Edmunds ranks the 2026 Ford Ranger first among midsize pickups with an expert rating of 7.1 out of 10 and a starting MSRP of $33,350. At the other end of the same list, the 2027 Nissan Frontier is seventh of seven at 5.6 out of 10. As of October 2026, the 1.5-point spread between those two trucks is the widest on Edmunds’ midsize page.
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The Seven-Truck Ladder
Edmunds’ midsize truck ratings run in this order: the 2026 Ranger at 7.1, the 2026 Honda Ridgeline at 6.9, the 2026 Toyota Tacoma at 6.8, the 2027 Chevrolet Colorado at 6.5, the 2026 GMC Canyon at 6.4, the 2026 Jeep Gladiator at 5.7 and the 2027 Frontier at 5.6. The top three sit within three-tenths of a point of each other, which makes the Ranger’s lead a narrow one over the Ridgeline and Tacoma, while the bottom pair is separated by a tenth.
Prices on the page do not follow the scores neatly. The Ranger starts at $33,350 and runs to $57,070, the Tacoma spans $32,545 to $64,750, and the Ridgeline starts higher at $40,795 and tops out at $47,895. The Colorado starts at $32,700, the Frontier at $32,490, and the Gladiator at $39,820, so the cheapest truck on the list is also the lowest-rated.
The Ridgeline’s place at second shows how little price tracks the order. Edmunds lists the 2026 Honda Ridgeline at $40,795 to $47,895, so its starting price is the highest of the seven trucks even though it scores 6.9. The Tacoma, third at 6.8, has the widest price range on the page, from $32,545 to $64,750, which reflects trims that run from basic work configurations to well-equipped off-road versions.
Why Edmunds Puts the Ranger on Top
Edmunds says in its Ranger review that the truck smooths out many of the rough edges of traditional truck ownership, crediting a high-quality cabin, a comfortable ride and driver assistance features while keeping strong towing and payload capability. The 7.1 breaks down into driving experience 7.2, comfort 7.4, in-cabin tech 8.4, storage and cargo 6, value 6.1, towing and hauling 10, fuel economy 5 and an X factor of 7.
The towing score is the Ranger’s only perfect mark. Edmunds lists a maximum trailer capacity of 7,500 pounds and a maximum payload of 1,788 pounds. The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder making 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft, with a 10-speed automatic. XLT and Lariat trims can add a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 at 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft, and the Raptor uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 at 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft.
The review is not all praise. Edmunds lists two cons, that the Ranger is more expensive than competitors and that it offers only one cab and bed configuration. The value score of 6.1 reflects the first point, and it is a reminder that the top-ranked truck is not the cheapest one in the class.
The two General Motors twins land close together in the middle. Edmunds rates the 2027 Chevrolet Colorado at 6.5 with an MSRP of $32,700 to $49,900, and the 2026 GMC Canyon at 6.4 with an MSRP of $38,900 to $57,300. A tenth of a point separates them, while the Canyon’s starting price is $6,200 higher, so the Colorado offers the better score for less money on this page.
The price column also backs up one of Edmunds’ listed cons for the Ranger. At $33,350 the Ranger’s starting MSRP is higher than those of the Tacoma at $32,545, the Colorado at $32,700 and the Frontier at $32,490, which is consistent with the review’s complaint that the truck is more expensive than competitors. The premium is small at the entry level, roughly $650 to $860 over those three, but it widens quickly as the Ranger climbs toward its $57,070 ceiling with the Raptor and higher trims.
What Drags the Frontier to Seventh
The page credits the 2027 Nissan Frontier with a powerful V6, a comfortable ride and a well-appointed interior, then docks it for a tight rear seat and a cluttered infotainment system, which Edmunds says keep it from leading the segment. At 5.6 out of 10 it trails the Colorado by nine-tenths of a point, though its $32,490 starting price is the lowest of the seven.
The Frontier’s neighbor in the standings is the Jeep Gladiator at 5.7, which starts at $39,820 and reaches $61,210. A shopper looking at the bottom of the table is therefore choosing between a lower entry price and a slightly higher score, while the Ridgeline and Tacoma are listed with their own review pages at $40,795 to $47,895 and $32,545 to $64,750.
How to Use a Ratings Page Like This
Edmunds’ scores are expert ratings, so they weigh categories such as comfort, technology and towing in a single number, and a buyer who tows a camper or hauls a bed full of gear every week may weigh those categories differently than the composite does. The Ranger’s perfect towing score and the Frontier’s powerful V6 both appear in the review text, and both can matter more than a few tenths of a point on the overall scale.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by Morning Overview editors prior to publication.
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