Compare the2025 Chevrolet ColoradoVS 2025 Ford Ranger Raptor

The Colorado’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the front seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Ranger Raptor doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Full-time four-wheel drive is optional on the Colorado. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Ranger Raptor.

Both the Colorado and Ranger Raptor have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Colorado has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Ranger Raptor’s Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Colorado and the Ranger Raptor have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Colorado is safer than the Ford Ranger Raptor:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Colorado’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Ranger Raptor’s (6 vs. 5 years).

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Colorado has a standard 170-amp alternator (220-amp - Colorado optional). The Ranger Raptor’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 9th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 65 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 23rd.

On the EPA test cycle the Colorado gets better mileage than the Ranger Raptor:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Colorado’s fuel efficiency. The Ranger Raptor doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Colorado uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Ranger Raptor requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Colorado has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Ranger Raptor (21.4 vs. 20.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The Colorado stops much shorter than the Ranger Raptor:

For better traction, the Colorado ZR2 Bison’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ranger Raptor (315/70R17 vs. 285/70R17).

The Colorado Trail Boss’ optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ranger Raptor’s 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Colorado Trail Boss offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Ranger Raptor’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Colorado has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Ranger Raptor doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Colorado’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the Ranger Raptor (131.4 inches vs. 128.7 inches).

The Colorado LT 4x4 handles at .78 G’s, while the Ranger Raptor pulls only .69 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Colorado LT 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Ranger Raptor (27 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Colorado LT 4x4’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Ranger Raptor’s (41.5 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Colorado ZR2 Bison has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Ranger Raptor (12.2 vs. 10.7 inches), allowing the Colorado to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Chevrolet Colorado may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 1000 pounds less than the Ford Ranger Raptor.

The front grille of the Colorado uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Ranger Raptor doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Colorado has 2 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room and .1 inches more rear legroom than the Ranger Raptor.

A low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the Colorado easier. The Colorado’s bed lift-over height is 34.5 inches, while the Ranger Raptor’s liftover is 36.5 inches.

The Colorado has stake post holes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The Ranger Raptor doesn’t offer stake post holes.

The Colorado’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Ranger Raptor’s (7700 vs. 5510 pounds).

The Colorado Trail Boss/Z71/ZR2 can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Colorado can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Ranger Raptor can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Colorado 4x4 has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Ranger Raptor (1700 vs. 1411 lbs.).

The Colorado has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Ranger Raptor (1710 vs. 1411 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Colorado and the Ranger Raptor have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Colorado is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Ranger Raptor prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Colorado’s standard front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Ranger Raptor’s passenger windows don’t open automatically.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Colorado (except WT/LT/Trail Boss) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Ranger Raptor doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Colorado and the Ranger Raptor offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Colorado has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Ranger Raptor doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Colorado is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Ranger Raptor doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its April 2024 issue and the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 won out over the Ford Ranger Raptor.

Motor Trend selected the Colorado as their 2024 Truck of the Year. The Ranger Raptor has never been chosen.

The Chevrolet Colorado outsold the Ford Ranger by over two to one during 2024.