The mid-size pickup segment has grown in popularity over the past few years and several models have appeared on the market lately. These new models have only one goal: to dethrone the Toyota Tacoma at the top of the segment. Indeed, the Tacoma remains the most popular truck in the segment and one of the iconic models in the industry.

The Ford Ranger, another well-known name appeared three years ago and stands out with exemplary towing capacity and good ruggedness, but so far it has failed to outperform the Tacoma among consumers. There are several reasons for this reality.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma offers a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 as standard, while the 2021 Ford Ranger only offers a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

Those who know trucks know that when it comes to towing and performance, it's hard to match a V6. A four-cylinder engine can have a lot of quality, they cannot compete with a V6 engine in terms of efficiency, driving feel and overall performance. This is one of the reasons why the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is so popular.

When you drive it, you feel the full power of the V6 engine, an engine that has proven its worth and reliability over the years. The Ford Ranger may be able to tow more on paper, but if we tow, say 5,000 lbs with the Tacoma and 5,000 lbs with the Ranger, we’ll be happy to have the Toyota V6.

Another element to consider is the excellent resale value of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. The Ranger may be priced lower, but in 3 years your Tacoma will be worth a lot more than the Ranger and in the end, the Tacoma will give you more for your money.

If you're looking for a new truck and want a V6, impressive performance, rock-solid reliability and great resale value, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is the best in the segment. It also offers a variety of very rugged TRD packages that are not available in the Ranger lineup and overall it offers more configurations and choices than the Ranger.