How to Compare Compact Pickup Trucks
When you are considering the purchase of a compact pickup truck, there are several different things to consider to help you make your purchase. Power, performance, fuel economy and load capacity are all valid considerations when making the decision of which truck to purchase.
Looking at the domestic models of pickups--Ford, GMC, and Dakota--there are a few major things to consider in way of comparison.
Size comparison:
The smallest of the compact trucks are the Colorado and Canyon, which have a 111 1/2-inch wheelbase. These vehicles are among the longest at 192.4 inches. The Ford Ranger, on the other hand, has a slightly larger wheelbase of 111 1/2 inches. It is shorter, having a length of 189.4 inches. The Dodge Dakota has the largest wheelbase of the domestics at 131.3 inches. Its length comes in at 192.4 inches.
Body style
The Canyon, Colorado, and Dakota all offer more choices in body style, with extended, regular, and four-door crew cabs. The Ford Ranger, however, only offers regular and extended cabs, and does not provide a four-door crew cab model.
Engine types
The vehicles also differ in the size and power of their respective engines, the Dakota with the largest engine, a 210 horsepower 3.7-liter V6. The Canyon and Colorado have the second-largest engine, a 185 horsepower 2.9 four cylinder motor. This leaves the Ford Ranger with the smallest of the engines. Also a four-cylinder, it is a 143 horsepower 2.3 liter engine.
Fuel economy standards
With the smallest engine, it should be no surprise that the Ford Ranger offers the best fuel efficiency rating of 22 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon in highway driving. The Colorado and the Canyon is lower at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 on the highway. The V6 Dakota offers only 15 miles per gallon in the city and 20 on the highway.