Reborn pickup includes off-road variants
The Ranger midsize pickup has returned to the Ford truck lineup 2019 after an eight-year hiatus, taking on the recently reintroduced Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon models, among others.
This revived Ranger has a new exterior design, chassis and powertrain developed specifically for North America, and, like other newer Ford truck products, makes extensive use of aluminum in the body to reduce weight and improve fuel economy.
Available now, the Ranger comes in two cab configurations, SuperCab and SuperCrew, with three main trim levels, XL, XLT and Lariat, with the FX off-road packages available on both versions.
Both body styles have seating for up to five people, but the SuperCrew has more rear cabin space with better legroom, and it has four doors. SuperCab models have a six-foot-long cargo box, while Super Crew versions have a five-foot box.
Prices start at $28,977 for a two-wheel drive XL SuperCab model, and base prices climb up to $42,397 for the top-spec fourwheel-drive Lariat SuperCrew with the FX4 off-road package.
Rear-wheel drive is standard, but four-wheel drive can be added for $4,000 on the XLT and Lariat, and $4,160 on the XL.
My test model for this report was the midlevel XLT SuperCrew with shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive and the FX4 off-road package, including an electronic locking rear differential.
The new Ranger is powered by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The engine is rated at 270 horsepower and 310 foot-pounds of torque.
A twin-power dome hood accommodates the EcoBoost engine, which comes with a twinscroll turbocharger. The engine has a forged-steel crankshaft and connecting rods, and chain-driven dual overhead cams.
Fuel-economy ratings are 21 mpg city/26 highway/23 combined for rear-wheel-drive models, and 20/24/22 for four-wheel drive, such as my tester.
While the Ranger body is mostly aluminum, the truck has a high-strength steel frame, and frame-mounted steel bumpers front and back.
As with most midsize pickups, Ford expects the new Ranger to be used as a personal transportation vehicle rather than as a work truck, with weekend sporting adventures and light DIY hauling in mind.
The Ranger was designed with a muscular body with a high beltline to emphasize strength, Ford says. There also are a raked grille and windshield, adding to the Ranger’s sporty look. The design also helps improve aerodynamics and reduce wind noise.
Off-road customers are clearly in mind, as the new Ranger has short front and rear overhangs for clearing obstacles on the trail.
Available is a rugged steel bumper with an integrated trailer hitch receiver, allowing the Ranger to tow ATVs, travel trailers or boats. Maximum towing capacity is 7,500 pounds with the optional Trailer Tow Package, which was included on my test model.
Inside, there is a front centre dash stack that has an eight-inch touchscreen, and there is an instrument cluster with dual LCD screens for vehicle, navigation and audio information.
The FX4 Off-Road Package makes the new Ranger trail ready, and includes off-road shocks, allterrain tires, a heavy-gauge steel front bash plate, frame-mounted skid plates, FX4 badges and a Terrain Management System similar to that of the F-150 Raptor.
Features include normal; grass, gravel and snow; mud and ruts; and sand driving modes. The system automatically adjusts throttle response, gearing and vehicle controls to match the terrain or weather conditions.
Also included in the FX4 package is Ford’s new Trail Control technology, which automatically manages acceleration and braking on rough terrain. Trailer Sway Control was included on our XLT.
Standard are Dana AdvanTEK independent solid axles on twoand four-wheel-drive models, along with an optional electronic locking rear axle( standard on FX2 and FX4 packages) for increased traction.
Ranger four-wheel-drive versions feature low-range gearing for serious off-road conditions. There is a knob on the left side of the centre console shifter that electronically engages 4WD High or 4WD Low modes, along with the normal 2WD.
I took the Ranger on some mild off-road trails, where it performed flawlessly in light dirt and sand (but I did not encounter any mud or heavy rock). Shifting into and out of 4WD was quick and easy.
Advanced safety and driverassist technologies include standard automatic emergency braking, along with lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, reverse sensing system and a blind-spot information system with trailer coverage standard on XLT and Lariat trims.
Lariat models also come with pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control. Adaptive cruise was included on our XLT model in the optional Technology Package which also brought the Ford SYNC 3 entertainment and connectivity system, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Alexa personal assistant functionality and navigation.
Other standard features included 4-G Wi-Fi; auto stop/start for the engine, designed to save fuel in stop-and-go traffic; hillstart assist; remote keyless entry with pushbutton start; curve control; and a perimeter alarm.
I found the front bucket seats to be generally comfortable, even on a semi-long drive. The rear seat is comfy enough for two adults, but tight for three. Rear knee room is limited, however — especially if the front seats are very far back on their tracks.
The Ranger’s ride was surprisingly cushy for a truck, and the cabin was quieter than expected, even at highway speeds. These features helped make my Ranger a decent road-trip vehicle.
There was plenty of power for my needs, even on some mountain grades, and the 10-speed transmission shifted smoothly and efficiently. I did not load the Ranger with rear passengers or cargo, however, and did not tow any trailers.
Overall, Ford has done an excellent job designing and equipping the new Ranger, bringing a quality entry to the midsize pickup category. It’s a sound competitor to the Colorado and Canyon, as well as the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier.