Loving the smaller midsize trucks? If so you’ve probably looked at the leaders in the industry. Here we’re comparing the 2025 Ford Ranger vs 2025 Nissan Frontier in a head-to-head competition to see which one deserves the spot in your driveway.
Key Takeaways
- The Ford Ranger comes with more engine options and more horsepower.
- The Ranger has greater payload and towing capacity.
- The Ranger has better fuel-efficiency, but the Frontier has a larger gas tank.
- The Frontier costs less and tends to have lower engine maintenance costs.
Which truck has more power? The Ford Ranger
If you’re looking for a powerful mid-size truck, look no further than the 2025 Ford Ranger. The Ranger comes standard with a turbocharged 2.3 L 4-cylinder engine, getting 270 horsepower in the entry-level trims. The higher trims come with a twin-turbocharged 2.7 L V-6 engine giving you 315 horsepower. Both are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and can be rear or four-wheel drive.
The 2025 Nissan Frontier is a mid-size truck with a naturally aspirated 3.8 L V-6 engine with 310 horsepower that is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and either rear or four-wheel drive. A naturally aspirated engine relies solely on atmospheric pressure for air intake, as opposed to a turbocharger or supercharger.
Which truck has greater towing capacity? The Ford Ranger
With either engine the Ranger is rated to tow up 7500 pounds. The payload capacity does drop from 1805 to 1711 pounds when using four-wheel drive. The Nissan falls behind with a maximum towing capacity of 7150 pounds and a payload capacity of 1610 pounds.
Which truck has better fuel-efficiency? The Ford Ranger
The Ranger has better fuel-efficiency than the Frontier. The base model trims, with the four-cylinder engine, are rated for 21 mpg city and 25 mpg highway with the rear-wheel drive, dropping 1 mpg on both numbers when four-wheel drive is engaged. While the V-6 rated for 19 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.
The Frontier’s V-6 is rated for 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. When four-wheel drive is engaged, this drops to 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. But the Frontier does have a larger gas tank, 21 gal compared to the Maverick’s 18 gal tank.
Which truck has a lower price? The Frontier
The starting MSRP for the Ranger goes from $35,025 to $45,810, depending on trim and options. The Frontier starts a little lower, with the starting MSRP going from $33,560 to $43,320. Both trucks have a variety of add-on packages available. Along with the lower price range, naturally aspirated engines tend to have less maintenance costs.
Summary
So, which truck is the better choice for you? The Ford Ranger has more power, towing capacity, and better fuel economy, but does have a higher up front price than the Nissan Frontier. Whatever your needs, you can contact Jarrett Ford of Dade City to find the right truck for you.