Results From My 10R80 Inspired Test Drives Of Something Else

[Dr. Zaius]

I looked at a new ZR2 and a new Ranger this morning.

Base for comparison:
My 2019 Ranger. 35k miles. Stock tune. Bilstein 5100s. Rear Tremor leaf springs.

This is all JMO so YMMV. But since I'll be the one writing the check, my opinion matters the most to me ?

2025 Ranger

First I drove the Ranger with the 2.7 V6.

The main thing I was curious about was the power.

Pulling out of the dealership, I immediately felt right at home as the 10R60 clunked into 4th gear

0-60 definitely stronger than mine with stock tune, though not amazingly so.

Highway passing/merging power felt pretty much the same with minor if any improvement.

Ride and handling was quieter but not as confident feeling as my truck. I prefer my truck.

BIG touchscreen. There are finally real buttons/knobs for some of the controls, but too many are still buried in menus.

The step on the side of the bed is terrific. Better than my bumper cutout steps.

Steering wheel leather felt thicker/higher quality than mine.

NO PARKING BRAKE HANDLE. I don't care for the electronic parking brake levers.

2025 ZR2

First off, it's a terrific looking truck. My Ranger looked like a wallflower next to it.

Power:

My stock tune Ranger is stronger. The ZR2 was also surprisingly loud and raucous.

The ZR2 8 speed auto drives better than either the 10R80 or the 10R60.

Buttons, knobs, and switches for almost everything, though plenty of stuff is still buried in the menus.

The big touchscreen. Not initially a fan but maybe I'd get used to it?

The sunroof in the ZR2 eats up a surprising amount of headroom for the rear passengers. I would definitely prefer one without it.

The storage bin in the tailgate is very clever.

Handling seemed a bit wallowy. The Z71 I drove a while back didn't do this. This is the first ZR2 I've driven so it may be normal, kind of like the wallowy FX4 suspension.

The Bose stereo in the ZR2 sounds better than the B&O stereo in the Ranger.

Also no parking brake handle. E-brake here as well.

Bottom Line

I thought I'd like the big touchscreens but it turns out I didn't care for either one.

Digging through menus while driving doesn't seem to be fun. I'm sure this would become much better with familiarity, but initial impressions are a no. The ZR2 was better in this regard.

Neither one was good enough to make me want to jump ship.

Maybe I'll look at the Tacoma and Frontier after all.

Edit: I forgot to add for all the members of the He Man Damper Haters Club. BOTH trucks had factory dampers on the tailgate. You will be assimilated. ?

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[got3fords]

Neither one was good enough to make me want to jump ship.

Maybe I'll look at the Tacoma and Frontier after all.

Nooooo...don't do it. Seriously though, I would be interested in what you have to say about the Taco at least.

 

[dtech]

wife recently bought a 2025 ROO Outback XT - it has by far the lamest big center touch screen I ever care to experience along with a ridiculous number of safety alerts and small lighted symbols popping up in the driver's displays. Subaru claims to be be safety focused, however without going thru the owner's manual (which I hadn't) I found it a safety hazard trying to figure out what all the symbols mean and adjusting controls is far too involved.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

Dr Z. just curious why you're re-upholstering your truck if you're planning on selling? You likely won't get much resale value back out of it. Perhaps you're not dead set on selling?

 

[bmidd]

Meh, the Colorado looks like a 12 year old kid drew it up on some graph paper. All the new Chevy trucks look like ass to me, just keep making the front ends bigger and hope it catches on.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Dr Z. just curious why you're re-upholstering your truck if you're planning on selling? You likely won't get much resale value back out of it. Perhaps you're not dead set on selling?

When I bought the leather I was planning on keeping it.

Then the latest "No Problem Found" round of BS made me want to get rid of it.

After looking at a new Ranger and a Colorado ZR2, I'm not impressed enough with either of those to trade.

So for now, keeping it.

 

[mtsoxfan]

I have nothing against Toyota, I just do not like the look of the Tacoma. The Chevy looks nicer than the Toyota, but I still prefer the Ranger. When I drove the 2020 Colorado, it lacked power, less headroom than Ranger. Shifting was wanky. Seats were plenty uncomfortable too. And the blindspots. That was 5 years ago, sounds like they made some improvements.

 

[Dereku]

It might not be better. Just saying. The devil you know.

 

[rang19ca]

It does seem like all the midsize trucks are getting bigger and bigger frontend treatments and grills. It is like the dieselfication of todays OEMs.

 

[Swishpapasweets]

I looked at a new ZR2 and a new Ranger this morning.

Base for comparison:
My 2019 Ranger. 35k miles. Stock tune. Bilstein 5100s. Rear Tremor leaf springs.

