Face-Off: Chevrolet Colorado vs. Ford Ranger

There aren’t very many competitors in the compact pickup truck segment. The Toyota Tacoma and the very dated Nissan Frontier, along with the new Jeep Gladiator, are the only other true “trucks”—where the truck body sits on top of a frame—while the impressive Honda Ridgeline is really a crossover SUV with a pickup truck bed.

The Colorado and Ranger are similarly priced, and both are offered in rear- or four-wheel drive. But there are some significant differences, leading consumers to ask how well they match up. Which has the stronger engine? Which one has better towing or payload capacities?

To answer those questions, we take an in-depth look at these two domestic pickup trucks to compare how they fare in CR’s testing and surveys. Then we let you know which one we think is tops.