Ford Ranger vs Ram Dakota
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2011 Ram Dakota
Overview
| Spec | Ford RangerXL | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | XL | ST |
| Body style | Truck (Crew Cab) | Truck (Extended Cab) |
| Drivetrain | rear wheel drive | rear wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | 10-speed shiftable automatic | 4-speed automatic |
| Engine type | gas | gas |
| Model year | 2026 | 2011 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Ford RangerXL | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $33,350 | $23,210 (best) |
| Lowest listing price | $33,380 (best) | — |
| Median listing price | $54,480 (best) | — |
| Highest listing price | $60,189 (best) | — |
| For sale now | 5 (best) | 0 |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Ford RangerXL | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 23 MPG (best) | 17 MPG |
| City MPG | 21 MPG (best) | 15 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 25 MPG (best) | 20 MPG |
| Fuel tank | 18 gal | 22 gal (best) |
Performance
| Spec | Ford RangerXL | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | — | 210 hp (best) |
| Torque | — | 235 lb-ft (best) |
| Engine size | 2.3 L | 3.7 L (best) |
| Cylinders | I4 | V6 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Ford RangerXL | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 seats (best) | 4 seats |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Towing capacity | 7,500 lbs (best) | 7,250 lbs |
| Payload | 1,788 lbs | 1,810 lbs (best) |
| Curb weight | 4,203 lbs | 4,200 lbs (best) |
| Ground clearance | 9.3 in (best) | 7.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 128.7 in | 131.3 in (best) |
| Length | 210.6 in | 218.5 in (best) |
| Width | 75.5 in (best) | 71.7 in |
| Height | 73.9 in (best) | 68.6 in |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Ford RangerXL | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA overall | 4 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Frontal crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Frontal crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Side crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Side crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Side pole | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Rollover | 3 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | 8 | None reported (best) |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Ford Ranger | Ram Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | XL $33,350 MSRP(Currently comparing) | ST $23,210 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | XL $36,850 MSRP | ST $27,460 MSRP |
| 3 | XLT $35,875 MSRP | BigHorn $24,085 MSRP |
| 4 | XLT $39,375 MSRP | BigHorn $26,780 MSRP |
| 5 | Lariat $43,755 MSRP | BigHorn $28,335 MSRP |
| 6 | Lariat $47,255 MSRP | BigHorn $29,730 MSRP |
| 7 | Raptor $57,070 MSRP | LoneStar $24,085 MSRP |
| 8 | — | LoneStar $26,780 MSRP |
| 9 | — | LoneStar $28,335 MSRP |
| 10 | — | LoneStar $29,730 MSRP |
| 11 | — | ST Fleet $25,760 MSRP |
| 12 | — | ST Fleet $28,710 MSRP |
| 13 | — | Laramie $30,635 MSRP |
| 14 | — | Laramie $33,635 MSRP |
| 15 | — | TRX Fleet $31,820 MSRP |
Live inventory
Ford Ranger5 for sale
See all
Used2022 Ford Ranger
XLT
Desert Sand•Ebony51,301 mi$33,380Middleton Ford
Middleton, WI
- New
2026 Ford Ranger
Raptor
Shelter Green Metallic•EbonyN/A$60,189Middleton Ford
Middleton, WI
Used2025 Ford Ranger
Raptor
Desert Sand•Ebony12,698 mi$54,480Middleton Ford
Middleton, WI
- New
2026 Ford Ranger
Raptor
Avalanche•EbonyN/A$60,189Middleton Ford
Middleton, WI
- New
2026 Ford Ranger
XLT
Marsh Gray•BH/EBONY CLTHN/A$47,654MSRP $49,155Middleton Ford
Middleton, WI
Ford Ranger vs Ram Dakota FAQ
- Which is better: 2026 Ford Ranger or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 Ford Ranger vs 2011 Ram Dakota on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2026 Ford Ranger or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2011 Ram Dakota starts lower at $23,210. Live Ford Ranger listings start at $33,380.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 Ford Ranger or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- The 2011 Ram Dakota leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (23,210).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 Ford Ranger or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- The 2026 Ford Ranger leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (23).
- Which has better horsepower: 2026 Ford Ranger or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- The 2011 Ram Dakota leads on horsepower in this comparison (302).
- Which has better maxTowingLbs: 2026 Ford Ranger or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- The 2026 Ford Ranger leads on maxTowingLbs in this comparison (7,500).
- How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 Ford Ranger vs 2011 Ram Dakota?
- NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: Ford Ranger (4/5 NHTSA overall).