Ford Fight! Ford F-150 vs. Ford Ranger
Ford F-150 vs. Ford Ranger: what’s the best choice for you? Click here to find out!
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The 2022 Ford Ranger and the 2022 Ford F-150 are both quality choices when it comes to trucks. The best one for you? That will depend on what you want out of it.
For many truck people, the midsize Ranger will be just right: not too big, not too small, and able to perform the rough and ready jobs you need out of a pickup. Plus, it has a friendly starting price of $27,425. But if you need a larger rig that won’t shy away from the rigors of a serious job site, well—let’s just say there’s a reason why the F-150 has been the best-selling truck for almost 50 years.
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2022 Ford F-150 vs. 2022 Ford Ranger: the basics
A pickup truck is a pickup truck, right? Not in this case. If you’re comparing the
Ford Ranger
and the Ford F-150
, four main differences are immediately clear: - Size: The Ranger is a midsize pickup, while the F-150 is a full-size light-duty truck.
- Pricing: The 2022 Ranger starts at an accessible $27,425 to $35,015. The F-150 begins at $33,315 but can balloon up to $79,095 for top trim levels.
- Towing power: The Ranger may be cheaper, but itsmaximum towing capacityof 7,500 pounds is almost half of the F-150’s max of 14,000 pounds.
- Engine options: The Ranger has one engine option, while the F-150 has six to choose from—including a diesel and a hybrid.
And that’s just the differences at a glance! Want to learn more? Let’s get into it.
2022 Ford F-150 vs. 2022 Ford Ranger: power & performance
We’ll start with a vital trifecta of truck specs: powertrain, horsepower, and efficiency.
All 2022 Ford Rangers have a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. A ten-speed automatic transmission keeps the gears moving, and you have the option between rear or four-wheel drive.
The F-150? Buckle up. This full-size truck has a staggering amount of engine options:
- 3.3-liter V6 with 290 horsepower and 256 lb-ft of torque
- 5.0-liter V8 with 500 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque
- 2.7-liter V6 with 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque
- 3.5-liter V6 with 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque
- 3.0-liter diesel V6 with 250 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque
- 3.5-liter V6 hybrid with 400 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque
These all come with a ten-speed automatic transmission, so there’s at least one decision you won’t have to make. You will have to choose between rear and all-wheel drive, both of which are available with any of these engines.
Model | 2022 Ford F-150 | 2022 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
Engine | Various V6, V8 options | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder |
Horsepower | 290 to 500 hp | 270 hp |
Torque | 256 to 570 lb/ft | 310 lb/ft |
Transmission | Ten-speed automatic | Ten-speed automatic |
Drivetrain | RWD or 4WD | RWD or 4WD |
EPA fuel economy (combined) | 15 to 25 mpg | 19 to 23 mpg |
As far as fuel economy goes, neither is super efficient, but both will get the job done. Even the F-150’s hybrid powertrain will only get you a combined 25 mpg, which is just a few miles ahead of the Ranger’s gasoline-only version.
2022 Ford F-150 vs. 2022 Ford Ranger: interior & storage
Besides what’s under the hood, the biggest difference between these two is their size. The Ford Ranger falls in the midsize pickup category, while the F-150 is squarely in the full-size sector. This means that by definition, there’s just going to be more room and storage with the F-150.
But that by no means makes the Ranger a cramped affair—the Ranger comes with two cab options—the SuperCab and the larger SuperCrew—both of which hold five people. Depending on what cab you choose, you’ll have the option of a five-foot or six-foot bed.
By contrast, the F-150 has three options for cab size—Regular, SuperCab, and SuperCrew. There are three-bed length options with the F-150, as well: 5.5 feet. 6.5 feet, or 8 feet.
If you use your truck as a workspace, you might be happier with the F-150, as it has features like a shift lever that can fold flat to create a flat work area, as well as the option to get front seats that fold flat for the occasional post-lunch nap.
