Remember
the Ford Ranger? If your answer is “no,” don’t be ashamed, as the Ranger was
taken out of production in 2011. Why? In a then dwindling compact truck market,
competition from the likes of the Toyota Tacoma, Honda Ridgeline and Chevy
Colorado was certainly a factor; but by 2011, the Ranger was almost as large as
the bread and butter F-150; and Ford incorrectly bet the then V6 F-150 would
absorb fans of the Ranger. So here we are, and the all-new 2019 Ranger should
be successful for two important reasons: 1) It’s extremely well-executed, and
2) Not everyone wants to shell out big money for the more expensive larger
pickup trucks like the F-150.
My
test Ranger, a SuperCrew 4×4 with a five-foot box, carried an MSRP of $34,115
(base Rangers start at $25,395). Significant options include, among other
unlisted options, the $995 XLT Series Equipment Group, $795 Technology Package
(Adaptive Cruise Control, eight speaker SYNC/SIRIUS XM audio package), and
$1,295 FX4 Off-Road Package with electronic locking differential. The bottom
line was $40,605.
With
the new Ranger, Ford clearly put design as a major priority. This truck is
super attractive, with a low-slung front end that uses aggressive wheel arches
and deeply sculpted door panels as the design energy sweeps up at the C pillar
before finishing with a high-walled five-foot cargo box. At first glance, it
looks a lot like the larger F-150. It’s a very tasteful design, which should
bode well for sales numbers in a now more competitive compact truck market.
On
the road, Ranger’s 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder outputs 270 horsepower
and a healthy 310 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration is impressive, as is Ranger’s
7,500-pound towing capacity (when properly equipped) and 1,860-pound payload
capacity. My tester was “properly equipped” for max towing, which in my
experience testing trucks usually means the ride quality is stiff and sometimes
punishing. Not so with Ranger, which rides as smoothly as the Platinum Edition
Ford Expedition. No bounce or jounce over road berms or railroad tracks, and
Ranger is relatively quiet. Ford should add soundproofing to the headliner
however, as the sound of raindrops hitting the metal roof is amplified by the
dearth of roof soundproofing.
Ranger’s
interior also gets the job done. An available 8” center touch screen, available
dual LCD instrument cluster and available Bang & Olufsen premium audio are
upscale features. Legroom and headroom are ample — capable of seating five six-footers
with ease.
The
Ford Ranger is back, and just in the nick of time. If gasoline prices continue
to rise, consumers seeking pickup truck utility and versatility will surely
give the more fuel-efficient compact pickup segment a closer look.
