Compare the2024 Ford Ranger RaptorVS 2023 Toyota Tacoma

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Ranger Raptor have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota Tacoma doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Ranger Raptor has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Ranger Raptor has a standard Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Tacoma doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To allow off-road and deep snow capability, Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ranger Raptor. But it costs extra on the Tacoma.

The Ranger Raptor has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Tacoma’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Ranger Raptor has standard Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Toyota charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the Tacoma and its not available on the SR/SR5 Access Cab.

Both the Ranger Raptor and the Tacoma have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Ford Ranger Raptor weighs 775 to 1410 pounds more than the Toyota Tacoma. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Ford dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ranger Raptor’s warranty.

Reliability

The Ford Ranger Raptor’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Tacoma’s 3.5 DOHC V6 engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Ranger Raptor has a standard 800-amp battery. The Tacoma’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Ranger Raptor’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 246 more horsepower (405 vs. 159) and 250 lbs.-ft. more torque (430 vs. 180) than the Tacoma’s standard 2.7 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Ranger Raptor’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 127 more horsepower (405 vs. 278) and 165 lbs.-ft. more torque (430 vs. 265) than the Tacoma’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Ranger Raptor’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Ranger Raptor has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Ranger Raptor, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Tacoma.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Ranger Raptor’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Tacoma:

	Ranger Raptor	Tacoma
Front Rotors	12.2 inches	10.75 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	10” drums

The Ford Ranger Raptor has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Tacoma. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ranger Raptor has larger tires than the Tacoma (285/70R17 vs. 245/75R16). The Ranger Raptor’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Tacoma (285/70R17 vs. 265/65R17).

The Ranger Raptor’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 70 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tacoma’s standard 75 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ranger Raptor has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Tacoma.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the Ranger Raptor uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Tacoma, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ranger Raptor’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab (128.7 inches vs. 127.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Ranger Raptor is 4 inches wider in the front and 3.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tacoma.

For greater off-road capability the Ranger Raptor has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tacoma (10.7 vs. 9.4 inches), allowing the Ranger Raptor to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Cargo Capacity

The Ranger Raptor has a much larger cargo box than the Tacoma Double Cab shortbed (43.5 vs. 34.8 cubic feet). The Ranger Raptor has a much larger cargo box than the Tacoma Double Cab longbed (43.5 vs. 42.6 cubic feet).

The Ranger Raptor’s cargo box is larger than the Tacoma’s in almost every dimension:

	Ranger Raptor	Tacoma Access Cab	Tacoma Double Cab
Length (short/long)	59.6”	73.7”	60.5”/73.7”
Max Width	62.4”	56.7”	56.7”
Min Width	48.2”	41.5”	41.5”
Height	20.9”	19.1”	19.1”

The Ford Ranger Raptor has a standard Integrated Box Side Step, which allows for much easier access to the cargo area. The Toyota Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear cargo step.

Payload and Towing

The Ranger Raptor’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tacoma’s (5510 vs. 3500 pounds).

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on all models of the Ranger Raptor, using the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. Only the Tacoma V6 offers a trailer sway program.

The Ranger Raptor has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab 4x4 (1411 vs. 1135 lbs.).

The Ranger Raptor has a much higher optional payload capacity than the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab 4x4 (1411 vs. 1155 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Ranger Raptor has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When three different drivers share the Ranger Raptor, the memory seats make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Tacoma doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Ranger Raptor’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Ranger Raptor’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Tacoma does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Ranger Raptor’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Tacoma has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Ranger Raptor’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Tacoma’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

If the windows are left open on the Ranger Raptor the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Tacoma can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ranger Raptor’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Ranger Raptor’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Tacoma’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Ranger Raptor’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Tacoma’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Ranger Raptor has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Tacoma only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

On extremely cold winter days, the Ranger Raptor’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Ranger Raptor has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Ranger Raptor has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Tacoma.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Ranger Raptor has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Tacoma TRD/Limited offers wireless charging.

The Ranger Raptor’s Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an automated parking system.