Ford returns to (mid-sized) form
RANGER: Resurrected pickup, offered with two cabs and three trim levels, coming in 2019 Derek McNaughton
The Ford Ranger, long the choice of small contractors, outdoors people and those who need a pickup now and then but didn’t want (or need) a full-sized truck, is back. The mid-sized truck was off the market after being mothballed in North America in 2012.
The last Ford Ranger built for our shores rolled off the assembly line on Dec. 22, 2011. And it was a truck that hadn’t got much love from Ford in about a decade: the last significant update was when the fifth-gen model arrived in 2001. The Ranger sold almost 145,000 units in Canada from 2004 to 2012, and 10 times that many in the U.S. According to the Detroit News, Ford sold more than 6.6 million Rangers in the U.S. over the truck’s 29-year history.
Ford said it sees the new Ranger as an ideal fit for a new wave of buyers of mid-sized trucks who have, in recent years, been limited to the choice of Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier.
The 2019 Ranger, based on the Ranger sold in other markets but modified for North America, gets a high-strength steel ladder frame and Ford-built, 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder, the same engine used in the Mustang and Focus RS. In the Mustang, the engine produces 310 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque, while in the Focus RS, it is rated at 350 hp and 350 lb-ft.
Ford has not yet released power figures for the truck, but notes the direct-injection engine features a forged-steel crankshaft and connecting rods, plus chain-driven dual overhead cams. The engine will be paired with a class-exclusive 10-speed automatic transmission.
Three trims — the entry-level XL, mid-level XLT and high-level Lariat — can be had with different packages, including Chrome, Sport or FX4 Off-Road, which introduces Ford’s “Trail Control” technology. Designed for low-speed, rugged terrain, Trail Control handles acceleration and braking duties to let the driver focus on steering and negotiating difficult ground, much like the Tacoma’s Crawl Control. The FX4 also adds protective skid plates, upgraded tires, off-road-tuned shocks and suspension, and the Terrain Management System found on the Raptor. This system has four drive modes: normal; grass, gravel and snow; mud and ruts; and sand.
Power is distributed through Dana differentials, with an available electronic-locking rear differential (standard on FX4). Four-wheel-drive Rangers have three modes: 2-high, 4-high and 4-low. Cab configurations include SuperCab or SuperCrew. A powerdome hood, high beltline, stamped tailgate, and raked grille and windshield give the truck an athletic look, and short overhangs help when off-roading. Both front and rear bumpers are steel.
Inside, the centre stack includes an eight-inch touch screen for the available SYNC 3 system, while the instrument cluster features dual LCD screens that can display navigation and audio information.
Options are many, including LED headlamps and tail lamps, various exterior lighting options including LED lights for the bed, plus a towing aid that can alert the driver to faulty connections. Several driver-assist functions, such as lane-keep assist, and varying levels of technology, from Wi-Fi access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, can also be added. Automatic emergency braking will be standard.
Ford says the mid-sized truck segment is growing, with U.S. sales up 83 per cent since 2014, mostly from a new generation of buyers seeking more manoeuverable, more affordable, and more fuel-efficient pickups.
Ford doesn’t see the Ranger eating into F-series sales because F-150 buyers are different from those who might want a Ranger, and each would use their trucks differently. But the rise in mid-sized trucks is in step with the big lift in light trucks that in Canada accounted for 68.6 per cent of all vehicle sales in 2017.
“There will be something that will alter the market dynamics at some point, but it looks like it still has some upside,” said industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers. “I think next year there is a very high probability of light truck sales hitting 70 per cent on a regular basis.”
Carlos Gomes, a senior economist and auto industry specialist at Scotiabank, said the growth of the segment is at the expense of sedans, with the truck market holding some upside yet.
Production will begin later this year at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant for the 2019 market.