The midsized pickup truck segment has actually heated up up to now few years with the introduction of updated models and what appears to be more of an effort from automakers to make such vehicles more relevant. Such a movement has been fueled by the rising prices of full-size trucks, giving buyers recent, relatively reasonably priced options that try and avoid an excessive amount of compromise. The brand new 2024 Ford Ranger received a redesign for the model yr after its return success from the 2019 model yr.
For 2024, the Ford Ranger will receive a full redesign but will keep with the tradition of offering a plethora of trim levels and options to appease buyers who may cross-shop larger full-size trucks. With that, the brand new Ranger is best positioned than ever before to be on the short list of buyers looking for a capable pickup truck that doesn’t break the bank like some full-size options. Overall, the brand new Ford Ranger is greater than only a baby F-150, it’s now more of a grown-up creation of its own that provides a large gamut of trims from the bottom $32,720 XL model all the best way as much as the rugged and off-road thrashing Ranger Raptor starting at $55,620.
Performance and Driving Character
For this week, I get my hands on the brand new 2024 Ford Ranger XLT 4×2, which is a good mid-level trim that opens the supply of many desirable options. With 4 trim levels, the brand new Ford Ranger offers a selection of two powertrains; the brand’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged 4-cylinder returns with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, or you may go for a 2.7-liter EcoBoost turbocharged V6 engine with 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Each engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
My test vehicle, the Ranger XLT rear-wheel-drive, has the two.3-liter turbo engine, which surprisingly proved to be quite the performer with its low-end torque available maxing out 3,000 rpm. The familiar engine, a proven powerhouse for its small size, can be present in the Ford Bronco and EcoBoost Mustang.
Out on the road, the brand new Ford Ranger feels more planted than before and barely more rigid, which is a characteristic that some truck buyers may appreciate. In any case, you don’t need a soft-feeling truck – you would like one which’s capable and rugged, most times. The facility comes on strong after a slight turbo lag, and sometimes catches you off guard with the surge of torque on the low end, but eventually, it becomes predictable. The ten-speed automatic transmission helps to amplify the facility output, keeping the engine in the facility band often. Zero to 60 mph takes place in about 6.4 seconds, which is kind of respectable for such a truck and notably quicker than competitors corresponding to the Chevy Colorado and the brand new non-hybrid Toyota Tacoma.
The off-roading prowess of the brand new Ford Ranger returns with an edge for many who go for four-wheel-drive or the aggressive Ford Ranger Raptor, which gets the more powerful turbocharged V6 engine and other off-roading oriented goodies. My test vehicle is somewhat limited in its off-roading abilities having the 4×2 setup, but gets a high ground clearance and capable Goodyear Wrangler tires. In all, the brand new Ranger drives excellently and is more on the firm side for its suspension, but it surely doesn’t beat you up, which some may appreciate.
Towing within the Ford Ranger gives you confidence in its rating of as much as 7,500 kilos and the power to haul 1,711 kilos within the spray-lined bed with a dampened tailgate. For added convenience, there’s a 120-volt plug within the bed in addition to a typical 12-volt.
Fuel Economy
The brand new Ford Ranger retains its fuel economy by having the identical 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine that matches the EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined driving. The EPA city 21 mpg estimate and highway 25 mpg estimate are on par with what you’ll expect in the actual world as you burn through regular unleaded within the 18.8-gallon tank.
Interior and Technology
The more drastic change in the total redesign of the brand new 2024 Ford Ranger is in the inside, where there’s a totally recent space and dashboard, which somewhat suits the brand new mold of some Ford SUVs and full-size trucks. The central look plays off the portrait-style 12-inch touchscreen, which is a welcomed setup considering how well it’s integrated into the dashboard. The screen doesn’t appear to be an afterthought because it does in vehicles just like the recent Ford Mustang Mach E. The functionality of the most recent Sync software is sweet but does require an initial load time that you could get used to, otherwise you will suffer slow system responses to inputs. There’s a welcomed redundancy of automatic dual-zone climate controls having a set of physical buttons and knobs in addition to onscreen functions, which I welcome having the flexibility. Overall, the system shouldn’t be essentially the most responsive on the market but proves to be welcoming after a slight learning curve in going through an extended list of features and functions.
Integration of wireless (or USB-connected) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto suits well to make clever use of the big screen real estate, as does the 360-degree camera system. You’ll be able to tell Ford put plenty of thought into the event and layout of the infotainment system in using a big vertical-oriented setup.
For the redesign, the Ranger gets an 8-inch digital driver’s gauge cluster that’s surrounded by LED gauges for the engine temp and fuel level. The setup is usually basic, much like what you discover within the Bronco. It shouldn’t be until you progress to the Lariat or Raptor trims that you just get an upgraded digital gauge cluster.
The seating areas are improved over the outgoing generation, mostly within the headroom, providing versatile space and somewhat comfortable front heated cloth seats in my Ranger XLT test vehicle. Here, there’s somewhat of a competitive edge within the Ranger considering its clever feature content, having items like a wireless smartphone charger, heated front seats, a bigger 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, an influence rear window, and dual-zone climate control. The one drawback I discovered is the shortage of a pushbutton start, where you’re required to make use of the classic key for the ignition, although there’s a distant start feature from the important thing fob. You’re also left to make use of of the standard Ford door keypad in the event you want to enter the vehicle without using the distant or inserting the important thing.
Safety
The brand new Ford Ranger bundles up several standard lively safety features for the bottom XL trim that include forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane departure warning, and a single-angle backup camera. Moving to the XLT trim, you get a blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and a digital rearview mirror. Equipped on my test vehicle is the choice of adaptive cruise control, an automatic parking system, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system.
Price
The Ford Ranger keeps with competition for its pricing scale starting at $32,720 for the XL trim. Nonetheless, you may bundle up several option packages within the XLT trim level, corresponding to the few found on my test vehicle bringing the as-tested price to $43,425.
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