When it comes to the small pickup truck market, two names dominate the conversation: the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger. At Mark Martin Motors, we see it every day—customers usually fall into one of two camps. They either want the legendary reliability of the Tacoma, or they want the modern performance of the Ranger. Rarely do they consider anything else.
But which one is actually the better deal on the used market?
We compared a 2017 Toyota Tacoma SR5 against a 2020 Ford Ranger XLT to see how they stack up in terms of value, comfort, and performance. The results might surprise you.
The Contenders
To make this a fair fight, we looked at two trucks currently available on the lot:
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The Legend: A 2017 Toyota Tacoma SR5 (V6) with 94,000 miles, listed for roughly $28,000.
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The Challenger: A 2020 Ford Ranger XLT (EcoBoost) with only 24,000 miles, listed for roughly $30,000.
Right off the bat, the value proposition is striking. For about $2,000 more, the Ford Ranger offers a vehicle that is three years newer with 70,000 fewer miles.
1. Engine & Fuel Economy
Toyota Tacoma (3.5L V6)
The Tacoma is powered by Toyota’s tried-and-true V6 engine, pushing out about 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque.
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The Good: It’s bulletproof. These engines are known to run forever, which is why the resale value is so insanely high.
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The Bad: Fuel efficiency is not a strong suit. You can expect an estimated 17–20 MPG.
Ford Ranger (2.3L EcoBoost)
The Ranger uses a 2.3L Twin-Turbo 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine. Don't let the cylinder count fool you; it offers ~270 horsepower and a whopping 305-310 lb-ft of torque.
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The Good: It is significantly torquier than the Tacoma, making it feel punchier. Plus, it gets much better fuel economy at an estimated 20–26 MPG.
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The Bad: It includes the auto start-stop feature, which some drivers find annoying (though it saves gas).
Winner: Ford Ranger for torque and fuel efficiency.
2. Interior Comfort & Seating Position
This is perhaps the most controversial difference between the two trucks.
The Toyota Tacoma is notorious for its seating position. The floor is high relative to the seat, meaning your legs are pushed out in front of you. If you are 6-foot or taller, your knees might feel like they are halfway up the steering wheel. The rear seats in the double cab are also very tight; fitting an adult or a car seat in the back is a struggle.
The Ford Ranger offers a much more traditional, comfortable truck seating position. You sit higher up, with better legroom and headroom. Even in the back seat, the Ranger has a recessed seat design that allows a full-grown adult to sit relatively comfortably.
Winner: Ford Ranger by a landslide.
3. Features and Tech
Because we are comparing a 2017 model against a 2020 model, the tech gap is noticeable.
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Toyota Tacoma (2017): This model year did not come with Apple CarPlay (that was added in 2020). It has a standard reliable interior, but it feels dated.
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Ford Ranger (2020): Comes equipped with a touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Dual-Zone Climate Control, and remote start built right into the key fob.
The Verdict: Reliability vs. Value
The Toyota Tacoma is the best-selling small truck for a reason: Reputation. It holds its value better than almost any vehicle on the road. The fact that a 2017 truck with almost 100k miles is still selling for $28k proves that.
However, when you look at the math, the Ford Ranger is the smarter buy for your wallet.
For just $2,000 more than the high-mileage Tacoma, you get:
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A truck that is 3 years newer.
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70,000 fewer miles on the odometer.
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Better gas mileage.
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A more comfortable daily driving experience.
Unless you are a die-hard Toyota fan who loves the specific feel of the Tacoma, the Ranger offers significantly more truck for the money. Get a good extended warranty on the Ranger, and you have a modern, low-mileage truck that fits the whole family comfortably.
What do you think? Would you pay the "Toyota Tax" for reliability, or take the value deal with the Ranger? Let us know in the comments!
Watch the Full Comparison Video
Want to see the legroom test and the interior features for yourself? Watch the full walk-around and review below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glGVvAFVmMc