2020 RAM 1500 vs 2021 Ford Ranger

2020 RAM 1500
2020 RAM 1500
$28,200MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Ford Ranger
2021 Ford Ranger
$25,070MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 RAM 1500
$28,200MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Ford Ranger
$25,070MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$28,200

MSRP

$25,070

Listings

4189

Listings

1249

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.7 out of 10

Expert reviews

7.0 out of 10

Pros

  • Stylish design

  • Great safety ratings

Cons

  • Advanced safety features are not standard

Pros

  • Spacious

  • Easy-to-use technology

  • Multiple body styles

Cons

  • Uninspired styling

  • Interior materials feel cheap

  • Outdated technology

2020 RAM 1500 Reviews Summary

A full redesign in 2019 left a significant bit of tech on the table for the increasingly popular Ram 1500: the EcoDiesel 3.0-liter engine. Ram was once the only option for a half-ton diesel pickup, but emissions certification problems resulted in Ram pulling the diesel engine a few years ago. The engineers at Ram have been hard at work updating it ever since. Although the EcoDiesel wasn’t ready for 2019, it’s now available to any 2020 Ram 1500 trim, so it seems it was well worth the wait. With 80% new parts, the EcoDiesel's improvements to power, efficiency, and delivery all mean that Ram is fighting hard to change minds about America’s least-loved engine type.

2021 Ford Ranger Reviews Summary

Ford is no stranger to off-roading and has offered FX4 option packages for its pickup trucks for years. The Tremor, however, is relatively new.

Briefly used on a sport-truck version of the 2014 F-150, where the name signaled a regular cab model fortified with Ford’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, the Tremor name reappeared on the updated 2020 F-Series Super Duty. Since then, Ford has expanded it to both the 2021 F-150 and 2021 Ranger lineups.

Tremor now signifies a Ford truck with the credentials to tackle difficult terrain. We’re not talking the high-speed, Baja-blasting type of driving for which the F-150 Raptor is purpose-built. We’re talking about low-speed rock crawling.

For the 2021 Ford Ranger, Tremor equipment is one of a handful of changes to the midsize pickup for the model year. Other news includes a new STX Special Edition Package, a Black Package, and minor equipment changes.

No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

3.6L 305 hp V6

Engine

2.3L 270 hp I4

Drive Train

4X2

Drive Train

4X2

Seating Capacity

3

Seating Capacity

4

Horsepower

305 hp @ 6400 rpm

Horsepower

MPG City

17

MPG City

21

MPG Highway

25

MPG Highway

26
2020 RAM 1500
2020 RAM 1500
$28,200MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Ford Ranger
2021 Ford Ranger
$25,070MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 RAM 1500
$28,200MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Ford Ranger
$25,070MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$28,200
$25,070
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews

4.7

4.8

Expert reviews

7.7 out of 10

Read full review

7.0 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons

Pros

  • Stylish design

  • Great safety ratings

Cons

  • Advanced safety features are not standard

Pros

  • Spacious

  • Easy-to-use technology

  • Multiple body styles

Cons

  • Uninspired styling

  • Interior materials feel cheap

  • Outdated technology

Summary
A full redesign in 2019 left a significant bit of tech on the table for the increasingly popular Ram 1500: the EcoDiesel 3.0-liter engine. Ram was once the only option for a half-ton diesel pickup, but emissions certification problems resulted in Ram pulling the diesel engine a few years ago. The engineers at Ram have been hard at work updating it ever since. Although the EcoDiesel wasn’t ready for 2019, it’s now available to any 2020 Ram 1500 trim, so it seems it was well worth the wait. With 80% new parts, the EcoDiesel's improvements to power, efficiency, and delivery all mean that Ram is fighting hard to change minds about America’s least-loved engine type.

Ford is no stranger to off-roading and has offered FX4 option packages for its pickup trucks for years. The Tremor, however, is relatively new.

