Pickup Throwdown: 2024 Chevy Colorado vs 2024 Ford Ranger

Whether you’re in the market for a reliable work truck with all the towing and payload capacity you need to get the job done, an after-hours adventure rig that can dominate off-road terrain, or a spacious family vehicle that’s packed with the latest in entertainment and safety technology, the Colorado makes a compelling case for itself. Every Chevy Colorado for sale at Southern Chevrolet is a prime example of everything there is to love about a midsize pickup, but it’s certainly not the only option in the hotly contested segment.

The Ford Ranger represents another popular choice. Positioned initially as Ford’s compact pickup, the Ranger was reintroduced to the market in 2019 as a midsize model. It’s an intriguing offering from the Big Blue Oval and represents a significant improvement over its compact predecessor, but can the Ranger hope to compete with the versatile vehicle that is the 2024 Colorado? We’ll compare the two trucks in some key areas as we help you to decide which one is worth a test drive.

Towing and Payload

No matter how many gizmos and gadgets you pack into a pickup, trucks are always going to be measured by their ability to put in a little hard work. To that end, Chevy has equipped the 2024 Colorado with a potent powertrain that, in addition to giving drivers plenty of get up and go, also allows the midsize model to offer the best towing capacity in its class. Drivers who invest in the Colorado’s most affordable trims in the WT or LT will be treated to a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 260 lb-ft of torque that gives the pickup 3,500 pounds of raw pulling power. Perfect for trailers, small boats, and campers, the base engine offers Colorado drivers the chance to take advantage of Chevy’s storied performance credentials while keeping the price below the all-important $35,000 mark. The WT and LT are also the two standout trims when it comes to payload capacity, enabling drivers to haul up to 1,684 pounds of materials, equipment, outdoor gear, or whatever else the weekend might have in store.

For those who will settle for nothing but the best, there’s the Colorado’s 2.7-liter TurboMax engine. While it might feature the same displacement as the entry-level version, Chevy has souped up this turbocharged engine with 65 percent more torque for a total figure of 430 lb-ft. This sort of force gives the 2024 Colorado a stellar max tow rating of 7,700 pounds, a number that bests most of the midsize segment by over 1,000 pounds. That might not sound like much in the grand scheme of things, but it can mean the difference between taking an extra ATV along for the ride or spending your afternoon riding shotgun.

The 2024 Ford Ranger can hold its own when it comes to towing and hauling but fails to match the high bar set by Chevy’s own midsize offering. To be fair, the Ranger is the Colorado’s closest competitor with a maximum tow rating of 7,500 pounds, which is a lot more competitive than some of the segment’s other challengers, like the Toyota Tacoma and Honda Ridgeline, which max out at 6,500 pounds and 5,000 pounds respectively. The Ranger’s max payload does edge out the Colorado at 1,805 pounds (or 1,711 pounds for 4WD models), but opting for the off-road Raptor trim sees the truck’s max tow rating reduced to 5,510 pounds due to the addition of the 3.0-liter V6.

Trims

With six trims to choose from, the 2024 Chevy Colorado is all about customization. If you are looking for a work truck that’ll make the perfect addition to your fleet while keeping you on budget, the WT is an affordable option that’s competitively priced, starting at $29,500.^[a] The LT (or “Luxury Touring”) trim lives up to its name with a full suite of clever convenience features and a stylish exterior, while the Trail Boss is easily the Colorado’s most well-rounded option. From its 32-inch all-terrain tires and improved approach, break-over, and departure angles to its 2-inch factory-installed lift and black fender flares, the Trail Boss does just what it says on the package. The mid-tier trim is also packed with an Eaton automatic locking rear differential, black frame-mounted recovery hooks, and a generous complement of off-road tech like Chevy’s Driver Mode Selector system and Hill Descent Control, a low-speed cruise control feature that takes a lot of the stress out of navigating steeper grades.

The Colorado’s wide range of trims stands in direct contrast to the Ranger, with Ford offering just three different options for the 2024 model year. That number jumps to four when you include the Ranger Raptor, but given the off-road truck’s $55,000+ price tag, most tend to treat the truck as its own standalone model. Ford kicks off the 2024 lineup with the Ranger XL, which, despite being the entry-level trim, rings up at $3,000 more than the Colorado WT. While Ford has packed the pickup with a decent amount of gear like a 10.1-inch infotainment system, an eight-inch digital cluster display, and some basic safety features like a Lane-Keeping System, these enhancements fail to justify the gap in price.

