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Starting at
Starting at
| 7,700 | Max. Towing (lbs) | 7,500 |
| 11.3 | Standard Touchscreen (in) | 3.5 |
| Yes | Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | No |
There’s nothing like heated competition, but this is not just any rivalry; this one started over a century ago and has led to the creation of many great models. This rivalry is none other than the fierce battle between two automotive legends: Chevy and Ford. These two manufacturers have been, in many ways, the definition of American automotive engineering. Millions of drivers globally love Ford and Chevy vehicles, but what’s the secret sauce that makes these two manufacturers such a constant presence in the lives of these drivers? What makes Chevy and Ford beloved brands more so than any other brands is because of their history. Families have gone on for generations trusting Chevy or Ford vehicles, getting them where they need to be or to tackle the challenges at home and on the job site.
Both manufacturers produce a wide range of automobiles, and it’s common for both manufacturers to face each other head-on. Whether it be sedans, SUVs, or trucks like the 2023 Chevy Colorado vs 2023 Ford Ranger, both manufacturers are experts in state-of-the-art engineering, and the Colorado and Ranger are the two midsize trucks everyone is talking about. Both trucks have much in common, but both manufacturers are equally as different from each other, and the Colorado and Ranger are more competitive than most other vehicle combinations. Let's take a closer look at both trucks to examine their differences so that you can better understand which model may best fit your driving needs.
Performance is important for any vehicle; it's a broad term, but when comparing the Chevy Colorado and Ford Ranger, performance means a few things. When shopping for a pickup truck, performance includes towing and payload capacity as well as horsepower and torque. The Colorado and Ranger aren’t oversized, and mid-sized trucks work wonders for those looking for a smaller truck, but that doesn’t mean these trucks lack performance. However, there’s one stark difference you can’t help but shake between the Colorado and Ranger: The Ford Ranger doesn’t offer any more than one engine option; Chevy offers three.
The Ranger’s engine performs well with a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 lbs due to the turbocharged 2.3L I-4 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, better than the Chevy Colorado’s base engine, but that doesn’t show the whole story. The two additional Colorado engines exceed the performance of the Ranger’s engine, so Ford’s truck ends up being left in the dust.
All three engines you can put in the 2023 Colorado are the same size, but each offers an array of capabilities. These are the 2.7L Turbo I-4, 2.7L Turbo Plus I-4, and the 2.7L Turbo High-Output I-4 engine. Although the base engine falls behind the Ranger with its 237 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, the turbo plus offers a notable increase with 310 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque and exceeds the Ranger’s towing capacity by an additional 200lbs, towing a maximum of 7,700 lbs.
While the towing capacity will remain at 7,700 lbs with the turbocharged high-output I-4 along with the 310 hp, the torque output is raised to 430 lb-ft of torque. If you were to get a Colorado with the strongest engine, your truck would have 15% more horsepower and 39% greater torque output. Aside from an 8-speed automatic transmission and a slightly lower payload capacity, the 2023 Colorado can ultimately be the more powerful truck if fitted correctly.
When two vehicles are similarly priced, the most feature-packed model may draw more attention than the model not equipped with the most cutting-edge tech. The future is in the features manufacturers put into their vehicles, as sometimes there’s no better example of how far the industry has come than the features you can utilize any time you start your car. Features build upon one another, hence why vehicles never lost power windows and AM/FM transmitters but now have technology that makes older vehicles appear ancient by comparison. 2023 model trucks have features uncommon only a decade before, such as infotainment centers, and the 2023 Colorado and Ranger are wildly different.
The 2023 Ranger has one of the worst infotainment centers you can get, especially owing to its egregiously small 3.5-inch screen. This screen is about half the size of an average smartphone, and reading text on it is a chore, let alone navigating through settings. You could upgrade to a 4.2-inch screen, but by 2023 standards, it’s another comically sized screen. Ford makes up for it with a proper infotainment center available for the Ranger, which measures 8 inches diagonally and runs under the SYNC3 software; however, this is another upgrade that will cost extra.
