The 2024 Toyota Tacoma has undergone significant changes, making it a formidable competitor to the Ford Ranger. Toyota has given the Tacoma a complete redesign, refreshing its appearance and adding modern features that were previously lacking. With these improvements, the Tacoma is poised to maintain its position as the most popular mid-size pickup. Here are 10 reasons why the 2024 Toyota Tacoma outshines the Ford Ranger.

RELATED: 10 New Features Of The 2024 Toyota Tacoma

10 The Tacoma Remains King Of Off-road Tech With Its Suspension Options

The suspension of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma has a long-standing reputation for being the best mid-size pickup truck for off-road performance. The Tacoma continues to deliver in this area with its impressive suspension options.

Tacoma Options

1. Rear Leaf Springs

2. Bilstein Monotubes with Remote Reservoirs

3. Fox Adjustable Internal-Bypass Shocks

4. ARB’s Old Man Emu Monotube Shocks

Ranger Options

1. Rear Leaf Springs

2. Adaptive Fox Live Valve Dampers

3. Watts-Style Trailing Arms

While Ford offers some options like the Fox 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass on the Ranger Raptor, the Tacoma’s suspension options surpass the Ranger’s. The 2024 Tacoma offers Bilstein remote reservoir shocks on the TRD Off-Road, Fox three-way adjustable internal bypass shocks on the TRD Pro, and Old Man Emu 4×4 Suspension on the new Trailhunter trim. Additionally, Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select outperforms Ford’s off-road capability.

9 The Departure And Approach Angles On The Tacoma Are Absurdly Good

Rear action shot of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma excels in off-roading, as demonstrated by its impressive departure and approach angles.

Approach And Departure Angles

The Tacoma surpasses the Ranger in approach angles across all models, and their departure angles are comparable. The Tacoma also generally has better ground clearance, emphasizing its commitment to off-road capability.

8 The Tacoma Doesn’t Sacrifice Its Towing Capacity For Performance

Front action shot of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

While the base models of the Ranger have a higher towing capacity than the Tacoma, this is because Ford’s trim choices are not as optimized for consumers.

Towing Capacity

Although the Tacoma’s towing capacity starts 1,000 pounds lower than the Ranger, this is consistent across the board, with the exception of the hybrid option, which still exceeds the Ranger Raptor by a few hundred pounds. The Ranger offers higher towing capacity in certain trims, but if you want the best off-roading experience, you may have to sacrifice some towing capability. The Tacoma strikes a balance by providing a comfortable middle ground across all its trim levels.

RELATED: Deep Dive Into The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter And Why It’s A Big Deal

7 The Tacoma’s XtraCab Offers An Extra Long Truck Bed

Front action shot of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter

The Tacoma offers multiple body styles to cater to different needs. The XtraCab, in particular, provides an extra-long truck bed, giving you more cargo space.

Bed Size And Payload Capacity

The Tacoma’s 5-foot bed size is comparable to the Ranger’s, but the XtraCab body style offers an additional foot of truck bed. The Tacoma’s payload capacity is competitive, with a standard capacity of 1709 pounds. The Ranger may have slightly higher payload capacities in some trims, but it’s not significant enough to outweigh the advantages offered by the Tacoma’s extra space.

6 The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Provides You With The Choice Of A Hybrid Powertrain

Engine bay of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

While the Ford Ranger has capable powertrain options, the Tacoma offers the choice of a hybrid powertrain, giving it an advantage in terms of fuel efficiency and overall performance.

Tacoma Engines

Ranger Engines