speaker sound system | — | std |
| Ford® App | std | — |
| SYNC® 4A with Enhanced Voice Recognition | std | — |
| Uconnect 12-in. Radio | — | opt |
| Uconnect 8.4 AM/FM/Bluetooth/SiriusXM Radio | — | std |
| USB Ports - A and C | std | — |
Convenience3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | std | — |
| Pro Power Onboard™ – 400 W | opt | — |
| Remote Keyless Entry System | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Air Conditioning, Single Zone | std | — |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 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 | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Black Vinyl Floor Covering | std | — |
| Rearview Mirror, Day/Night | std | — |
| Steering Wheel, Manual Tilt/Telescoping | std | — |
Exterior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 17" Black Painted Steel Wheels | std | — |
| 255/70 R17 A/T Tires | std | — |
| 4x4 Off-road Group — tow hooks, skid plates, rear electronic locking axle, off-road shocks, hill-descent control, all-terrain tires | — | 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Protection Group (4x4 models only) — tow hooks, front suspension skid plate, transfer case skid plate, electronic power steering skid plate, fuel tank skid plate | — | opt |
| Quad Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 140.5-in. wheelbase | — | std |
| STX Appearance Package | std | — |
| Tailgate - Power Locking | std | — |
Powertrain20 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | 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 |
| 4x2 Drivetrain | std | — |
| 4x4 | — | opt |
| 4x4 Drivetrain | 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 10-Speed Automatic Transmission | std | — |
| Electronic part-time transfer case | — | std |
| Electronic-locking differential (raised ride height available on all axle ratios; standard ride height available only on 3.92 axle ratio; included with 4x4 Off-road Group) | — | opt |
| Electronic-Shift-On-the-Fly (ESOF) (4x4 Only) | opt | — |
| Fuel Tank - 18 Gallon | std | — |
| FX4® Off-Road Package | opt | — |
Chassis2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Fully-Boxed, High-Strength Steel Frame | std | — |
| Springs, Rear - Leaf (XL/XLT/Lariat) | std | — |
Cargo7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer Tow Package | opt | — |
| Bed Utility Group (upper adjustable tie downs, bed extender, bed step, bed lighting, spray-in bed liner) | — | opt |
| Integrated electronic trailer brake controller (requires Class IV trailer hitch; included with Trailer-tow Group) | — | opt |
| Integrated Trailer Brake Controller | opt | — |
| Trailer reverse steering control | — | opt |
| Trailer Technology Package — trailer hitch line-up assist, integrated trailer health monitor, trailer reverse guidance, surround 360-degree trailer camera, tow-specific navigation, digital rearview mirror with tow mode | — | opt |
| Trailer-tow Group — integrated trailer brake controller, trailer tire-pressure monitoring system, trailer reverse steering control, trailer light check, trailer tow mirror | — | opt |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Ranger
Safety Signal 56 F
NHTSA overall ★★★★☆
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★☆☆
Recalls 8 · 1 critical · 3 filed unfixed
Owner complaints 9 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Power Train (3), Unspecified (2), Seats (2)
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
Ram 1500
Safety Signal 64 D
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 9
Owner complaints 103 · 3 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (51), Unspecified (16), Engine (13)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 26V622000 · 5 vehicles
- high Tires 26V623000 · 16,385 vehicles
- high Seat Belts 26V495000 · 1,271,294 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V225000 · 65,348 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V059000 · 456,287 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 26V560000 · 239,130 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford RangerRanger XL 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $33,550 (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $33,550 – $57,270 7 trims | — 14 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Ranger 2WD | 1500 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 23 | 22 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,900 | $3,050 |
| 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 2026 Ford Ranger or the 2026 Ram 1500?
The Ford Ranger wins clearly, 89.2 to 66.2, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Ford Ranger scores 89.2 and the 2026 Ram 1500 66.2. 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, 8 recalls (3 filed with no repair available). 2026 Ram 1500: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 9 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 2026 Ford Ranger and the 2026 Ram 1500?
Where the 2026 Ford Ranger wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (9 against 103 filed with NHTSA), lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 5, and lists more comfort and tech equipment (18 points against 2.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 Ram 1500 answers: it carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4 and seats 6 against 5.