You may be planning the perfect weekend getaway to Sam Houston National Forest, excited about getting off the grid and enjoying the fresh air and serenity that the forest offers. You may also be looking forward to hitting Big Woods, kicking up a little dust and gravel while you explore the area. This calls for a truck that can handle the elements, and when it comes to adventuring capabilities, two midsize options come to mind. The first is from Chevy in the form of the Colorado, a versatile, do-it-all champion that excels off-road, and when it comes to its arch-nemesis, the Ford Ranger is it.
At Parkway Chevrolet, when you’re looking for Chevy trucks for sale near Houston, we’re your Chevy headquarters, conveniently located in Tomball. When it comes to the 2024 Colorado vs the 2024 Ranger, you’ll be shocked by how competitive these trucks really are with one another. If you’re looking to harness unbelievable off-road capabilities combined with durability that can’t be rivaled, one truck clearly outperforms the other.
Off-Road Agility
The Colorado has a clear advantage over the Ranger when it comes to off-roading with its ZR2 model, offering exceptional capabilities, no matter what terrain resides beneath its 33-inch mud terrain tires. Segment-exclusive Multimatic DSSV dampers impact the experience in many ways, offering constant damping for an all-around better ride, with greater flexibility and durability in the elements than traditional shim dampers. This allows you to enjoy more control and stability, even when the environment becomes treacherous.
Five selectable drive modes allow you to tailor your ride to fit the terrain, with Off-Road Mode helping you traverse uneven ground, Terrain Mode to take on steep obstacles, and Baja Mode for traveling on sandy terrain. You’ll also find that the Colorado ZR2 showcases a best-in-class available breakover angle, while the Bison version adds in best-in-class ground clearance of 12.2 inches and class-leading underbody protection, plus 35-inch mud terrain tires—the largest in its class.
The 2024 Ranger can be enjoyed with Raptor capabilities, which feature class-exclusive 2.5-inch FOX racing shocks to add stability to bumpy rides, as well as locking front and rear axles to add control to the adventure. Unfortunately, ground clearance can’t measure up to the Colorado, with the Ranger Raptor only offering 10.7 inches of clearance. You also won’t find the level of underbody protection or the largest tires with the Raptor either. You will get to enjoy some rugged styling elements to intensify the journey, like flared fenders, a menacing grille, and commanding front bumpers. However, the ZR2 Bison blows this design out of the water with heavy-duty AEV bumpers, intimidating wheel arch flares, and AEV badging that sets it apart from the rest.
Whether you’re venturing out to Red Hollow Run or Davy Crockett National Forest, it’s clear that the Colorado’s ZR2 arsenal will get you there with absolute precision. With more exclusive and best-in-class elements than the Ranger can offer, the Colorado is more capable of providing you with a one-of-a-kind ride through the wilderness. From its five boron steel skid plates to its segment-first front and rear jounce control dampers, the Colorado ZR2 is one of the best off-roaders on the market.
Geared Up for the Trip
Camping at Lake Houston Wilderness Park requires a vehicle that can be loaded up with gear easily while offering the convenience you require as you become one with nature. Fortunately, the Colorado is ready for it, with best-in-class bed functionality, featuring illuminating cargo bed lighting and a built-in bed power outlet to power all of your camping necessities from lights to radios and more. An available first-in-class StowFlex Tailgate provides you with a lockable storage compartment to store valuables, and with a built-in drain, it can also act as a cooler while you’re relaxing under the stars with your favorite beverage in hand. You’ll find 17 available tie-downs, a best-in-class feature, to secure all of your travel belongings confidently. A Mid-Position Tailgate is configured to accommodate more cumbersome cargo, allowing you to venture out into nature with everything you need to make your time epic.
Like the Colorado, the Ranger showcases a pretty versatile bed, with LED lighting elements and the ability to set your tailgate up as a work surface. You’ll find tie-downs to secure your gear, but of course, not as many as you’ll find in Colorado. An available Integrated Boxside Step comes in handy, though, to help you access the bed and remove equipment with ease. We would like to see more flexibility with its tailgate, like the Colorado provides, which can be a disappointment for drivers who demand convenience when they’re out in the elements.
Another way the Colorado impresses is with its available class-exclusive underbody cameras, which allow you to see what lies beneath you more clearly than ever. This makes it easy to traverse over obstacles, avoiding them, if necessary, to help you venture out into the wilderness with intense confidence. It’s evident that the Colorado’s design is geared toward adventure, from its versatile bed and tailgate to the innovation that’s offered to maximize your time unplugged. The Ranger just can’t offer the functionality you’ll find with the Colorado, especially when loading up and hitting the dusty trails.
Back to Reality
Many drivers are drawn to midsize trucks because they’re able to take advantage of intense adventuring capabilities, and when it’s all over, they’re able to transition seamlessly back to the grind. The 2024 Colorado’s practical cabin makes it easy to get back to the office, with ZR2 models offering Evotex seating materials that are easy to maintain and water and stain-resistant.
A drain in the StowFlex Tailgate allows you to empty your cooler and put your weekly gear back inside quickly, and when it comes to hitting Monday morning traffic on I-10, the Colorado is ready for it. Its 2.7L TurboMax four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission doesn’t just offer a powerful yet comfortable ride, it’s also highly efficient, getting an EPA-estimated 24 MPG on the highway.
You’ll find that the Ranger also offers a favorable base powertrain, a 2.3L EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which delivers excitement to the everyday ride, as well as efficiency. We would like to see a bit more practicality in its cabin space though. Many of the Ranger’s models offer leather seats, which aren’t very easy to keep clean and tend to wear over time. This isn’t the most practical, especially for those who seek to get out into nature after a hectic work week.
The Ultimate Houston Adventurer
Whether you’re flying down the Texas Traverse Bypass or embarking on an epic camping trip to Lake Livingston State Park, you need a vehicle that can keep up with your Texas-sized adventures. The Chevy Colorado outperforms the Ford Ranger in every possible way, especially when exploration is on your mind. From its legendary ZR2 capabilities and best-in-class attributes to its durable build and functional features designed to make the most out of your time off the grid, the Colorado knows exactly what Houston adventurers want in their vehicles.
Unfortunately, the Ranger doesn’t showcase as many of these convenient features and lacks practicality, not just with its cabin but with its cargo solutions as well. This is why, when you want to take advantage of an all-around extraordinary time off the beaten path, the Colorado will deliver this to you in ways that other trucks simply can’t.
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