2019 Ford Ranger vs Chevrolet Colorado

The Ford Ranger is back and raring to go! Returning from its overseas travels, the Ranger is once again sold right here in the United States. This compact truck also sports a new look, new engine, and plenty of new features. So while the 2019 Ranger might remind you of its older model years, there's plenty here that you've never seen before. In this comparison guide, we'll take a look at the 2019 Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado side by side. We'll give you the skinny on which is better.

Towing and Payload: 2019 Ford Ranger

In this category, if you're looking to get the most bang for your buck, you want to get the 2019 Ford Ranger. Because its base trim level tows a whopping 7,500 pounds while the base engine on the Colorado tows only 7,000 pounds. Truth be told, when you upgrade the engine to the turbodiesel (the best of its three engines), the Colorado's maximum towing capacity increases to 7,700 pounds. But that will cost you. Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger only has one amazing engine option on all of its trim levels, giving you the best from the get-go.

And in terms of payload, the 2019 Ford Ranger is king. The Ranger can bear a burden of 1,860 pounds while the Colorado maxes out at 1,576 pounds. So when you need to muscle down and haul, the Ranger will meet you where you need it.

Passenger and Cargo Space: 2019 Ford Ranger

The Chevy Colorado is narrower than most compact trucks and that has ripple effects that don't make passengers more comfortable. By comparison, the 2019 Ford Ranger is spacious, standard with four seats or choose the Crew Cab configuration to seat five and extend the back seat leg room. On the other hand, the base Colorado only comes with seating for two, but even the five-seater Chevy Crew Cab is a little narrower and more uncomfortable than we'd like.

In terms of bed length the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado are similar. Each has the option of a 5-foot or 6-foot bed. But, as you would expect for a narrow truck, the bed of the Chevy Colorado is also narrow, so it's not quite able to fit a 4-by-8 sheet or metal or plywood. That reduces the Colorado's utility, which is difficult to accept in from a truck that's already smaller than a full-size pickup.

If your intention is to haul and tow with your compact pickup truck, we think you'll be happier with the 2019 Ford Ranger. Not only does the Ranger have wider seats and a wider bed, the Ford has superior payload capacity and a similar towing capacity. Once you discover that the same great engine comes with any trim level, the Ranger proves to be a great value, especially if you're going with a standard vehicle.