Toyota Tacoma vs Ford Ranger
Midsize pickups · head to head, 2010–2026
The Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger were both sold for 17 model years (2010–2026). Among the Tacoma's own years, its best bet is 2023; years to avoid: 2024–2025; the newest year rated a good buy is 2023. Among the Ranger's own years, its best bet is 2023; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2023.
Toyota Tacoma
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2023
- Avoid 2024–2025
- Be careful 2012, 2016, 2018–2019
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 Tacoma year says nothing about whether it beats a Ranger. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Toyota Tacoma | Ford Ranger | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Not rated | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly structure and power train | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.7× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2024 | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly power train and brakes | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.8× usual, mostly power train and structure | Side by side |
| 2023 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× 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 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.8× usual, mostly fuel system and brakes | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | Side by side |
| 2018 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly brakes and fuel system | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2017 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2016 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly power train and engine | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2015 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2014 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2013 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2012 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly engine and fuel system | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2011 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× 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 Toyota Tacoma | 2026 Ford Ranger | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | Not rated | TOO NEW |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $32,245 to $64,450 base price by trim, 8 trims | $33,550 to $57,070 base price by trim, 4 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo, 228–278 hp 2.4L 4-cyl turbo hybrid, 228–278 hp manual available | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo 2.7L 6-cyl turbo 3.0L 6-cyl turbo |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 20–23 mpg | 17–23 mpg |
| Seats | 2–5 | 5 |
| Third row | No | No |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| Max towing | 3,500–6,500 lb | 5,510–7,500 lb |
| Bed length | 60.3–73.5 in | 59.6 in |
| NHTSA crash rating | 4 of 5 stars | 4 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 0 · 0 | 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
| Tacoma SR lowest price, $32,245 | Tacoma TRD Pro highest price, $64,450 | Ranger XL lowest price, $33,550 | Ranger Raptor highest price, $57,070 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | — | — |
| Adaptive cruise control | Varies | Standard | — | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | — | Standard | Optional | Standard |
| Heated front seats | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | — | Standard | — | — |
| Sunroof or moonroof | — | Standard | — | — |
| 360-degree camera | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Remote start | Varies | Standard | — | — |
"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 (Tacoma, Ranger).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Toyota Tacoma
27 manufacturer programs on file: 15 extended coverage, 12 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above. (23TE08, 2016–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Toyota has received a number of reports regarding vehicle frame corrosion perforation on certain 2011-2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to vehicle frame corrosion perforation. (Z1, 2011–2017 models)
- Extended coverage Toyota has received reports regarding vehicle frame corrosion perforation on certain 2011-2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to vehicle frame corrosion perforation. (2011–2017 models)
- Extended coverage On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with… (23TE04, 2017–2020 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, 2020–2023. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Years to skip: Tacoma 2024–2025.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Tacoma 2023; Ranger 2023.
- Third row: neither has one in 2026.
- Lower starting price in 2026: the Tacoma, from $32,245 against $33,550. Prices are the maker's listed base prices, not what dealers charge.
- Towing: up to 7,500 lb for the Ranger in 2026, against 6,500 lb for the Tacoma.
- 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.