2021 Ford Ranger vs 2020 Toyota Tundra

The 2020 Toyota Tundra was available in multiple trims, including SR, SR5, Limited, TRD Pro, Platinum, and 1794 Edition. As you moved up the trim levels, the Tundra became more luxurious. It offered Double Cab and CrewMax styles with three different bed lengths, depending on the configuration. Prices ranged from $33,425 to $52,930 before additional charges. The TRD Pro CrewMax, the most expensive version, featured a unique Army Green color, black 18-inch forged aluminum wheels, and a rugged, military-grade appearance. Inside, it had black leather with red stitching and "TRD Pro" embroidery, but the interior was criticized for its industrial-grade plastic, which felt out of place at higher price points.

The 2021 Ford Ranger was sold in SuperCab and SuperCrew styles, with the former having a six-foot bed and the latter a five-foot bed. Trim levels included XL, XLT, and Lariat, all powered by a turbo four-cylinder engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for RWD or 4WD. The SuperCrew Lariat with the Tremor Off-Road Package, priced at $46,865, featured unique 17-inch dark gray wheels, 32-inch all-terrain tires, red grille accents, and off-road enhancements. Inside, the Lariat trim combined with Tremor’s simulated suede seat inserts, all-weather floor mats, and six upfitter switches, making it the best-equipped Ranger. The cabin had a clean, contemporary design with simple controls, an 8-inch touchscreen, and partial digital instrumentation.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra was equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission, producing 381 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 401 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. It had a maximum towing capacity of 10,200 pounds and could carry up to 1,730 pounds of payload in the SR Double Cab with RWD. The TRD Pro model came standard with a 4WD system, BBS forged aluminum wheels, heavy-duty Fox off-road shocks, a TRD-tuned dual exhaust system, and an aluminum skid plate. The V8 engine provided robust power and a sensational exhaust note, though it was loud. The Tundra had a tight turning radius and stable handling on straight roads, but wind noise was excessive at high speeds. Fuel economy was unimpressive, averaging 14.3 mpg with a 38-gallon fuel tank.

The 2021 Ford Ranger featured a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering 270 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 310 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. The Ranger Tremor included a Terrain Management System with various settings, an electronic locking rear differential, and Trail Control for off-road driving. The Tremor Off-Road Package added revised springs, Fox off-road shocks, and increased ground clearance to 9.7 inches. The Ranger could tow up to 7,500 pounds and haul up to 1,860 pounds of payload, though the Tremor’s payload was reduced to 1,430 pounds. Fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg in combined driving, with an average of 18.5 mpg during testing. The Ranger offered swift acceleration, refined handling, and a comfortable ride on paved roads, with impressive off-road capabilities.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra, built in Texas, had a spacious interior. The CrewMax’s rear seating area was particularly large, though the rear bench was low and flat. The front seats were huge, supportive, and comfortable for long drives. Storage was abundant, except for the small glove compartment and limited backseat storage. The rear seat cushions flipped up for extra floor space, but there wasn’t much storage underneath. The Tundra’s bed was basic, with a spray-in bedliner, tie-down hooks, and bed rails, but lacked advanced features like locking storage wells or multifunctional tailgates.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor had sturdy hoop-style step bars, though their high mounting limited usefulness for shorter people and posed a problem for taller individuals. The SecuriCode keyless entry pad allowed for keyless access, though it appeared glued onto the doors, which sounded tinny when closed. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and six-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat were comfortable and heated, but the driver’s seat needed more travel for taller drivers. Rear-seat space was accommodating, though it lacked rear air conditioning vents and a power-operated sliding rear window. Storage was decent, but the single-piece rear-seat cushion design was inconvenient. The tailgate was undampened but lightweight, and the cargo bed was roomy with four tie-down hooks, though it lacked additional cargo solutions.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra’s infotainment system, despite its dated appearance, was up-to-date with a 7-inch display in lower trims and an 8-inch screen in higher trims. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, USB ports, and connected services. The TRD Pro had dynamic navigation, voice recognition, point-of-interest search, and a 12-speaker JBL premium sound system. The system had stereo knobs and shortcut buttons, but the small touchscreen buttons were challenging to use in a truck. The Tundra lacked advanced towing technology, offering only a reversing camera.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor came with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM, AppLink with Waze and Ford + Alexa, and FordPass Connect with a 4G WiFi hotspot. It also included navigation and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. While Sync 3 was being phased out for Sync 4, it remained competitive. Voice recognition was hit-or-miss, sometimes providing incorrect responses. The climate system was integrated with Sync 3, allowing temperature adjustments via voice commands.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra came standard with Toyota Safety Sense and offered a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. It included a free year of Safety Connect services. However, its crash-test performance was lacking. The IIHS rated it poorly in small-overlap frontal-impact tests, with Marginal and Poor ratings for driver and front passenger protection, respectively. The headlights were rated Marginal. The NHTSA gave it more favorable ratings, with 5 stars for side-impact protection, 4 stars for frontal-impact protection, and 4 stars for rollover resistance with 4WD (3 stars with RWD).

The 2021 Ford Ranger offered the Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also had a blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage and adaptive cruise control. The Ranger provided maximum visibility with a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, wiper-activated headlights, and a wiper de-icer system. Crashworthiness was good but not great, with a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top scores from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" rating for front-passenger protection in the small-overlap frontal-impact test and a "Marginal" rating for its headlights.