SALT LAKE CITY – The 2024 Ford Ranger is all-new, however it isn’t only for you, America. Whereas its numerous midsize pickup rivals are successfully unique to North America, leaving completely different vans to satisfy the wants of assorted world markets, the Ranger sees obligation throughout the globe. In actual fact, it’s already been on sale in locations like Nice Britain, Australia and Thailand for months. I did a double take once I sauntered previous one in central London final September.
Now, if you realize something in regards to the last-generation Ford Ranger, this will not come as a shock. That too began life overseas lengthy earlier than coming ashore right here, albeit with new underpinnings beneath a copy-paste physique and cabin. It may be argued these carryover parts have been what made the Ranger a less-than-successful entry. It was good to drive, lots succesful and we even put it first in a midsize truck comparability take a look at, however the inside was simply as dated as the worldwide Ranger’s first mannequin yr would counsel (2011), whereas the styling spoke to completely different truck tastes. To place it bluntly, People need their vans to look all rugged and hard. Of us in Iceland and Down Underneath? Not a lot.
Effectively, that was the belief, not less than, together with by these inside Ford. However, Ford went out on a limb with a typical burly-and-tough design for each market the next-generation Ranger would service. That features a important 2-inch enhance in wheelbase and width that provides it notably completely different proportions than the tall, skinny visage of not-from-around-here pickups just like the last-generation Ranger. Ford model supervisor Andrew Cascaden says it was theorized that this extra American course would find yourself resonating with different markets, however it was nonetheless a speculation. Seems, the reception exceeded expectations. Rugged and hard works in Bangkok and Sydney, too, it appears.
American clients have been those particularly demanding these two adjectives, nevertheless, together with numerous requests for the inside that I’ll get to in a second. From an aesthetic perspective, the broader stance, harder entrance finish and creased fenders do a lot of the macho heavy lifting. It seems to be good with out attempting too laborious, and with out making the usual Ranger look completely bare when you’ve seen the Ranger Raptor (its story is coming March 21).
From a mechanical perspective, the brand new Ranger doesn’t signify an enormous rugged-and-tough distinction. The body is improved, not all-new, as a result of keep in mind, it wasn’t as outdated because the physique on high. What we’re actually speaking about, then, was a perceived deficit in toughness that didn’t align with the Ranger’s precise functionality. However, the brand new Ranger has larger floor clearance and higher strategy/departure angles. Its most payload is now 1,805 kilos (base engine and rear-drive) and 1,711 (base engine, four-wheel-drive), up from 1,770 and 1,560, respectively, for the outgoing Ranger SuperCrew. Its max towing capability of seven,500 kilos, no matter engine and drivetrain, is precisely the identical as earlier than. It’s additionally 1,000 kilos larger than the Toyota Tacoma, however 200 kilos in need of the Chevrolet Colorado. Somebody at GM in all probability simply did a fist pump.
Do you have to rating toughness by what’s happening below the hood, although, the brand new 2024 Ranger can unquestionably be the extra muscular specimen. Emphasis on “can.” As soon as once more, the usual engine is a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. That crushes the bottom GM and Toyota engines, falls only a tiny bit in need of the Tacoma’s mid-grade alternative, and could be painfully defeated by their burliest improve decisions. Don’t be so fast with one other fist pump, although, as a result of the 2024 Ranger now gives a alternative in engine. There’s the Raptor, in fact, which pumps out a class-best 405 hp and 430 lb-ft from its 3.0-liter turbo V6, however we’ll get to that in a pair days. There’s additionally an possibility for the usual Ranger, nevertheless: the identical 2.7-liter turbo V6 supplied within the Bronco good for 315 hp and 400 lb-ft. That bests all within the phase however the Colorado ZR2 (much less energy, extra torque) and the upcoming Tacoma hybrid (extra of each). Sadly, we didn’t get an opportunity to check this engine throughout our quick time with the usual Ranger. Pricing has additionally not been introduced for it, so “to be continued” on that entrance.
Regardless of these new choices and the above comparisons, the two.3 stays an impressively easy engine with loads of torque to make you surprise, not less than in a vacuum, if one thing burlier is absolutely wanted. The Tacoma’s turbo-four feels a bit agricultural by comparability. The usual 10-speed automated proved to be equally fault-free regardless of throwing a number of grades at it through the take a look at drive. The guide mode additionally fortunately held a particular gear when travelling downhill.
The Ranger additionally demonstrates ample refinement by way of its trip. There’s the anticipated body-on-frame wiggling and jiggling over greater bumps, however the damping is spot-on, sopping up bumps but controlling rebound exceptionally effectively. It feels subtle. Chassis response and physique motions on winding mountain roads have been additionally excellent for a small truck, however the steering is simply too numb, particularly on heart, and is a letdown given the remainder of the dynamic bundle. Choosing the Sport mode tightens issues up a bit, however the Ranger’s steering was higher earlier than. May it’s higher now? Ask me once more in a pair days.
It is in all probability value mentioning right here that the Ranger doesn’t simply have a steering wheel, however a steering knob as effectively. Inherited from the F-Collection, the Ranger is obtainable with the Trailer Reverse Steering system that permits you to use the knob surrounding the 4×4 controls to steer the truck in reverse when connected to the trailer. Simply look within the aspect mirrors or on the rear/aspect digital camera feed, and switch the dial within the course you need, simply as you’d the steering wheel when dealing with ahead. No have to do the standard psychological gymnastics usually required to again up a trailer. I used to be certainly in a position to extra exactly reverse a trailer by a pair chicanes value of narrowly spaced cones. You’ll be able to see it in motion beneath.
