2021 Ford Ranger vs 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty had an updated styling with a more detailed grille and headlights, moving away from the gaudy chrome-clad bars of the 2019 model. The massive headlights, with additional detail and contouring, contributed to a more mature look. However, the design was still a modest evolution of the 2017 model, and the cabin remained unchanged with blocky styling, making it less inviting compared to rivals like Ram. The interior was ideally suited for work use, featuring plenty of usable space.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Ranger, particularly in the SuperCrew Lariat configuration with the Tremor Off-Road Package, had a purposeful look with unique 17-inch dark gray wheels, 32-inch all-terrain tires, and red grille accents. Inside, the combination of Lariat trim and Tremor’s simulated suede seat inserts, all-weather floor mats, and six upfitter switches made it the best-equipped Ranger. The cabin had a clean and contemporary design with simple controls and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, though hard plastic was prevalent.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty offered three powerful engine options: a 6.2-liter gas V8 with 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, a 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8 with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, and a new 7.3-liter gas V8 with 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 came with either a six-speed or a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the other engines had the 10-speed automatic as standard. The F-350 had impressive towing capacities, with a conventional towing capacity of 24,200 pounds, a fifth-wheel towing capacity of 32,500 pounds, and a gooseneck trailer capacity of 37,000 pounds. The Tremor off-road package added 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and Trail Control, providing 10.8 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Ford Ranger featured a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Ranger Tremor included a Terrain Management System with various settings, an electronic locking rear differential, and Trail Control. The off-road suspension with revised springs and Fox shocks provided 9.7 inches of ground clearance. The Ranger could tow up to 7,500 pounds and haul up to 1,860 pounds of payload, though the Tremor’s payload capacity decreased to 1,430 pounds. The EPA fuel economy rating was 19 mpg in combined driving, and the turbocharged engine supplied swift acceleration and a refined driving experience.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew configurations. The Super Cab had rear-hinged half-doors, providing decent space for rear-seat passengers but requiring the front door to be opened first. The Super Crew had a massive cab with ample headroom and legroom, and the rear seats folded up to create a large load floor. The F-350 offered a 6-foot-9-inch bed or an 8-foot bed, with the latter available in a dual-rear-wheel configuration. The bed featured a step that extended from the tailgate for easier loading.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor had sturdy individual hoop-style step bars, though their high mounting limited their usefulness. The SecuriCode keyless entry pad allowed for locking and unlocking the doors using a passcode. The Ranger’s eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and six-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat were comfortable but needed more seat track travel for taller drivers. Rear-seat space was more accommodating than most midsize trucks, though it lacked rear air conditioning vents and a power-operated sliding rear window. The tailgate was undampened but lightweight, and the cargo bed offered 43.3 cubic feet of space (51.8 cubic feet for SuperCabs) with four tie-down hooks.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system had an intuitive menu layout with large icons and a Home icon for easy navigation. However, SYNC 3 occasionally experienced buggy hiccups, especially when switching between SYNC 3 and Apple CarPlay. The F-350 also had impressive towing features like Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which made backing up a trailer easier by taking over the steering inputs.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor came with the Sync 3 infotainment system, including an 8-inch touchscreen display, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, AppLink with Waze and Ford + Alexa, and FordPass Connect with a 4G WiFi hotspot. The system also included navigation and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. However, the voice recognition technology was hit-or-miss, sometimes providing incorrect responses to commands. The climate system was integrated into Sync 3, allowing for voice-activated temperature adjustments.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came standard with a full array of airbags, automatic high beams, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The XLT trim added automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage. The Lariat added a reverse-sensing system, while the King Ranch included Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The Platinum trim added adaptive cruise control and adaptive steering, along with upgraded quad-beam LED headlights. The Limited trim included all these features as standard.

The 2021 Ford Ranger offered the Co-Pilot360 collection of driver-assist features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning included trailer coverage. Adaptive cruise control was standard with Lariat trim but lacked full-stop capability. The Ranger also offered rain-sensing wipers, wiper-activated headlights, and a wiper de-icer system. The NHTSA gave the Ranger an overall rating of four stars, while the IIHS gave it top scores except for an "Acceptable" rating for front-passenger protection and a "Marginal" rating for its headlights.