Thoughts on the New Ford Ranger?

The bed is about as tall as the f150 but the truck inside is much smaller - think Ford Fusion on the inside. I got an F150 for the reasons mentioned (similar price, similar gas mileage, more capability) but the Ranger seemed nice enough when I sat in / poked around one. Certainly a generation or two ahead of a Frontier. I also have been in a Colorado w/ the diesel, and while it gets great gas mileage, diesel is $0.50/gal more expensive around these parts so it actually costs less to drive my 2.7L F150.  I routinely manage 25mpg with the cruise set on 70-75mph, and I've returned 28mpg on a 3 hour trip where I still averaged 70mph but tried.

I can also confidently state that towing with 325hp/400tq is much better than 181hp/369ft-lbs. 181hp is not getting you up a highway onramp fast any way you slice it. 

After shopping around price, features and reviews I bought a V-6  Frontier instead of a new turbo I-4 Ranger.

My old '97 ranger was requiring more maintenance Mrs Jharry3 wanted me "wasting my time on" so I decided to shop for trucks.  This old Ranger was the size truck I wanted but this is no longer available in the US.  The demand for that size Ranger is apparent considering that low mileage 2010/2011 Rangers are going in the $15K range.

At first I considered the new Ranger.   Then I read reviews that said the ride and handling was outdated (already), that the truck never seems to settle down, bounced around a lot.  Super cab does have a 6 foot bed.   I pressed on.  I started collecting Ranger prices from local dealers.  Very close to F-150 prices for a supposedly smaller truck that wasn't.    I was also leery of buying a model that didn't have a few years to sort out the bugs.  I had to do a lot of looking because most the the Rangers in stock were hi-option 4 door crew cab models with 4 foot beds for over $40k and up to $55K.  Crazy, right?  I think the dealers got wise, but too late, and started ordering super cabs with the 6 foot bed. 

So I started looking at other trucks of that size range.  The local Nissan dealer  had some mid-range option 2019 Frontier SE's for $9000 less than the "best price" the Ford dealer could give me on a 2019 Super Cab Ranger.  Nissan had good end of year incentives but Ford was giving me those as well.     I started thinking about the Frontier being almost unchanged for years, all the bugs are worked out, the v-6 is  a work horse vs the turbo in the Ford has almost the same HP and about half the displacement.  Yes, fuel mileage is better for the Ranger than the Frontier but I drive less than 10,000 miles a year so don't really care.

So I bought the Frontier.    Two weeks later the turbo engine in my wife's Ford Edge broke.  The block cracked.   Blocks don't crack.  I could not help but think I dodged a bullet with the turbo Ranger.    I guess the rest of the world getting a Ranger is great since Ford isn't selling F-150's a whole lot out of the US.  Also they offer a diesel and other engines in other markets but only have the one turbo engine option in the US.    

If this truck is built just like the ones I see beaten sensless like toyota's overseas.. then it should be a good little unit long term and outlast the colorado.  Last time I checked the Aussie 4x4 blogs compared the toyota and ranger all the time.  Nissan/holden/mitsu all were far behind in durability...

jharry3 said:

At first I considered the new Ranger.   Then I read reviews that said the ride and handling was outdated (already)...

...I was also leery of buying a model that didn't have a few years to sort out the bugs...     

You do realize that there is nothing new about the 'Global' Ranger other than its availability locally, right?

It seems to me that the biggest problem with the Ranger is that it has arrived here a day late and a dollar short. In 2011 Ford said there was 'no market' for their new midsize Ranger in America due to it being 'too close' to a the F150 in most measures...In 2015, with a truck also released elsewhere in 2012, Chevy proved them wrong and captured a significant market share in the process. After waiting another 3 years Ford is stuck trying to play catchup in a saturated market. The problem is, that pretty much no matter what you are looking for in a truck, somebody else already sells a better option. The main thing the Ranger seems to have going for it, is that from a corporate standpoint it's pretty much fully depreciated already....But even Nissan has them beat there.

Driven5 said:

jharry3 said:

At first I considered the new Ranger.   Then I read reviews that said the ride and handling was outdated (already)...

...I was also leery of buying a model that didn't have a few years to sort out the bugs...     

You do realize that there is nothing new about the 'Global' Ranger other than its availability locally, right?

.

I realize it.  I just didn't want to pay a premium for an old design when I can get a cheaper old design with a Frontier.    The bugs I mention are what comes with making it a US compatible version.  

Knurled. said:

The first time I saw one, I thought someone stuck "RANGER" on an F150.

 

They aren't minitrucks.  Makes me wonder why they botherered, when you can buy an F150.

There are no mini trucks currently here. They are all mid sized.

Well, I went ahead and bought the Ranger, an XLT  crew cab in "Hot Chili Pepper Red".

So after 2 days of ownership here are some thoughts.  It's a good, really solid truck, even closing the tailgate has a nice solid sound.

The seats have enough adjustments that just about anybody should be able to get comfortable.  The cabin is roomy with plenty of room in the back seats for actual adult sized people.  The controls are laid out well but coming from a Mazda 3 it will take some adjustment before I can hit some of the controls without looking.  The radio is surprisingly good for a factory system, the sound is well presented and is more like listening to a home stereo where the sound is in front of you.

The turbo 4 makes enough power to be reasonably quick though it has a little rumble at low RPMs. 