By comparison, the 2023 Colorado’s standard 11.3-inch screen is incredible, and its advantages go beyond having a 223% larger screen than the standard Ranger. For example, the Colorado’s infotainment center comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Ford Ranger uses wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2023 Colorado also has Google installed on its operating system, meaning you can access third-party apps through the Google Play app store, which used to be exclusive to Android Auto.
Trucks are meant to be driven throughout the year, meaning you’ll be sitting in your truck’s cabin during the warmest days of the year and also the coldest. Because of this, you must find your truck's interior to your liking, and manufacturers like Chevy and Ford are masters in comfortable interiors. Both trucks offer features like dual-zone climate controls and heated seats for comfort; however, the Colorado is a far more customizable experience from its trim levels to its three engines.
Similarly, the Colorado base model is more adjustable in its design than the base Ranger, meaning you can upgrade the standard 6-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat into an 8-way power-adjustable seat. With the base 2023 Ranger, the standard manually-adjustable seat can only be swapped out for an 8-way manual seat, so power-adjusted seating is off the table unless you upgrade to a more expensive trim: the Lariat.
The Ford Ranger stacks up well against the Colorado in some regards, but safety is not one of them. The reason behind this comes down to the Colorado coming with the standard Chevy Safety Assist suite, while the Ranger lacks many of the features you’d expect to find standard with its Co-Pilot360 suite.
As for some of the examples of similarities between the two trucks, both come with a form of accident prevention software with Ford’s Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Chevy’s Forward Collision Alert and Automatic Emergency Braking. Both systems can detect pedestrians in addition to vehicles, but Chevy’s Front Pedestrian Braking also includes Bicyclist Detection, which is incredibly important if you’re traveling in a busy suburban or urban neighborhood.
An example of some of the features the Ranger is missing from its base configuration is the Lane-Keeping System which costs extra money to implement, whereas Chevy Safety Assist includes Lane Keep Assist with the added benefit of Lane Departure Warning standard. The 2023 Colorado is also, without a doubt, the best vehicle to purchase if you have a learning driver living in the household, as Chevy’s Teen Driver technology can’t be beaten, and Ford doesn’t have any comparable features. Chevy’s Teen Driver is the leading example of how newer drivers can learn proper driving etiquette and responsible driving while still in their formative years.
With Chevy Teen Driver, parents will determine how their child will operate the vehicle by limits on the vehicle's controls. Limits on music volume, speed, and many other restrictions can be implemented at the parent's discretion. If your child does break the rules, you’ll know, thanks to a report card digitally sent to your phone at the end of your child’s driving session.
It also incorporates Chevy’s Buckle-To-Drive feature, ensuring seatbelts are fastened before the gears are switched. As the name implies, this is only necessary for new drivers in their teenage years, but with millions of new drivers every year, you won’t find parents complaining about these extra safety precautions, especially since it won’t cost them any money to add to the myriad list of already incredible features.
When a customer comes through our doors looking for a great vehicle, we want them to feel welcomed, and most importantly, we want them to feel as if they’ve stepped into a world of possibilities where your dream car is around the corner and at a price, they can afford. No more purchasing a vehicle you don’t truly want because it’s the only thing your money can buy. Instead, make use of our jaw-dropping sales and deals, and visit our on-site finance center to find lease or loan options with a suitable monthly payment schedule.
Our team of Chevy experts is here to show you what’s new on our lot, and we’ll help you compare and contrast models. You can also take them out for test drives because we want to ensure you’re happy with your purchase. DePaula Chevrolet also has an on-site service and parts center with OEM parts and certified technicians with an extensive list of services at fantastic prices. We welcome you to visit us here at DePaula Chevrolet, and let us help you get behind the wheel of a truck you'll love, like the exciting 2023 Chevy Colorado.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.