The XLT is probably the Ranger’s most value-packed model at $36,005, and even though the addition of Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver-assistance suite is nice, the trim doesn’t seem to add a lot of capability when compared to the XL. The LARIAT tops this year’s trim ladder, adding a number of modern tech upgrades like a 12-inch infotainment system, wireless charging pad, and a premium sound system. These features, along with the Adaptive Cruise Control and heated leather seats and steering wheel, have a noticeable impact on the truck’s luxury resume, but the lack of off-road gear is a little confounding when you take a look at the rest of the midsize segment as Ford seems content to let the Ranger Raptor pick up all the slack.

Off-Road Models

When you’re speaking of off-road performance, you can’t forget to mention the Z71, ZR2, and ZR2 Bison. The Colorado’s two top trims and the special edition mark a significant step up in terms of off-road capability, leveraging the midsize pickup’s size to give drivers the perfect tool for conquering challenging terrain. The Z71 trim is basically an LT that’s been outfitted with the same off-road equipment as the Trail Boss, plus a host of luxury features, styling upgrades, and some high-tech add-ons like LED projector headlamps and a 120-volt bed-mounted outlet.

The Z71 once represented the Colorado’s gnarliest off-road trim, but the ZR2 model now rules the roost. Built around the ZR2 Off-Road Package, it’s the truck’s DSSV Multimatic suspension dampers, three-inch factory-installed lift, and high-performance suspension that give it a marked advantage over the rest of the lineup. Off-road rocker protectors, front and rear driver-selectable locking differentials, and red frame-mounted recovery hooks round out the ZR2’s off-road arsenal, while the bed sees a few important upgrades in the form of a spray-on bedliner and remote lockable StowFlex tailgate with room for extra cargo.

Finally, there’s the ZR2 Bison. Crafted in collaboration with the off-road and overland experts at American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), the ZR2 Bison Edition builds on the ZR2 with some hardy AEV equipment and hydraulic front and rear bump stops. The Bison’s 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Mud Terrain tires are wrapped around 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels. The Colorado ZR2 Bison even comes standard with available Underbody Cameras that provide a handy, ground-level POV that’ll provide valuable insight when trying to avoid obstacles or get the lay of the land.

New for 2024, the Ranger Raptor sees Ford’s midsize model doing its best to imitate the off-road reputation of its big brother in the F-150 Raptor. Like the F-150, the Ranger Raptor offers upsized 33-inch all-terrain tires, improved ground clearance, and locking front and rear differentials, but its 405-hp 3.0-liter V6 is a far cry from the twin-turbo setup that graces the full-size model. That said, there is one area where the Ranger manages to outshine the F-150. The midsize truck is the perfect size for navigating tight off-road trials, allowing the Ranger Raptor to squeeze into some places where the hulking F-150 Raptor simply couldn’t fit. A long-travel suspension and Fox 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks protect the pickup from bottoming out, and a new active exhaust system ensures the Ranger sounds every bit of the performance off-roader, with four modes to choose from. Quiet and Normal modes will keep you from drawing the ire of your neighbors during everyday driving, but Sport and Baja allow the truck to make its presence known all across the backcountry.

The Chevy Colorado for the Win

Between its class-leading max towing capacity, impressive payload rating, and towering trim ladder, the 2024 Chevy Colorado is tough to beat when it comes to the midsize pickup segment. The Ford Ranger certainly gives the Colorado a run for its money, especially with the addition of the new off-road-ready Ranger Raptor, but at the end of the day, Chevy’s pickup is simply a more well-rounded offering. It’s little wonder that the Colorao’s trophy cabinet is already starting to fill up with numerous industry praises, including a 2024 Editors’ Choice award from Car and Driver. The Colorado has long been one of the midsize segment’s preeminent models, but the third-generation pickup takes it to a whole different level with the addition of the latest and greatest in interior tech and performance features. This is especially noticeable when compared to the fifth-generation Ranger, which is starting to look a little long in the tooth in comparison. If you’re eager to see what all the hype is about and learn more about the 2024 Colorado, come by our Chevy dealership today.

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^[a] MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.

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