Briefly used on a sport-truck version of the 2014 F-150, where the name signaled a regular cab model fortified with Ford’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, the Tremor name reappeared on the updated 2020 F-Series Super Duty. Since then, Ford has expanded it to both the 2021 F-150 and 2021 Ranger lineups.

Tremor now signifies a Ford truck with the credentials to tackle difficult terrain. We’re not talking the high-speed, Baja-blasting type of driving for which the F-150 Raptor is purpose-built. We’re talking about low-speed rock crawling.

For the 2021 Ford Ranger, Tremor equipment is one of a handful of changes to the midsize pickup for the model year. Other news includes a new STX Special Edition Package, a Black Package, and minor equipment changes.

Video
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
3.6L 305 hp V6
2.3L 270 hp I4
Drive Train
4X2
4X2
Seating Capacity
3
4
Horsepower
305 hp @ 6400 rpm
MPG City
17
21
MPG Highway
25
26
Look and feel

2020 RAM 1500

8/10

2021 Ford Ranger

8/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2020 Ram 1500 as 8 out of 10 and the 2021 Ford Ranger as 8 out of 10 for look and feel. The Ram 1500 boasts a classic truck design with a quarter-century of large-grille tradition, while the Ford Ranger offers a more modern and refined appearance. The Ram 1500 offers a wide range of trims and options, from the tough Tradesman to the luxurious Limited, catering to various tastes and needs. On the other hand, the Ford Ranger is available in SuperCab and SuperCrew styles, with a focus on off-road capabilities with the Tremor Off-Road Package.
Picture of 2020 RAM 1500
Picture of 2020 RAM 1500
Performance

2020 RAM 1500

7/10

2021 Ford Ranger

7/10
CarGurus experts rate both the 2020 Ram 1500 and the 2021 Ford Ranger 7 out of 10 for performance. The Ram 1500 offers a range of engine options, including a powerful V8 and an efficient EcoDiesel V6, with high towing capacity options. On the other hand, the Ford Ranger comes equipped with a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine, offering swift acceleration and off-road capabilities with the Tremor Off-Road Package.
Form and function

2020 RAM 1500

8/10

2021 Ford Ranger

5/10

The 2020 Ram 1500 offers class-leading torque, comfortable interiors, and innovative storage solutions with over 151 liters of interior storage. However, achieving maximum towing capacity requires specific configurations. It offers impressive interior storage and a spacious cabin.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor offers robust off-road features but some limitations in terms of step bars and rear-seat comfort. It provides a roomy cargo bed, with 43.3 cubic feet of space (51.8 cubic feet for SuperCabs).

Technology

2020 RAM 1500

7/10

2021 Ford Ranger

8/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2020 Ram 1500 7 out of 10 and the 2021 Ford Ranger 8 out of 10 for technology. The Ram 1500 shines with its 12-inch touchscreen and innovative engine technology, while the Ford Ranger features the Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen and Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Safety

2020 RAM 1500

9/10

2021 Ford Ranger

7/10
The 2020 Ram 1500 receives a 9 out of 10 rating for safety, being named a Top Safety Pick Plus by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It offers a range of active safety features but requires specific configurations for top ratings. The 2021 Ford Ranger includes Ford's Co-Pilot360 driver-assist features as standard or optional, and it earns good crashworthiness ratings but with some limitations.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

CarGurus experts evaluated the two vehicles in the contexts of their own classes. The overall rating for the 2020 Ram 1500 is 7.7 out of 10, while the 2021 Ford Ranger scores 7 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2020 Ram 1500 is the recommended choice for consumers seeking a versatile and capable truck.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

CarGurus experts evaluated the two vehicles in the contexts of their own classes. The overall rating for the 2020 Ram 1500 is 7.7 out of 10, while the 2021 Ford Ranger scores 7 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2020 Ram 1500 is the recommended choice for consumers seeking a versatile and capable truck.

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By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

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