You might need observed earlier when discussing payload that I particularly in contrast the brand new Ranger to the last-generation Ranger SuperCrew. That’s as a result of the 2024 Ranger is just accessible with a single body-bed configuration: crew cab and 5-foot mattress. The SuperCab and its longer mattress aren’t any extra. GM made the identical alternative for its midsize vans, whereas Toyota continues to supply two cab sizes plus the choice of pairing the prolonged cab’s longer mattress with the crew cab. So does the Nissan Frontier. Not surprisingly, product planner Andrew Cascadan says knowledge indicated the SuperCrew/5-foot combo is what most individuals needed, and that it made extra sense to commit no matter funds would possibly’ve been used for making a SuperCab in direction of different enhancements.
If any went towards cabin high quality, design and have content material, good name bean counters. The brand new Ranger’s inside just isn’t solely suitably fashionable in comparison with its antiquated predecessor, however its high quality is surprisingly good for a midsize truck and, fairly frankly, for a lower-priced Ford. Whereas the Lariat and Raptor achieve a padded and stitched soft-touch pleather to the doorways and sprint, even a primary, $39,520 XL with the STX look bundle we drove (pictured above in blue) advantages from richer wanting plastics than what you’ll discover within the Tacoma and primary GM vans. There’s a combination of textures that agreeably distract from what continues to be laborious plastic. The distinctive air vents admittedly add many of the visible zing, together with one in all two vertically oriented touchscreens.
Talking of which, Cascadan mentioned that apart from “powerful” and “rugged,” clients have been additionally in search of “fashionable,” and there’s nothing extra fashionable than great-big shows. It’s truly a bit laborious to inform that there’s a distinction in measurement between the usual 10-inch and improve 12-inch screens. Each have the identical, new by-product of Sync 4A that makes use of the vertical area effectively, together with with a brand new, square-orientation for Apple just lately devised for CarPlay that lets the system solely partially take up the accessible actual property (any person please inform Toyota that is doable). The instrument panel is obtainable in 8- or 12-inch sizes, with the latter extra customizable, feature-packed and typical in look. The bottom display has an analogous uncommon format because the Bronco with its vertical bar graph tach.
Prospects additionally apparently needed higher storage, so Ford added a sizeable bin below the touchscreen that may home the accessible wi-fi charger plus a small shelf on the passenger-side sprint. The Lariat and Raptor additionally get a second glove field above, however that simply looks as if nickel-and-diming the decrease trims that aren’t precisely low-cost with beginning costs within the higher $30,000s. Ditto the very fact the XL’s bins aren’t lined in the identical rubbery materials discovered within the higher trims; what good is a bin in case your stuff flies off its slick plastic floor?
There’s one other bin below the again seat, which now has a fold-flat seatback. That may be one other buyer request, and though actually extra useful for carrying cargo than what was there earlier than, each the seat again and backside are nonetheless one piece. It’s subsequently tough to hold a passenger again there along with cargo, particularly baggage. The Tacoma and GM vans have 60/40-split seats.
With a wider Ranger additionally comes a wider mattress, significantly between the wheel wells the place the hole measures 4 ft. Convey on the plywood! Ford added a “Field Aspect Step” between the bumper and wheel effectively, however it’s not a nook step like these of the Tacoma and GM vans that make it easier to climb into the mattress. That is for providing you with a lift when leaning over the aspect – the Tremendous Responsibility has one thing related between the wheel and cab, however that placement’s not an possibility within the Ranger. I’m truthfully undecided how helpful it’s; I believe I’d fairly have an help step into the mattress just like the one supplied by the F-150.
Ah sure, it’s about time the Ranger’s massive brother was talked about. For People used to Ford vans wanting a sure manner, the final Ranger was at all times a bit, effectively, international. The brand new one is actually no Mini Me, however there’s additionally now a household resemblance that ought to make choosing the Ranger and its many advantages simpler to understand. These advantages would in fact be value, effectivity and, crucially, a sportier and extra maneuverable character. If something, I believe Ford might have turned up the foreigner dial a bit of extra, not less than by way of the accent catalog. Perusing the Australian Ford configurator reveals a “guide curler shutter” mattress cowl not not like the Hyundai Santa Cruz’s, a factory-fit “Trendy Twin Raise Cover” mattress cap, and a “Versatile Rack System” pictured beneath in grey that features SUV-style roof rails and cross bars, rails on high of the mattress partitions and a presumably flexible-in-some-way alternative for the tubular roll bar and buttresses (or no matter they’re known as in Australian) included on most Ranger fashions Down Underneath. And whereas I’m at it, the roll bar and buttresses must be supplied, too. They’re cool, simply ask Marty McFly.
Pricing begins at $34,265 together with the hefty $1,596 vacation spot cost, and clearing $50,000 for a Lariat 4×4 with choices. Earlier than clicking off to see base costs for its rivals, know that you just received’t be seeing apples to apples. The Tacoma and Frontier supply prolonged cabs, for example, whereas the Colorado comes with much less gear (most notably when evaluating the favored Ranger XLT versus Colorado LT). The Ranger additionally comes with extra customary energy. That is all a good distance of claiming “the Ranger could appear costlier, however look nearer.”
The difficult bit shall be getting midsize truck patrons to take a look at one thing aside from a Tacoma. Toyota’s overhauled best-seller is sure to proceed its overwhelming supremacy within the midsize truck phase, however this replace of the Ranger not less than appears sure to extend Ford’s share of no matter pie stays. A brand new comparability of that pair plus the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, and oh heck, Nissan Frontier could be mighty fascinating. I’d enterprise the Ranger would stand a really stable likelihood of being a repeat champion.