This is all JMO so YMMV. But since I'll be the one writing the check, my opinion matters the most to me ?

2025 Ranger

First I drove the Ranger with the 2.7 V6.

The main thing I was curious about was the power.

Pulling out of the dealership, I immediately felt right at home as the 10R60 clunked into 4th gear

0-60 definitely stronger than mine with stock tune, though not amazingly so.

Highway passing/merging power felt pretty much the same with minor if any improvement.

Ride and handling was quieter but not as confident feeling as my truck. I prefer my truck.

BIG touchscreen. There are finally real buttons/knobs for some of the controls, but too many are still buried in menus.

The step on the side of the bed is terrific. Better than my bumper cutout steps.

Steering wheel leather felt thicker/higher quality than mine.

NO PARKING BRAKE HANDLE. I don't care for the electronic parking brake levers.

2025 ZR2

First off, it's a terrific looking truck. My Ranger looked like a wallflower next to it.

Power:

My stock tune Ranger is stronger. The ZR2 was also surprisingly loud and raucous.

The ZR2 8 speed auto drives better than either the 10R80 or the 10R60.

Buttons, knobs, and switches for almost everything, though plenty of stuff is still buried in the menus.

The big touchscreen. Not initially a fan but maybe I'd get used to it?

The sunroof in the ZR2 eats up a surprising amount of headroom for the rear passengers. I would definitely prefer one without it.

The storage bin in the tailgate is very clever.

Handling seemed a bit wallowy. The Z71 I drove a while back didn't do this. This is the first ZR2 I've driven so it may be normal, kind of like the wallowy FX4 suspension.

Also no parking brake handle. E-brake here as well.

Bottom Line

I thought I'd like the big touchscreens but it turns out I didn't care for either one.

Digging through menus while driving doesn't seem to be fun. I'm sure this would become much better with familiarity, but initial impressions are a no. The ZR2 was better in this regard.

Neither one was good enough to make me want to jump ship.

Maybe I'll look at the Tacoma and Frontier after all.

Well i do have the 24 frontier and it drives well minus the lack of lower end toque. and no i didnt sell my ranger as its paid off lol

 

[bmidd]

Well i do have the 24 frontier and it drives well minus the lack of lower end toque. and no i didnt sell my ranger as its paid off lol

I drove a 24 Frontier and really liked it, it was the lack of low end torque, the ability to throw a tune on the Ranger and then I stumbled across the 2023 Lariat Tremor for less money that swayed me. I don't regret it a bit, my previous daily/work vehicle was a 2014 Sequoia that averaged 12-13mpg and I easily get 5mpg better in the Ranger.

 

[ppfd]

My list:
Chevy Colorado trail boss, ZR2
Ford Ranger
Tacoma 6 speed

Bronco 6 speed
Jeep Gladiator 6 speed

If I buy new, it'll be a Ranger plain jane 4x4 with rear locker. After the tremor, I'll go with Ebach suspension.

The rest of the list, I am fine with 23,24 model years if the price is right.

Bronco is last on the list as I am still not sure I want to move away from truck bed.
I do know there won't be another diamond back lid on my truck. Can't haul anything and it is a PITA to take off. Not hard, just a pain to remove. Moving my GF recently and we had to use her dads Colorado for most everything. And her son has a semi size chevy diesel and box trailer. Literally has to be close to the length of a semi.

I will either get a knock off smart cap, can't remember the brand. Or a hard cover roll up or tri fold I can take off easy.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

...

I will either get a knock off smart cap, can't remember the brand. Or a hard cover roll up or tri fold I can take off easy.

I have both a hard roll up cover and a tri-fold bed cover.

You will be surprised at how much bed space is consumed by the canister in the front of the bed that the roll up cover rolls into.

I prefer the tri-fold.

Amazing that I have a $1000+ bed cover and a $25 used bed cover and I prefer the $25 one ?

 

[RedlandRanger]

I have both a hard roll up cover and a tri-fold bed cover.

You will be surprised at how much bed space is consumed by the canister in the front of the bed that the roll up cover rolls into.

I prefer the tri-fold.

Amazing that I have a $1000+ bed cover and a $25 used bed cover and I prefer the $25 one ?

I have to agree - This is my first truck with a bed cover and I wonder how I ever got along without one. The tri fold is great - I can easily remove it when I need to, but most of the time it keeps the stuff in the bed mostly dry. I never looked at the roll up covers due to them taking up too much valuable bed space.

 

[MXGOLF]

Well Dennis, I would say stick with your current Ranger. I don't really like the looks of the new Toyotas or Chevys. I will stick with my Ranger until she dies on me. So far no problems with her at all. I am not a fan of the huge screens either.

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