Is the Ford Ranger More Reliable Than the Toyota Tacoma?
We have a classic battle today featuring the Ford Ranger vs. Toyota Tacoma. Both of these midsize trucks are strong contenders, but only one is better than the other. We might have an upset with the Toyota Tacoma because the Ford Ranger might be more reliable.
Is the Ford Ranger more reliable than the Toyota Tacoma?
A few outlets, like Consumer Reports, rank the Toyota Tacoma ahead of the Ford Ranger regarding reliability. But Consumer Reports is paywalled, so we decided to look at other sources.
According to J.D.Power, the 2023 Ford Ranger has a reliability score of 86 out of 100. The 2023 Toyota Tacoma earned an 83 out of 100. That’s only five points behind the Ranger, and it puts both trucks in the same class.
Scores between 91 to 100 are considered to be the best, while scores between 81 to 90 are good. These rankings are above average. The scores are based on reports from real vehicle owners and cover everything from the engine to the infotainment system.
Will a Ranger last longer than a Tacoma?
You can expect the average Ford Ranger to reach 200,000 – 250,000 miles. With the proper care and maintenance, the Ranger can make it past 300,000 miles.
If a person drives about 14,000 miles annually, then the Ranger could provide nearly 21 years of service on the road.
The Toyota Tacoma has a slightly longer lifespan. The average model can easily make it between 250,000 to 300,000 miles. But with the proper care and regular maintenance, it’s not uncommon for a Tacoma to make it between 300,000 to 400,000 miles.
The Tacoma can also last about 20 years on the road if you drive between 13,000 to 15,000 miles per year. It costs about $615 to maintain the Ranger annually, and the Tacoma comes in at about $478. These prices are lower than the average maintenance cost of about $650 for new vehicle models.
While the Tacoma may have more server issues than average, problems occur at a lower frequency. The severity of Ranger problems is average, and the frequency is low. Major repairs are uncommon.
But pickup truck use also comes into play. The Tacoma is known for being a durable off-roader and could be subject to rougher conditions. The Ranger has off-roading capabilities but isn’t on the TRD Pro’s level.
Does the Ranger or Tacoma have a better resale value?
Both the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Tacoma have good resale values. But the Tacoma has a slight edge. The Tacoma is expected to retain 60.6% of its value after five years, while the Ranger is projected to maintain 56.7% of its original MSRP.
Toyota vehicles are designed with fewer moving parts, meaning they could require less maintenance over time. This could make the Tacoma more affordable to take care of. The Tacoma and Ranger are about to receive total redesigns, so the rankings are subject to change.
The Ranger and Tacoma don’t stack up apples to apples. Both trucks can last over 300,000 miles, but the Ranger has higher reliability rankings, while the Tacoma has lower maintenance costs.
If drivers used the Tacoma and Ranger for the same purposes, then the Tacoma might be the winner. The upcoming Ford Ranger Raptor will be a true Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro competitor, though. But the Ranger and Tacoma have both been redesigned for 2024!
This means that the reliability rankings will change. Stay tuned to see if the new Tacoma beats the new Ranger. Which tuck do you think will be better?
