The Chevrolet Colorado vs Ford Ranger

"Back in my day, I was number one". Sure, gramps, but back in your day dial-up internet was a luxury. We've pitted the champion of old with one of the best contenders for the title of "Champion of new", the Chevrolet Colorado. Almost everywhere you look, the old-school Vs. modern-looks dichotomy stands out.

Older gentlemen in brand new clothes can look dashing, but older gentlemen in old clothes that have had some new material attached here it’s just sad. That seems to be the look Ford went for, the dusty old model who felt it was too cool for new clothes. It might have worked for Rasputin, but it’s not a winner for the Ranger I’m afraid.

On the other hand, the Colorado is one of the most beautiful trucks out there. You get the big grille and the wide headlights, sure, but they seem to be subdued by the round lines, which makes the Colorado incredibly versatile. You’ll impress the fellows with its commanding presence, but you won’t make the soccer moms cry in horror when you pull out to pick up your son. Looks awesome in the middle of the urban jungle, as well as hauling timber off-road.

The same versatility can be found when it comes to available powertrains as well. No fewer than three different options are available for the Colorado. The base model comes equipped with a 2.5-liter inline-4 capable of producing 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. From there you can opt for either the mighty V-6 that will get you 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, or the turbodiesel, a 2.8-liter inline-4 that's light on horsepower, with only 181 available, but excessive on torque with a whopping 369 pound-feet.

The Ranger is constant as well. When it comes to engine options, it keeps the same "I just don't care enough to try" attitude it shows on the outside. There's only one engine available, which if you're a raving optimist you can see as a bonus: it makes shopping easier, no options, no headaches. Might be a great proposal for the communist party, where a single model of shoes is the best model of shoes, on account it is the only one available on the market, but for us here in the USA, not having options is a major no-no. The engine isn't bad though, a 2.3-liter turbo four that can put out 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The problem is that it's not great either. Too small to make the truck a power-beast, and too big to make it a choice for the conscious, "I want a lot of miles per gallon" prospective buyers, the 2.3-liter doesn't make anyone's day.

Another huge difference between the two cars is their interiors. If the Colorado blossoms as trim levels go up, the Ranger just seems to become duller and duller. Pay more for less sex-appeal, again, a strategy better suited for a khaki Siberia than the US. Not to mention that decent options like USB ports or an 8.0-inch touchscreen come with significant additional expense on the Ford.

All in all, a fight between a young talent breaming with potential and a complete has-been. If things keep up the way they are today, we'll see the Ranger ride into the sunset and off the market completely in just a few years.