You're shopping two completely different trucks under one badge. The old compact Rangers (1990s-2011) earned their reputation the hard way, owners routinely push them past 300k miles on original drivetrains, fix them with junkyard parts for pocket change, and replace them with another Ranger when rust finally wins. The current midsize version (2019+) tows 7,500 pounds, rides like a car, and packs a punchy turbo four, but it's grown to F-150 dimensions at near-F-150 money, and 2021-2023 models are showing up with oil leaks and transmission hiccups while still under warranty. Buy a clean old one if you want a proven workhorse that'll outlast your career. Skip the new one unless you need modern towing and safety, and even then, you're betting on Ford ironing out first-generation kinks.
Nissan's full-size underdog runs a bulletproof 5.6L V8 that'll hit 200k miles while costing $10-15k less than an F-150. The hydraulic steering and column shifter feel refreshingly analog, the warranty is class-leading, and owners who ignore the badge report trouble-free ownership. The 2016-2018 models had a cylinder 7 scoring issue, warranty-covered and fixed by 2019, but the bigger problem is fuel economy that makes other half-tons look thrifty and an interior that feels a decade behind. The rare 5.0L Cummins diesel is a disaster; stick with gas. Buy this if you want a simple, capable workhorse and don't need to flex at the job site. Skip it if resale value or cutting-edge tech matters, or if you're shopping 2016-2018 without extended warranty coverage.