Compare the 2025 Toyota Tacoma to the 2025 Ford Ranger in Salem, OR
When it comes to midsize trucks, the 2025 Toyota Tacoma continues to set the benchmark. Fully redesigned for the new model year, the Tacoma blends rugged reliability with cutting-edge technology and bold new styling. Whether you're hauling gear into the Cascades or navigating tight urban streets around Salem, the Tacoma is built to handle it all—effortlessly and with purpose. The 2025 Ford Ranger, also refreshed for this model year, enters the market with bold ambitions. It offers updated styling, increased towing capacity, and several tech improvements. But when you dig deeper, it's clear that Toyota’s engineering edge, hybrid innovation, and legendary long-term value still give the Tacoma a decisive advantage. At Capitol Toyota, we know that our customers want more than specs—they want staying power, comfort, and a truck that can tackle real-world challenges with ease. The 2025 Tacoma does exactly that. It offers more versatility across its trims, a class-leading hybrid powertrain, and a track record of durability that the Ranger simply can't match. Below, we’ll break down how both trucks compare in the areas that matter most: design, comfort, performance, safety, and overall value.
2025 Toyota Tacoma vs 2025 Ford Ranger: Design & Exterior Features
The 2025 Toyota Tacoma boasts a striking, athletic redesign that balances utility with upscale touches. With its chiseled front fascia, bold grille options, and available LED lighting packages, the Tacoma looks at home on a mountain trail or parked in a downtown lot. Unique trims like the TRD Pro and Trailhunter showcase off-road-ready components like steel bumpers and all-terrain tires. While the 2025 Ford Ranger offers a sleek redesign as well, its styling leans more towards suburban refinement than rugged capability. The Tacoma's higher ground clearance and available six-foot bed option give it a leg up for outdoor adventures and utility tasks. Toyota’s attention to detail—like integrated bed storage and a power tailgate—adds function to form in a way the Ranger doesn’t quite replicate.
2025 Toyota Tacoma vs 2025 Ford Ranger: Comfort & Technology
Inside, the Tacoma delivers more than expected for a midsize truck. Top trims come with an intuitive 14-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and an available JBL® sound system with a portable speaker—perfect for outdoor getaways. Plus, Toyota’s IsoDynamic Performance Seats in the TRD Pro trim actively stabilize your posture on bumpy trails. The Ford Ranger offers decent tech with its SYNC 4 system and optional digital instrument cluster, but it can’t match the Tacoma’s breadth of premium features across more trim levels. Toyota’s cabin materials feel more upscale, and the available panoramic view monitor adds a helpful edge in both off-road and urban settings. Overall, Tacoma delivers a more refined, well-integrated tech experience.
2025 Toyota Tacoma vs 2025 Ford Ranger: Performance
Under the hood, the 2025 Tacoma gives buyers choices. The base turbocharged 2.4-liter engine offers up to 278 horsepower, while the available i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain leads the class with 326 horsepower and a massive 465 lb-ft of torque. Whether it’s towing, off-roading, or just daily commuting, the Tacoma offers unmatched versatility. The Ford Ranger counters with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine and an optional twin-turbo V6 in higher trims. While powerful on paper, these engines lack the refinement and fuel efficiency of Toyota’s hybrid system. And though the Ranger Raptor adds serious off-road punch, it comes with a higher price tag and lower fuel economy. Tacoma’s smoother ride, responsive handling, and optional manual transmission make it a better all-around performer in real-world driving.
2025 Toyota Tacoma vs 2025 Ford Ranger: Safety
Toyota takes safety seriously, and the 2025 Tacoma proves it. Standard Toyota Safety Sense™ 3.0 includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Tacoma also earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and received 5-star side crash ratings from the NHTSA. The 2025 Ford Ranger features similar safety tech, including automatic emergency braking and rear cross-traffic alert. However, at the time of writing, it lacks final IIHS ratings and has not achieved the same recognition for crash performance. If peace of mind is a priority, the Tacoma’s proven safety credentials and broader standard safety suite make it a more trustworthy option for drivers in and around Salem.
2025 Toyota Tacoma vs 2025 Ford Ranger: Overall Value
When weighing capability, comfort, innovation, and long-term value, the 2025 Toyota Tacoma emerges as the clear winner. It delivers more standard features, offers a hybrid engine that combines power with efficiency, and maintains Toyota’s reputation for unmatched durability and resale value. The Ford Ranger has made strides, but it still plays catch-up in key areas like safety validation, interior refinement, and hybrid performance. For buyers in Salem looking for a midsize truck that can go the distance—on the trail and in life—the Tacoma remains the smart, dependable choice. Visit Capitol Toyota today to test drive the 2025 Tacoma and experience firsthand why it continues to lead the pack.
 | 2025 Toyota Tacoma | 2025 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Engine | 2.4L Turbocharged Inline 4-Cylinder | 2.3L EcoBoost® |
| Standard Horsepower | 278 | 270 |
| Standard Fuel Economy (MPG) | 20 City / 26 Highway | 21 City / 26 Highway |
| Standard Torque (lb-ft) | 243 | 310 |
| Standard Truck Bed | 5 feet | 5 feet |
| Max Towing Capacity | 6,300 lbs | 7,500 bs |
| Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers | Available | Available |
| Standard Transmission | 8-speed ECT-i Automatic | 10-speed Automatic |
| Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ | Standard | Standard |
| Dynamic Radar Cruise Control | Standard | Unavailable |
