When you step onto a truck lot, the choices can be overwhelming. Ford offers a massive lineup, but for most buyers, the decision comes down to size: Small, Medium, or Large.
At Mark Martin Motors, we recently lined up the "Three Bears" of the Ford family—the Ford Ranger, the F-150, and the F-250 Super Duty—to see which one offers the best value, practicality, and performance. We looked at three Lariat trim models to keep the comparison fair.
Here is a breakdown of who should buy which truck, realistic towing expectations, and what you can expect to pay per month.
The "Small" Option: Ford Ranger Lariat
The City-Friendly Daily Driver
We started with a 2021 Ford Ranger Lariat. This truck features a 4-cylinder turbo engine. While it is the smallest of the bunch, the Lariat Sport package gives it a sharp look with painted-to-match bumpers and wheel well moldings.
-
Best For: Commuting, city driving, and tight parking spots.
-
Interior: It features heated leather seats and a decent touchscreen, but the cabin is tight. If you are 6-foot tall, the front is comfortable, but the back seat is a squeeze. You can fit car seats, but don’t expect to store much else on the floor.
-
Towing Reality: While the sticker might say otherwise, realistically, you don’t want to tow more than 4,000 to 5,000 lbs with this truck. The braking and the small turbo engine just aren't designed for heavy hauling over long distances.
The "Medium" Option: Ford F-150 Lariat
The All-Rounder & Best Seller
Next up is the 2023 Ford F-150 Lariat with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. This is the "Medium" size, but in terms of utility, it is massive. This specific model included the FX4 off-road package and incredible interior amenities like heated and cooled seats and a flat work surface.
-
Best For: Families, road trips, and versatile work/play use.
-
Interior: The difference in space compared to the Ranger is night and day. The back seat is huge—you could practically sleep on the floor. It offers a flat load floor for storage, ample cup holders, and a power-sliding rear window.
-
Towing Reality: Ford rates these high (12,000+ lbs), but for safety and comfort, the sweet spot is 7,000 to 8,000 lbs. At that weight, the truck controls the load well without "floating" on the highway.
The "Large" Option: Ford F-250 Super Duty
The Heavy-Duty Workhorse
Finally, we looked at the 2023 F-250 Lariat with the legendary 6.7L Power Stroke Diesel. This is a big truck designed for one thing: work.
-
Best For: Heavy towing, pulling campers, and dedicated work sites.
-
Interior: It shares a similar cab size to the F-150 but adds "big truck" features like a panoramic sunroof, diesel exhaust brake, and larger storage compartments.
-
Towing Reality: This is the King. It will handle 15,000 to 16,000 lbs comfortably. However, if you aren't towing, the ride can be stiffer and rougher than the F-150.
The Financial Breakdown: Monthly Payments
Based on the specific used inventory mentioned in the video (Terms: 6-year loan, approx. 6.5% interest, no money down).
Note: Prices and interest rates are subject to change and depend on credit and availability.
The Verdict: Which Truck Wins?
After comparing all three, the Ford F-150 is the clear winner for 90% of buyers.
Here is why: For about $300-$400 more a month than a Ranger, you get a full-size vehicle that fits the whole family comfortably, gets comparable gas mileage to a mid-size SUV, and can tow almost anything the average homeowner owns.
The Ranger is great if you have a strict budget or parking constraints. The F-250 is an amazing machine, but unless you are towing heavy loads regularly, it is overkill and expensive to maintain.
The Bottom Line: The F-150 is the most practical vehicle on the road today. It drives like a luxury SUV but works like a truck.
Check out the full comparison and walk-around of these three trucks in the video below: