Ranger compact pickup has new look
FORD: Truck maker has added a handful of styling and powertrain updates, along with more tech goodies
Although we haven’t seen the Ranger in North America since 2012, the face-lifted model is certainly an enticing entry into the growing compact pickup market.
The biggest changes are on the inside with a gauge cluster updated to resemble the one found in the 2015 F-150, along with a new version of Microsoft’s Sync infotainment system.
More tech goodies are now available, including adaptive cruise control, a lane-keeping assist and something Ford calls a Driver Impairment Monitor — a feature that keeps tabs on the truck’s motion sensors to alert drivers with “gradually louder signals” if they’re becoming fatigued or impaired behind the wheel.
Under the skin, the Ford Ranger is mostly unchanged. It’s still powered by a 3.2-litre turbodiesel five-cylinder engine, good for 197 horsepower and 347 pounds-feet of torque. However, a new exhaust gas recirculation system, a start/stop system and an optional longer final drive axle can result in an 18-per-cent boost in fuel economy.
There’s also a 2.5-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine available, good for 164 hp and 166 lb.-ft. of torque, along with a smaller 2.2-litre fourcylinder turbodiesel.
That mill is good for 158 hp and 284 lb.-ft. of torque, while both engines boast the same tweaks for efficiency.
The 2015 Ranger is still not available for the North American market, but these new changes definitely make for an enticing alternative to the new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, as well as the Nissan Frontier and redesigned Toyota Tacoma.