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Towing Titans Vs. Family Adventure: Ford Ranger And Subaru Forester Under The Spotlight

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to...

What To Know

  • The Ranger gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with the EcoBoost engine, and 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with the Power Stroke engine.
  • The Ford Ranger has a starting price of $25,580, while the Subaru Forester has a starting price of $24,795.
  • The Ranger is a more powerful and capable off-road vehicle, while the Forester is more fuel-efficient and has more safety features.

When it comes to choosing a vehicle that can handle both on-road and off-road adventures, the Ford Ranger and Subaru Forester are two popular options. Both vehicles offer a variety of features and capabilities, but there are also some key differences between them. In this blog post, we will compare the Ford Ranger and Subaru Forester head-to-head to help you decide which one is the right choice for you.

Engine and Performance

The Ford Ranger is available with two engine options: a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V6 engine that produces 250 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. The Subaru Forester, on the other hand, is only available with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that produces 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque.

In terms of performance, the Ford Ranger has a clear advantage over the Subaru Forester. The Ranger’s more powerful engines provide it with better acceleration and towing capacity. The Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds, while the Forester can only tow up to 1,500 pounds.

Fuel Efficiency

The Ford Ranger is not as fuel-efficient as the Subaru Forester. The Ranger gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with the EcoBoost engine, and 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with the Power Stroke engine. The Forester, on the other hand, gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

Off-Road Capabilities

The Ford Ranger is a more capable off-road vehicle than the Subaru Forester. The Ranger has a higher ground clearance, a more robust suspension system, and a four-wheel-drive system with low-range gearing. The Forester, on the other hand, has a lower ground clearance, a less robust suspension system, and a four-wheel-drive system without low-range gearing.

Interior and Cargo Space

The Ford Ranger and Subaru Forester offer similar amounts of interior space. Both vehicles have five seats and a spacious cargo area. However, the Ranger’s cargo area is slightly larger than the Forester’s. The Ranger has a cargo volume of 51.8 cubic feet behind the front seats and 83.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, while the Forester has a cargo volume of 35.4 cubic feet behind the front seats and 76.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats.

Safety Features

The Ford Ranger and Subaru Forester both offer a variety of safety features, including airbags, anti-lock brakes, and traction control. However, the Forester has a few more safety features than the Ranger, such as lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Price

The Ford Ranger has a starting price of $25,580, while the Subaru Forester has a starting price of $24,795. However, the Ranger is available in more trim levels than the Forester, so the price can vary depending on the trim level you choose.

Which One Should You Choose?

The Ford Ranger and Subaru Forester are both great vehicles, but they offer different features and capabilities. The Ranger is a more powerful and capable off-road vehicle, while the Forester is more fuel-efficient and has more safety features. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

Common Questions and Answers

  • Q: Which vehicle has a more powerful engine?
  • A: The Ford Ranger has a more powerful engine than the Subaru Forester.
  • Q: Which vehicle is more fuel-efficient?
  • A: The Subaru Forester is more fuel-efficient than the Ford Ranger.
  • Q: Which vehicle is more capable off-road?
  • A: The Ford Ranger is more capable off-road than the Subaru Forester.
  • Q: Which vehicle has more interior space?
  • A: The Ford Ranger and Subaru Forester offer similar amounts of interior space.
  • Q: Which vehicle has more safety features?
  • A: The Subaru Forester has more safety features than the Ford Ranger.
  • Q: Which vehicle has a lower starting price?
  • A: The Subaru Forester has a lower starting price than the Ford Ranger.
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Mike Sullivan

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to guides and industry news updates. When he's not writing about Ford, you can find Mike cheering on his favorite NFL team at the local pub on game days.
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