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Identifying the First-Gen Ford MustangBudget Buy Under $20,000: Ford Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma
With a budget of $20,000, we look at which truck is the best value in the comparison of a used Ford Ranger vs. Toyota Tacoma.
Old School Pickups with Lots of History
The Ford Ranger vs. Toyota Tacoma debate has been underway for decades. Ford’s Ranger goes back to 1983, a history you can read up on here, and the Tacoma dates to 1995, a nearly 30-year run. Over time, both pickups transitioned from the compact to the mid-size segment and have each proven themselves to be long-lasting capable trucks.
For today’s matchup, we’ll be looking for which truck is the best bet when your budget tops out at $20,000. To stay within that figure, we’ll be focused on the third-gen Ranger that was built from 1998 to 2012, and the second-gen Tacoma, which Toyota produced between 2005 and 2015.
This price range reveals plenty of listings to choose from, with fewer than 80,000 miles, on Carsforsale.com. Keep in mind, these older models are a far cry from the current luxurious tech-laden trucks on sale today. For the most part, they are back-to-basics utilitarian pickups, which is part of the appeal.
Ford Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma Specs
Upon arrival in 1998, the second-gen Ford Ranger came standard with a 2.5L inline-4 rated for 119 horsepower. By 2001, it had been replaced with a 2.3L unit that added a second overhead camshaft to generate 135 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque. Optional upgrades included a 3.0L V6 rated for 150 hp and 190 torques along with a 4.0L model putting out 200 horses and 238 lb-ft of torque by 2001. Across the board, a Mazda-sourced 5-speed manual was standard though a 4- and 5-speed automatic could be optioned.
Like the Tacoma, the Ranger is a RWD pickup with the option for dual-range 4WD that featured electronic shift-on-the-fly activation as of the 2000 model year. Unlike Toyota’s mid-size Tacoma, the third-gen Ranger was still a compact truck. As such, it’s quite a bit smaller than the Tacoma.
The longest Ranger measures 203 inches compared to 221 for a double-cab Tacoma. The width of the Ranger also comes in between two and five inches narrower than the Toyota. This helps the Ford achieve better 4-cylinder fuel economy at 21/27 mpg in city/highway driving to the 18/25 mpg rating for a Tacoma – when comparably equipped with a four-cylinder motor, manual transmission, and 2WD. However, it also means a smaller cabin as we’ll discuss below.
Toyota fitted their second-gen Tacoma with a 2.7L four-cylinder motor making 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of twist as standard equipment. The optional 4.0L V6 was rated for 236 hp and 266 torques. Transmission options included 5- and 6-speed manuals along with 4- and 5-speed automatics. More powerful than Ford’s big six, it was also thirstier with a fuel economy rating of 14 mpg in city driving and 19 on the highway to 16 and 21 mpg, respectively for the Ford. For more power, Toyota also offered a factory TRD supercharger that added 60 hp and 52 lb-ft of torque to the V6.
Driving and Performance
Make no mistake, both trucks in this comparison are going to ride and handle like the old-school pickups they are. However, when the third-gen Ranger debuted in 1998, it did away with the twin I-beam front suspension in favor of a short-long-arm setup for much-improved road manners. Toyota’s second-gen Tacoma employs a similar front suspension configuration and both trucks ride on rear leaf springs.
Off-road packages that tacked on tuned dampers, about nine inches of ground clearance, and all-terrain rubber for increased trail competency were offered on the Ranger and Tacoma. However, these pale in comparison to modern setups like the modern 2023 Tacoma TRD Pro.
The Tacoma’s more potent V6 enables stronger hauling capability including a 6,500-pound tow rating versus the 5,800 pounds that the Ranger can handle. But, the Ranger’s 1,660-lb payload rating bests the Tacoma by 100 pounds.
One notable difference between the Ford and Toyota in this area is the Tacoma X-Runner. This street-focused special came with the V6 and 6-speed manual, was lowered two inches over 18-inch alloys, sported ground effects, and was fitted with an exclusive set of underbody bracing. There was even a slotted big-brake option from StopTech. When equipped with the available supercharger, these were sweet little sport trucks.
Comfort and Interior
As noted above, the third-gen Ranger has a smaller footprint than the second-gen Tacoma. On top of that, the Ford was only sold in regular or extended cab configurations (a crew cab option wouldn’t arrive until the fourth-gen Ranger, which we review here). The regular cab is the classic 2-door pickup with no back seat, while the extended cab adds a pair of half-sized rear doors. Open them up and you’ll find a pair of inward-facing rear jump seats.
The Tacoma offers a regular cab, an extended cab as well as a crew cab. That crew cab – or double cab in Tacoma-speak – means four full-size doors and a usable back seat with three positions. So, if you plan to have more than one passenger on a regular basis, the Tacoma is clearly the better option.
Both trucks came with basic cloth upholstery and manual-crank windows on their base models. But as the respective generations wore on, the Tacoma would move past the Ford in the creature comforts department by offering amenities like heated front seats, built-in navigation, and a 6-inch infotainment touchscreen – none of which you’ll find in a third-gen Ranger.
The cargo space winner comes down to individual requirements. A crew cab Tacoma includes storage compartments behind the rear seats, which don’t exist on the Ranger. However, the Ranger offered a 7-foot bed, while the Toyota topped out with a 6-foot box.
Trims and Features
A third-gen Ford Ranger is offered in XL, XLT, or Sport trim. XL models were aimed at fleet service with 15-inch steelies, vinyl floor covering, and no air-conditioning early on. Initially, the XLT brought alloy wheels, a CD player, and carpeted floors though later models also featured keyless entry and Sirius satellite radio. The Ford Ranger Sport package features a monochromatic exterior and decals but it would eventually become a standalone model with front bucket seating and a center console.
Those looking for more off-road capability should find themselves a Ranger FX4. These models added Bilstein dampers, 31-inch all-terrain tires, multiple skid plates, and a Torsen limited-slip differential. Be aware that by 2004, this package was renamed the FX4 Level II and a lower-cost FX4 Off-Road package arrived with less capability.
There was also a Ford Ranger Tremor model that showed up in 2002, but unlike the modern Ford Tremor sub-brand, this was largely an appearance kit with a slightly more powerful stereo.
Toyota segmented their second-gen Tacoma by cab and powertrain setup versus specific trim nameplates. The most basic regular cab Tacoma came with cloth seats, a 4-speaker stereo, a 12-volt powerpoint, and a tilt/telescoping wheel. Higher-spec crew cab models were fitted with air conditioning, power accessories, and additional cupholders. Optional Tacoma packages include the SR5 with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and sliding rear window and TRD Off-Road, which brought cruise control, fog lamps, sport seats, and an overhead console.
Ford Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma: Verdict
So, which truck to buy when shopping a used Ford Ranger vs. Toyota Tacoma with a budget of $20,000? Well, if cost is your most important priority, it’s the Ranger all day. Tacomas carry a premium price tag, even in the used market, due to their well-earned reputation for longevity. That’s not to say the Ranger won’t hold up, but the Toyota has a cult-like following that adds cost to the bottom line.
That being said, unless you are in the market for a very simple work truck, the Tacoma is an all-around better option. While bigger trucks are not always better as we note in this truck mythbusting article, the Tacoma’s available four doors and larger size means it can be had with a true back seat.
The Tacoma also offers better towing and more amenities. When you factor in neat differentiators like the X-Runner package and TRD supercharger, the Tacoma ends up the winner here.
