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RYAN ZUMMALLEN: Legacy, toughness, tech.
The Ford Ranger has all of these qualities and many more.
If you're looking for a mid-size pickup truck,
or you're wondering whether a full size is really
necessary for your needs, the Ranger
is a great place to start.
In this video, we will show you what you need to know,
which model to pick, and what to look out for.
Hi, I'm Ryan from Edmunds.
Each year, we painstakingly test hundreds of cars and trucks.
While CarMax experts buy, sell, and appraise thousands
and thousands, we're combining our car-testing knowledge
with their experience to help you make the right choice
on your next car.
But hey, before we get started, be sure to click Like
and hit Subscribe to see more CarMax videos just
like this one.
There's a whole lot of details to know about this truck.
So if you'd like to know them all,
click the link in the description
below for a full, in-depth article.
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Remember the early 2000s?
We didn't take pictures of our food,
phones were used for phone calls,
and midsize trucks were small and tough as nails.
The Ford Ranger was a staple of that market
until Ford stopped making it in 2011.
But in 2019, they brought it back
with the idea of revisiting that classic formula
with a modern twist.
So how'd they do?
Well, the Ranger that returned to us
definitely deserves some credit.
It has the highest maximum torque, towing,
and payload ratings for gas-powered vehicles
in the class.
That got your attention, didn't it?
But, while the Ranger was gone, midsize trucks got bigger.
A lot bigger.
Look at how tall this is.
Look at how high it sits off the ground.
The good news is you can choose the size that works for you.
There's a smaller, extended cab called the SuperCab
with a 6-foot bed.
And then, there's a larger crew cab called the SuperCrew.
Like this one, with a 5-foot bed.
Then you can choose between the base model XL,
the mid-level XLT trim like ours here,
and the top level Lariat with a whole bunch of extra features.
You can also add the FX4 off-road package
to any of them, if you feel like getting adventurous.
Or really beef it up with the Tremor package
that debuted in 2021.
CarMax sells 2019 to 2021 Rangers for an average
of just over $33,000.
Keep in mind that the price depends
on things like the trim level, mileage, options,
and other factors.
If you're looking at Rangers, here
are the other mid-sized trucks to consider.
There's the Chevrolet Colorado, which has a smooth ride.
The Nissan Frontier, which is tough and affordable.
And the Toyota Tacoma, which excels off-road.
All of these options make great work trucks too.
Now, you could always go for something
like the Honda Ridgeline, which is
more like a car with a bed than a true truck.
Or the Jeep Gladiator.
But that thing is huge, and honestly, pretty pricey.
Now let's get back to the Ranger and its many capabilities.
Inside the Ranger now, and there are a few things
I want to show you.
So as we discussed earlier, the Ranger debuted in 2019
in the U.S. Before that, it was actually in production
in other countries for several years.
So if it seems like some aspects of the interior look
or feel a little bit old, it's because they are.
The styling can be a little bit dated.
The buttons are pretty small.
And there are lots of hard plastics
and other materials throughout the cabin.
Now, for a work truck, this is fine.
And the higher level Lariat is more plush.
But you should know this about the Ranger
while you're shopping because other trucks have
nicer interiors.
The good news is there's plenty of room to get comfortable.
I'm 6-feet tall and headroom is not a problem.
Also, my legs aren't cramped and they're not
bumping into any hard plastics around me either.
I also like the seats.
They're cloth and pretty basic, but they're
supportive in all the right areas
so that you can stay comfortable even on long trips.
The only real drawback is limited space in the back seat.
And remember, this is the larger crew cab.
So in these smaller extended cab, there's even less.
Tech-wise, if you're looking for the base Ranger XL,
it is basic.
You get a very basic touch screen and only
a 4-speaker sound system.
Instead, you should try to move up to this XLT or the Lariat.
With those, you get a much nicer 8-inch touchscreen
plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, standard.
Those trims also get nice driver aids like blind spot monitor,
lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Ford's pretty good about the driver aids.
You even get automatic emergency braking on the base XL.
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Driving the Ranger is the definition of mixed bag.
But first, let's start with the good, this engine.
Every Ranger gets a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder.
And that may not sound like a lot,
but this, maybe, pumps out 270 horsepower
in 310 pound feet of torque.
And even better, it works really well.
At our Edmunds test track, we measured it from 0
to 60 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds,
which is rocketing for a truck.
But, things start to go sideways, literally.
The steering is very light.
Like, to the point where sometimes when
you turn the steering wheel, it's
hard to tell whether the tires are responding quickly or not.
And that just makes for an inconsistent driving
experience, especially when you're
going around a lot of turns.
On top of that, the Ranger has noticeable body roll,
sometimes.
Which means, when you go through a turn,
you can feel the body actually shifting from side to side.
Now, these are pickup trucks so we don't expect sports car-like
handling.
But, some of the Ranger's competitors
just don't ask you to put up with that.
And just one more note on the suspension in the Ranger,
it's rough.
Now, this truck can absorb bumps in the road with no problem,
making sure that it's not uncomfortable for the driver
and passengers.
But when it does, it goes into this floating,
rebounding sensation.
And it takes a while for it to get out of that
and return to smooth driving.
Now, for a work truck that's fine.
But if you're looking at this as a daily driver
to comfortably haul yourself around, maybe
put a lot of commuting miles on, it's
just not the most refined experience out there.
And you should know that going in.
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OK.
Here's where the Ranger makes its money back.
After only the diesel-powered Chevy Colorado,
the Ranger has the highest maximum towing and payload
capacities in the class.
Now, that's specifically for the smaller extended cab versions.
The larger crew cab, like this one, also has high numbers.
They're just not best in class.
But more important than numbers is how the truck feels.
And the Ranger feels great when it's got a payload behind it.
It kind of smooths out some of those difficulties
we talked about earlier.
Ford knows towing.
It just does.
This truck is rocking 4 fixed tiedowns
in the bed, which is helpful.
But remember earlier when I said the Ranger was originally
designed for other countries.
Well there, these high bed sides are more the style.
But they make it a little bit difficult
to reach all the way in, grab things in the bed,
and pull them out from the side.
Even for me and I'm gangly.
You'll find Rangers with steel beds.
But I recommend looking for one with the optional protective
bedliner, like this, to avoid getting dents and scratches.
Do that and you've got a real workhorse of a truck.
Or don't, and you've got a great first truck for new drivers.
So the Ranger isn't perfect.
No car is.
But we're seeing the result of a car that was originally
designed for other countries, being taken and converted
into something that U.S. buyers will like.
We did get a great engine out of it.
That 2.3-liter turbo is gutsy.
But the total product falls short
of rivals like the Colorado, the Tacoma,
and in some cases, even the Frontier.
Now, if you're planning to throw a bunch of stuff
into the bed or tow something like a trailer or watercraft,
the Ranger is more than up to the task.
Whether you need the additional capability
from the extended cab or the extra space in this crew cab,
there is a lot of opportunity to have adventures in a Ranger.
So how will you take yours?
Let us know in the comments below.
Thanks for watching today.
Don't forget to give us a Like and Subscribe
to the CarMax channel for more videos like this one.
Again, to read a full in-depth article
on the Ranger and its competition,
click the link in the description below.
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