Chevrolet Colorado vs Ford Ranger
Midsize pickups · head to head, 2010–2026
The Chevrolet Colorado and Ford Ranger were both sold for 17 model years (2010–2026). Among the Colorado's own years, its best bet is 2022; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the Ranger's own years, its best bet is 2023; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2023.
Chevrolet Colorado
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2022
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2015–2016, 2023–2024
Ford Ranger
Pickup · 2010–2026
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2023
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2024–2025
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Colorado year says nothing about whether it beats a Ranger. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Chevrolet Colorado | Ford Ranger | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.7× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2024 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.7× usual, mostly brakes and collision avoidance | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.8× usual, mostly power train and structure | Side by side |
| 2023 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.9× usual, mostly collision avoidance and brakes | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | Side by side |
| 2018 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2017 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2016 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.8× usual, mostly steering and power train | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2015 | CAREFULSerious complaints 2.2× usual, mostly steering and stability control | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2014 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2013 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2012 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2011 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2026 Chevrolet Colorado | 2026 Ford Ranger | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | TOO NEW | TOO NEW |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | — | $33,550 to $57,070 base price by trim, 4 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo 2.7L 6-cyl turbo 3.0L 6-cyl turbo |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 16–21 mpg | 17–23 mpg |
| Seats | — | 5 |
| Third row | — | No |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| Max towing | — | 5,510–7,500 lb |
| Bed length | — | 59.6 in |
| NHTSA crash rating | 4 of 5 stars | 4 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 1 · 14 | 8 · 6 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Colorado Work Truck 2WD first listed | Colorado ZR2 last listed | Ranger XL lowest price, $33,550 | Ranger Raptor highest price, $57,070 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive cruise control | No | — | — | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | Optional | Standard |
| Heated front seats | No | — | — | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | No | — | — | — |
| Sunroof or moonroof | No | — | — | — |
| 360-degree camera | No | — | — | Standard |
| Remote start | Optional | — | — | — |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (Colorado, Ranger).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Chevrolet Colorado
40 manufacturer programs on file: 8 extended coverage, 32 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Coolant leaks from the radiator hose quick connect at the radiator inlet. This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 5 years or 60,000 miles (100,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle… (N262546590, 2023–2026 models)
- Extended coverage On some various model year vehicles, the throttle-position sensor may cause the engine to run rough, cause the malfunction-indicator lamp and/or an engine reduced power message to illuminate, and reduce the engine's power. 14582A - Special… (GCUS-9-1009, 2010–2012 models)
- Extended coverage On some 2008 model year (MY) Saturn Outlook; 2008-2009 MY Buick Allure, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac G8, Pontiac Montana SV6, Pontiac Torrent, and Saturn VUE; 2008-2010 MY Hummer H3 and Pontiac G6; 2008-2011 MY Cadillac… (GCUS-9-939, 2010–2012 models)
- Extended coverage The throttle position sensor may cause the engine to run rough and cause the malfunction indicator lamp and/or and Engine Reduced Power message to illuminate. 11273A - Special Coverage (additional population added). (G-169310, 2010–2011 models)
Ford Ranger
8 manufacturer programs on file: 0 extended coverage, 8 repair programs.
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2010–2011, 2019–2022. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2023: the Ranger is rated best buy (serious complaints 0.5× usual), while the Colorado is rated careful (serious complaints 1.9× usual, mostly collision avoidance and brakes). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: neither model has a year we rate avoid.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Colorado 2025; Ranger 2023.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2026: Ranger at 23 mpg (Colorado: 21), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.