North American test drive of Toyota Tacoma/Ford Ranger: Each product has its own

tech | 2024-08-30

Pickup trucks have always been the darlings of the American market. The full-size pickups from the Big Three of Detroit not only consistently dominate the top three spots on the U.S. auto sales charts but also contribute significantly to high profits. The average transaction price, which often exceeds $60,000 to $70,000, even surpasses many luxury brands.

However, compared to the annual sales of full-size pickups reaching half a million or more, the mid-size pickup trucks, which are more mainstream in other countries around the world, are somewhat colder in the U.S. market. Moreover, unlike the domination of American brands in full-size pickups, mid-size pickups have long been the domain of Japanese brands. For a long time, the Big Three in the U.S. did not have models in this category, and it was only after the year 2000 that domestic brands returned to this segment.

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Over the past two years, the four major mid-size pickup trucks—Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier—have all been refreshed. Among them, the Tacoma and Ranger, which have just been refreshed for the 2024 model year, were selected as the two competitors for this comparison test drive.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is already in its fourth generation. Unlike the mid-size pickup Hilux targeted at the international market, the Tacoma, which is exclusive to North America, shares the same platform with the Prado, GX, and 4Runner, resulting in higher costs and stronger off-road capabilities. This refresh comes eight years after the previous one, and the Tacoma's exterior design has seen significant updates. In terms of design language, it maintains consistency with the third-generation Tundra introduced the year before, with many bulging muscle lines on the hood and sides, giving it a style reminiscent of a mecha-dragon.In comparison, the Ford Ranger Raptor that was also replaced in the same year seems more like a mid-cycle refresh of the T6 Ranger, with very limited changes in appearance, making it difficult to distinguish on the road. The post-facelift Raptor still maintains the traditional style of being square with rounded edges, without too much decoration. Although it is also harmonious and aesthetically pleasing, and maintains consistency with its bigger brother, the F-150, it somewhat lacks novelty.

There are slight differences in the external dimensions of the two vehicles. Both with a double-cab configuration and a 5-foot bed, the Tacoma measures 5445, 1963, 1877mm, while the Ranger is 5370x1918x1884mm. Both vehicles also have slightly taller and wider off-road versions (TRD and Raptor).

Additionally, the Tacoma offers an extra option of a single-cab and double-cab with a 6-foot bed, which the Raptor does not provide – this is likely related to the Tacoma being sold in large quantities to commercial buyers, while the Raptor is primarily aimed at home use.

Despite the Tacoma's advantage in external dimensions, the interior space is relatively cramped. With my height of 1.86 meters, if the front row is adjusted comfortably, it is impossible to fully extend my legs in the back row. In contrast, the Ford Raptor's back row still has a little less than a fist's worth of space remaining.Additionally, although both vehicles have a top-heavy design, the seating position in the Raider is more comfortable and spacious. However, overall, the passenger space in both vehicles is not particularly generous, roughly equivalent to that of a compact sedan. Moreover, the backrest angle of the rear seats is somewhat upright, which is likely a limitation that mid-size pickup trucks face when prioritizing the length of the cargo bed within a limited vehicle length.

In terms of interior design, both vehicles are somewhat satisfactory but not exceptional. The Tacoma features a more modern design with a touch of technology and wildness, but the 8-inch screen in the mid to low trims, along with the large gray borders, somewhat detract from its value, and the presence of hard plastics is quite noticeable. On the other hand, the Raider's large screen is much more impressive, and it uses slightly more soft materials, but its design is indeed a bit outdated.

If budget is not a concern, the higher or mid-trim versions of the Tacoma with the optional 14-inch screen package would be more fitting for the price point.The dynamic experience was something I had not anticipated.

American cars generally have a better chassis quality, and often significantly so, compared to Japanese cars in the same price range. However, this Tacoma does not drive like a typical Japanese vehicle. Even when compared to Toyota, which is known for having a relatively good chassis among Japanese cars, the Tacoma noticeably exceeds expectations. The Tacoma's overall body rigidity is excellent, giving a "solid" feeling to the chassis at both low and high speeds, exuding a strong sense of confidence.

At the same time, it also feels quite substantial. The suspension does not have the hard impact of a direct hit during bumps, but instead, like many American cars, it化解s the impact with small and relatively slow movements in one go.

The Raptor's chassis is actually at Ford's consistent high standard, also balancing stability and comfort. However, during high-speed cruising, it is slightly softer, with a slightly less sense of stability. But it has less bouncing at low speeds compared to the Tacoma.Overall, the chassis quality of both vehicles is on par, significantly exceeding my expectations for a mid-size pickup truck, and even feeling better than most mid-size and large SUVs.

The noise insulation levels of both vehicles are somewhat lacking. Both are equipped with 4-cylinder turbocharged engines, and the sound insulation for the engines is quite limited. Whether it's rapid acceleration or high-speed cruising, both are relatively noisy. However, comparatively, Ford's 2.3T engine sounds a bit more pleasing to the ear, while Toyota's 2.4T is slightly coarser, but there is no fundamental difference. Road and wind noise are also relatively noticeable. The sound insulation of the cabin itself is quite decent. Overall, the quietness of both vehicles is not as good as most compact sedans.

Conclusion:

So far, the dynamic performance of both vehicles is quite evenly matched, with their strengths and weaknesses being relatively consistent. What sets them apart is the power experience. In terms of absolute power, both vehicles are quite similar. Although they are four-cylinder engines, their maximum horsepower is not inferior to common six-cylinder engines, and their mid to low RPM torque is more abundant, which is actually more suitable for the role of a pickup truck.

However, Ford's 2.3T engine has a noticeable turbo lag in this vehicle, which results in a feeling of lack of power when the accelerator is not pressed hard enough, and when pressed a bit more, the power often comes when it's no longer needed, making it feel very unresponsive. On the other hand, Toyota's 2.4T engine has a power response and linearity that is almost indistinguishable from a naturally aspirated engine, making it much easier to drive on a daily basis.However, in terms of capability for heavy-duty tasks, the Rodeo outperforms the Tacoma in both towing capacity (7500 pounds) and payload capacity (1847 pounds), significantly surpassing the Tacoma's 6500 and 1461 pounds, respectively. This makes the Rodeo a more practical choice.

So, how should one choose between the two vehicles?

Unlike the typical comparison between Japanese and American vehicles, in this case, the Rodeo is clearly the more practical option, offering more spacious seating and stronger cargo hauling capabilities. On the other hand, the Tacoma excels in exterior and interior design as well as power quality. However, in terms of practicality, the Tacoma also has the advantage of a larger discount, a slightly lower end sale price, and a higher reliability rating.

Although I personally might favor the Rodeo for its space and towing power, the Tacoma's sales figures, which are several times higher than the latter, may indicate that the majority of people are more attracted to the advantages of the Tacoma.