Model | 2022 Ford F-150 | 2022 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
Wheelbase | 122 to 163 inches | 126.8 inches |
Length | 209.1 to 250.3 inches | 210.8 inches |
Bed length | 66 to 96 inches | 60 to 72 inches |
Bed volume | 77.4 cubic feet | 43.4 to 51.8 cubic feet |
Headroom (front/rear) | 41 inches/40 inches | 41 inches/38.3 inches |
Legroom (front/rear) | 43.9 inches/33.5 inches | 43.1 inches/34.5 inches |
MORE: How to get cheap truck insurance
2022 Ford F-150 vs. 2022 Ford Ranger: technology & trims
The fanciest and frilliest of tech isn’t generally a top priority with truck owners, and both the Ranger and the F-150 keep it pretty real.
The F-150 does have more standard tech features, though, like a touchscreen infotainment interface and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These features can only be attained in the Ranger if you bypass the base XL trim. Moving up through the three trim levels (XL, XLT, and Lariat) in the Ranger will give you access to features like:
- Co-Pilot360 Driver Assistance Package (standard on XLT and above)
- Large touchscreen display
- Keyless entry (XLT)
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability (XLT)
There are also a generous amount of packages and options that you can get on the Ranger depending on your needs: snow packages, off-road packages, sports packages, and more.
As mentioned, the F-150 does come with more standard tech. It also comes in a staggering eight trim levels, with a seemingly endless supply of accessories and packages to choose from.
If you like to be able to maximize your tech and customize your truck down to the smallest detail, you can accomplish that with both of these models—but the F-150 is the undisputed champion when it comes to available trim levels and options.
MORE: How to build a custom Ford Ranger
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2022 Ford F-150 vs. 2022 Ford Ranger: towing & off-roading
If you want the most towing capability or payload capacity, here’s where the bigger F-150 is the hands-down winner.
The Ranger’s towing capacity of 7,500 pounds is quite impressive for a midsize truck and more than enough to meet most people’s needs. The towing capacity of an F-150 varies widely depending on the engine choice, but if you configure the 3.5-liter V6 engine correctly, the F-150’s towing capacity maxes out at 14,000 pounds.
The Ranger can take carry a maximum of 1,905 pounds of extra cargo in its payload. For the F-150, the payload range starts at 1,840 pounds and can go up to 3,250 pounds.
The F-150 is offered in a Tremor trim level and the Ranger has an optional package by the same name, both of which will be your best bet for optimizing your off-road abilities with either truck. The Ranger’s version is highly capable but a little less aggressive than the larger F-150. That’s not the only thing that's larger about the F-150 Tremor—at a starting price tag of $55,715, it’s more than $10,000 more than a similarly outfitted Ranger.
2022 Ford F-150 vs. 2022 Ford Ranger: safety
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
gave the 2022 F-150 5/5 stars overall for safety. The 2022 Ranger earned an overall 4/5 stars from the NHTSA. Side crash ratings for the Ranger were 5/5 stars, while the rollover rating was 3/5. Neither truck has an abundance of standard safety features, but the Ranger has more. Ford offers a host of great driver assistance tech that you can add on to either truck, but that will involve moving trim levels or shelling out for upgrade packages.
2022 Ford F-150 vs. 2022 Ford Ranger: reliability
According to J.D. Power, the 2022 Ford F-150 has an average quality and reliability rating of 79/100 and places fourth on J.D. Power’s list of large light-duty pickups. RepairPal weighs in with an average 3.5/5 score for the F150, and the ratings for average repair costs were decent for its class.
The 2022 Ranger gets an 85/100 on quality and reliability from J.D. Power, which places it in the “great” category. J.D. Power also places the Ranger at number one in the midsize pickup segment. RepairPal gives the Ranger a 4/5 (above average) score for reliability, with the cost, frequency, and severity of needed repairs being about average.
Which is better: F-150 or Ranger?
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced truck that’s not too big but will still be able to do plenty of “truck stuff”, then the Ranger is the clear choice between the two.
If you want a larger vehicle that’s a serious workhorse and can tow and haul like a beast, then you’ll want the F-150.
Bottom line: they’re both great trucks, and the best one for you will depend on your budget and what you want out of a pickup. Good luck!
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