Usually, the indestructible Toyota Hilux is seen as forbidden fruit. It’s the off-roading truck that we can’t have. However, the Ford Ranger may have just proved that we don’t need it. Congratulate the Ford Ranger for spanking the Toyota Hilux in a racing challenge. 

The Ford Ranger outraces the Toyota Hilux 

If you have the need to speed, then typically, a midsize truck isn’t your first choice. They won’t be out racing the Ram 1500 TRX or Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. However, the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux often compete against each other. 

The infamous Toyota Hilux is banned in the United States, but it still holds a high reputation for being incredibly durable and indestructible. The Ranger may have only been reintroduced to America in recent years, but it never disappeared in other countries. Like the Hilux, it has served as a popular option for its performance on and off the pavement. 

Is the Ranger faster than the Hilux? 

When the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux participated in a drag race, the Ranger quickly left the Hilux in the dust. But if you look at their numbers, the Ranger is rated as a faster truck, so its win shouldn’t have been surprising. 

The Ranger model in the race is the SiT 4×4 XLT FX4 trim that’s sold in South Africa. It rides on the same T6 platform that the Ranger that we have here in America. But it features an engine that we don’t get. 

It’s equipped with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine that pumps out 177 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The powertrain is paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. 

The Hilux, which was replaced by the Toyota Tacoma in the United States, is equipped with a 2.4-liter turbodiesel engine that generates 148 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. 

At first, the Toyota Hilux pulled ahead. It was much quicker off the line. However, the Ranger quickly caught up and got in front. Then the Ranger couldn’t be caught. It continued accelerating while the Hilux ran out of juice. 

We don’t have this Ranger model or the Hilux in America due to rising emission standards. It was much more cost-effective to make the Toyota Tacoma and a new Ranger meet requirements instead of updating the older models. 

How fast are the Ranger and the Tacoma? 

The Ford Ranger in the United States has a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.8 seconds. 

The Toyota Tacoma has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. This option isn’t beating the Ranger. You can upgrade to the 3.5-liter V6 engine for 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. 

Both engines can be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. The Tacoma can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.7 seconds. 

So, worldwide, the Ford Ranger can stick it to the Tacoma and Hilux while racing on the pavement. The Hilux and Tacoma may have a more competitive edge when it comes to off-roading, though.