Handling is fair, it reminds you that it IS a truck... the steering could be a little faster and body roll feels strange.  You expect some roll but normally the roll center is about where you are, the Ranger has a fairly low roll center that you are sitting a couple feet above, you feel the roll as a side to side movement.  This is really noticeable on rough pavement.

MotorsportsGordon said:

Knurled. said:

The first time I saw one, I thought someone stuck "RANGER" on an F150.

 

They aren't minitrucks.  Makes me wonder why they botherered, when you can buy an F150.

There are no mini trucks currently here. They are all mid sized.

When the parts runners used up all the 2wd four cylinder Rangers they hoarded, they switched to PT Cruisers.

They use Versa Notes now.  I just measured one, it has a 26" tailgate height.

There WAS a fleet market for small pickups.  I think that after they were gone, the fleets realized they could switch to small but cavernous hatchbacks, which give most of the usability but with much better economy in city driving.  In other words, the ship has sailed.

Bringing this back from the dead. How's everyone liking or disliking their new Ranger? I'm looking at smaller trucks and the Ranger leads the pack with a 7500 towing capacity that can easily serve my needs. 

Thoughts? 

I have some neighbors that own them.  They love them and rave.  They aren't pulling huge trailers.  Mostly driving them as DD, but can put a bag of fertilizer in the back on Saturday.    I'm in the rural South.   Many believe if you are not driving a pickup everywhere there is something seriously wrong with you.  These Rangers kind of keep the owners from being totally considered weird.

Some neighbors drive duallies daily, I've never seen a trailer behind their polished clean trucks....

How soon do you need a vehicle? The new colorado/canyon is available next spring (late '23 model) and the new ranger sometime later in the year ('24 model). I think the ranger is mostly just a facelift but might have some extra features or towing capacity. The colorado/canyon is a bigger change, moving to the 2.7 turbo from the silverado and increasing tow capacity to 7700lbs. If you can wait I'd seriously look at the colorado/canyon depending on what the pricing looks like, or at least get the better looking ranger. But if you need something in the next couple of months, current ranger is probably the way to go.

In reply to Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) :

That is true in south Florida as well. Full size crew cab 6 inch lift duallys as daily drivers. Not for me, but that's why there is variety in life I guess. 

Three years and 36,000 miles in, I'm happy with the truck.  There are a couple things I would change but they're minor.  If you have vent and floor on and push for defrost then floor turns off, minor but annoying at times.  Passenger side mirror is a big blind spot to look around, again minor.  If I was to change anything, I would lower the truck a bit, maybe an inch.

Now, yes, there is a new Ranger coming.  I believe they are going to turn it into another squared off block just larger than the Maverick and smaller than the F150 unlike the sleeker look of the current model.  I guess they don't think it looks intimidating enough in your rear view mirror.

dps214 said:

How soon do you need a vehicle? The new colorado/canyon is available next spring (late '23 model) and the new ranger sometime later in the year ('24 model). I think the ranger is mostly just a facelift but might have some extra features or towing capacity. The colorado/canyon is a bigger change, moving to the 2.7 turbo from the silverado and increasing tow capacity to 7700lbs. If you can wait I'd seriously look at the colorado/canyon depending on what the pricing looks like, or at least get the better looking ranger. But if you need something in the next couple of months, current ranger is probably the way to go.

The Ranger 6 is supposed to be all new.

My racin' buddy (one of them) has a Ranger.  He has driven it cross country, tows his projects with it, and take the family all over doing all sorts of things.  It has been a great truck for him.  I had a Colorado Z71 until we moved and I had to reconfigure our fleet to get better mpg for my commute.  Honestly, I'd still have it if it worked.  Both are really good trucks, get a bit better mileage, can tow, and both are great for families.  Drive both and figure out which one you like best. 

Great info, thanks. The new Colorado was not on my radar....until now. No rush for new vehicle (thanks, Obama) now but will be within the next year or so. 

I actually drove a new ranger for work yesterday and I really like it. Maybe a leftover OBS new ranger could be bought cheap when the NBS arrives? 

IMO the new Maverick should have been the new Ranger and Ford should have not released what they now call a Ranger.   I told a salesman at the dealer that opinion and he said he could not disagree with me.

The new Ranger is as big as a F-150 from 20 years ago and a lot larger than the original Ranger.  I looked at new Rangers in 2019 but ended up with a V-6 Frontier for almost $8000 less at the time.   

I wanted to buy a Turbo All wheel drive Maverick but the dealer fumbled my order back in September so that decision is off my radar since the wait is over a year from my understanding.

I know it didn't happen without pictures - my 2021 Ranger XLT:

I was leary about the turbo as I Plan to keep it for ten years. Frontiers were unavailable, didn't like the Toyota tax, Canyon/Colorado 8 speed seemed to be problematic and the duo has a reputation as a flexible flyer. So having made the mid size decision the Ranger was the choice.

I made the mid size choice because I can drive into town and parallel park and it's not too big for parking spots. Additionally I priced out F 150s and I hit it so hard with the option stick it was way too expensive.

It only has 17,000 kilometres in 18 months but that's because 10+ years of independent courier work makes me price out every kilometre. Overall I really like the truck and it's cable of ~ 9.5l per 100km or 30mpg on a slow winding highway like 19A to Comox.

In reply to Rons :

It's funny, I was originally looking for a Lightning Blue Ranger but every one I saw either had chrome bumpers (and chrome every thing else) - yuck, or black bumpers - meh.  Still don't think I've seen a blue one with body color bumpers.  I do get a lot of compliments on the Chili Pepper red color.