The midsize truck market often represents some of the best value points for trucks you can find on the road these days. These practical pickups provide the best all around mix of power, practicality, affordability and efficiency to ensure you’re always getting a solid deal when you drive off the lot.
Two of the best options in that class come from names that many are sure to recognize, in the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. In today’s 2025 midsize truck comparison: Ford Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma - pricing, features and practicality are compared.
Key Takeaways:
- The Ford Ranger has some slight tweaks, primarily on the exterior front, for this year.
- The Tacoma has a much revised interior, fixing many problems Motortrend had with the pickup last year.
- Both trucks have new looks to bring into the new year, but which pickup does it better?
What are the trim levels for the 2025 Ford Ranger?
For 2025, Car and Driver reports that the Ford Ranger sees minor changes this year. The paint trims are shuffled around, with Ruby Red Metallic, Desert Sand, and March Gray replacing the outgoing Cactus Gray, Iconic Silver, and Hot Pepper Red paint colors. A black appearance package is added on, giving the Ranger an attractive “blackout” appearance. The current starting price for a Ford Ranger is $34,675 for the XL trim, with the Lariat topping the price range at $45,475. The full list of available trims reads as:
- XL - $34,675
- XLT - $37,205
- Lariat - $45,475
The Lariat trim brings a wide array of upscale features to the table. Although pricey, Car and Driver acknowledges it’s abundance of features. However, the mid-range XLT is a worthy middle-of-the-road choice.
The XLT, which offers practical equipment as standard including LED exterior lighting, 17-inch aluminum wheels, power-folding side mirrors, which are complemented by luxury items like built-in navigation, a wireless charging pad, and a bed-mounted power outlet. Extra convenience is available with the optional Technology package, which adds adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, and front parking sensors.
What is the difference between 2025 and 2024 Tacoma?
For 2025, Motortrend got the chance to get up close and personal with the new Tacoma. They found that, when compared to the 2024 model, Toyota fixed the awkward seating position of the last-gen truck and made the rear seats much more comfortable in the process.
Having a seat in the interior, they felt it was roomier than that of the previous Tacoma, with a good chunk of the space used to house the wide center console. For those not looking for a rear row of seats, Toyota still offers an extended cab in the midsize segment.
They also found that the new engine was an improvement over last year’s Tacoma. The engine, a newly upgraded Turbo four, adds on plenty of low end torque that was lacking in the previous Tacoma. While these upgrades are great, it still falls behind the Ranger with modern tech and comforts that a Ford truck offers.
Summary
Comparing the two midisze trucks head on, we have to give the nod to the Ranger in this comparison. It’s a bit pricier than the Tacoma to start, but it offers strong performance and towing figures that we think justify the asking price when compared to the Tacoma. The XLT trim is the real difference maker here, as we like the sheer value it provides, giving buyers with a car that not only has a serious kick, but also compliments that with all encompassing luxury.