Ford versus Chevy is a centuries-old friendly rivalry. Each company respects the other, but at the same time, they try to top each other year-in and year-out. So, at the end of each year, the number of units sold is tallied up for each model, and bragging begins by the victor. For 2020, the mid-size pickup truck wars continued. The Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado went neck and neck right through to the end of the calendar. But, it was the Ford Ranger that came out on top, albeit by very little.

Statistics for 2020

The 2020 year-end data was recently posted at Good Car Bad Car. The data shows the Ford Ranger sold 101,485 units, while the Chevrolet Colorado sold 96,236 units. Both mid-size pickup trucks fell way short of the segment leader, the Toyota Tacoma, which sold 238,805 units. 

The Ford Ranger and the Chevrolet Colorado reached a broad spectrum of buyers for 2020. Both started their base models in the low to mid $20,000 range for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. The Ranger came in at $24,410, while the Chevrolet Colorado edged its competitor out with a lower starting price point at $21,300. The low price point was definitely a draw to consumers looking for a pickup’s practicality but now wanting to pay full-size prices. However, both the Ranger and Colorado could easily be outfitted to price points approaching the $48,000 range.

The 2020 Ford Ranger pickup

The current design of the Ranger was introduced back in 2019. So, it was still a fresh design as it went into the 2020 model year. For 2020 the XL trim was the base model of the Ford Ranger pickup. As mentioned above, the entry price point was $24,410. The basest XL trim meant the truck came at a 4×2. It also meant the Ranger was a supercab configuration, as no regular cab model was offered to consumers. Motivation came via a 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine that managed 270 hp. That was mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The rest of the truck at this level came with cloth seats, 16-inch wheels, air conditioning, vinyl floor covering, and a Bluetooth-capable radio. 

The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado pickup

The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado is a model that has been on sale a little bit longer than the Ranger. The Colorado’s current generation began arriving at dealerships in 2014. So, the design is due for a refresh or total overhaul. Nevertheless, even with a dated design for 2020, the truck held up well in sales for 2020, narrowly losing out to the Ranger by only 5,000 units.

The base Chevrolet Colorado pickup was an extended cab, as no regular cab was available for 2020. The engine in the base model was a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder. The powerplant managed 200 hp and was mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Vinyl seating greeted the occupants of the truck, as did a Bluetooth compatible sound system. Outside, the Colorado came standard with 16-inch wheels. 

In a nutshell, the Ford Ranger for 2020 offered a fresher design and more horsepower in its basest trim. This may have been important to shoppers looking for an entry-level truck. However, the Chevrolet Colorado did not do too shabby in its own sales. Both trucks did better than their other mid-size competitors. The Jeep Gladiator moved 77,541 units in 2020, the Nissan Frontier moved 54,817 units, and the Honda Ridgeline moved 32,168 units.