Style complements Supercrew capabilities
Mid-size truck fits well with work-home commute and highway twists and turns
When Ford reintroduced its Ranger as a mid-size truck in 2019, the concept made sense to Chris Skelton.
“I don't think a full-size truck is entirely necessary unless you're a contractor,” the Airdrie-based driver suggests. “It's certainly not an option I'd ever consider; they're just too big.”
While Skelton is not shopping for a mid-size truck now, he says he could be looking for one in the future. He recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2022 Ford Ranger XLT Supercrew and shares his thoughts.
Ford's Ranger comes in Supercab (six-foot bed) and Supercrew (five-foot bed) configurations. Trims include the Supercab-only base XL, next level Supercab or Supercrew cab XLT, and wellequipped crew cab-only Lariat. All are powered by the same 2.3-litre Ecoboost turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. Fourwheel drive is a standard feature across all models.
Skelton's Ranger XLT, in Oxford White, included the Splash package. For an extra $1,700, it adds numerous black accents such as a mesh grille, fender vents, bumpers and mirror caps. Also included is an exterior graphic, 18-inch matteblack wheels, and orange contrast stitching on the grey cloth-covered seats and steering wheel. The test truck was also equipped with Ford's off-road inspired FX4 package, which adds a tuned-suspension system, electronic locking rear differential, and off-road tires. All in, including the optional spray in bedliner and trailer-tow package, his test truck would have cost a bit more than $50,000 before taxes.
“I thought it was a handsome vehicle,” Skelton says of the exterior design, and adds that he appreciated the four generously sized doors to access the cab.
Born and raised in Nottingham, England, Skelton's first car was a 1977 Ford Escort Mk2 equipped with a 1.1-litre engine and fivespeed manual transmission. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1991 to 2001, and in 2010 he and his wife, Jacqui, moved to Airdrie. They commute to Calgary for work, and his current daily driver is a 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, while Jacqui recently moved from a 2019 Ford Edge to a 2022 model.
“Inside, the Ranger offered a comforting similarity to our 2019 Edge,” Skelton says. “It did differ though, with a proper handbrake lever and a gearshift lever rather than a button for the brake and a dial for the gear control. It didn't take me long to get comfortable in the power adjustable driver's seat (Skelton is five foot 11), and I spent quite a bit of time just pushing buttons and working through the various menus to discover all of the functions. Everything was easy to see and all controls were within reach.”
He rated fit and finish, inside and out, as “very nice,” and adds, “there were no squeaks or rattles or loose panels. The steering wheel was nice and chunky.”
In everyday driving situations Skelton figures the 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque the engine produces is adequate. He drove it in the Normal drive mode for the most part, but did experiment with the Sport setting.
“The throttle response is faster, the gearbox holds the gear longer, and it felt like everything tightened up,” he says of the Sport mode. “It changed the character of the truck considerably, and it was a lot of fun, but that does affect the fuel economy.”
To give the suspension and steering a workout, Skelton drove the Ranger west from Calgary to Canmore, over the twists and turns of Highway 1A.
“The steering was precise with plenty of feedback through the nicely weighted steering wheel,” he says. “Road noise intruding into the cabin was minimal and the ride was considerably smoother than I initially thought it would be with the chunky off-road tires fitted to the vehicle.”
Skelton did not attempt to haul any large pieces of cargo but did lay his mountain bike down flat in the bed without any drama. More than one bike, though, would require them to stand up and hang out the back over the tailgate.
“I think the Ranger would suit a young family — two parents and two kids,” Skelton says. “It would easily haul hockey gear, and you could tow a small trailer (It has a 7,498-pound towing capacity when properly equipped).”
Overall, Skelton was most impressed with the Ranger's ease of use.
“It's just a sensible size. It was easy to park at home on the driveway or squeeze into a tight space at the supermarket,” he says. “It is a compelling package of build quality, towing capacity, equipment level, options available and, most importantly, value for money.”
DRIVER'S JOURNAL
Day 1: This truck was fitted with the FX4 Off Road and Splash packages. I would have also fitted it with some running boards because, as my wife pointed out, it's quite a climb into — and quite a drop out of — the truck, especially if you're not the tallest person. Mirrors are suitably sized for the vehicle.
Day 2: Stretched its legs on a trip out to Canmore on Highway 1A. On the return journey, I took the Trans Canada to test out the adaptive cruise control. Controls on the left side of the steering wheel were easy to use, and I set the speed and distance to the vehicle in front and took my foot off the accelerator. Overall, the system worked excellently, although I did notice a slight delay in the power engaging to maintain the speed when going uphill. And going downhill, the system allowed a 5 km/h difference before it reacted. At those highway speeds, the vehicle cruised along quite happily at about 1,700 r.p.m. and the indicated fuel economy was showing 9 L/100 km.
Day 3: Just a quick trip to the supermarket to pick up provisions. It was bright and sunny and the digital display is still clear and easily readable, even when wearing polarized sunglasses.
Day 4: Still dark when I left for work, and that gave me an opportunity to test the auto dimming rear-view mirror. It is quick and effective. I parked the vehicle in our staff parking lot, and it drew some attention from colleagues who asked me about my experience and were eager to look inside.
Day 5: After getting to work, I checked the consumption figures on the trip computer, and I'm averaging 9.2 L/100 km. In Normal drive mode, the power and acceleration are sufficient for everyday real-world driving, but I did try Sport over a longer distance. I checked the trip computer to see how it affected the average consumption, and it showed that it had increased slightly to 9.4 L/100 km.
Day 6: After a day parked at work in the blazing sun, it was time to crank up the A/C to see how well it copes with cooling down the cabin. And the answer is very well indeed. With the A/C working hard and the stopgo traffic of an afternoon commute, the average fuel consumption still showed 9.4 L/100 km.
Day 7: My last full day with the Ranger. Had the tunes on the drive home a little louder on the stereo, and even though it is the standard and not the upgraded Bang & Olufsen system, I cannot complain about the quality of the sound.