The Ford F-150 has been America’s best-selling vehicle for decades and the Maverick has been enormously successful since its introduction, but the same can’t be said of the Ford Ranger. Last year, Ford sold a total of 765,649 F-Series trucks, 131,142 Mavericks, and just 46,205 Rangers. In 2024, Toyota sold 192,813 Tacomas, Chevrolet sold 98,012 Colorados, and Nissan sold 68,155 Frontiers, all outselling the Ranger by a wide margin. If Ford can get the prescription right for its full-size and compact trucks, what’s going wrong for the midsize Ranger?
I’ve driven all of the available midsize pickups on sale, except for the Honda Ridgeline, and from where I’m sitting, I don’t know why shoppers aren’t buying the Ranger. I grew up surrounded by Nissan Frontiers and have owned multiple Toyota 4Runners, which is basically a Tacoma with an SUV body, so it’s fair to say that I’m a diehard Japanese truck guy. But from where I’m sitting, the redesigned 2024 Ford Ranger is one of the best trucks in the class. It’s capable of tackling truck tasks, it’s smooth as a daily driver, and it’s practical, making it a do-it-all truck that, for me, ranks near the top of the heap as a stellar option.
What the 2024 Ford Ranger Gets Right
I’ll be the first person to tell you that pickup trucks aren’t my jam. The majority of trucks are too big, too thirsty, and are driven by people who match the associated stereotypes a little too well. They’re also way too expensive. But the 2024 Ford Ranger? Well, it gets a lot right. Almost to the point where I have to eat my words about how I feel about the body style.
Powerful, Capable, and Robust
The 2024 Ford Ranger XLT that I tested came equipped with the base turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. Most of the time, automakers will only put the best of the best in the fleet, so it was unusual to see a base engine in a press vehicle, but there’s not much to complain about with the starter engine.
The base four-cylinder pumps out 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, which are mighty figures for a little engine, and its 7,500-pound towing capacity matches more powerful V6 engines. That’s a class-leading figure and the grunt from the turbo engine makes it feel like a possibility. Payload capacity ranges from 1,711 pounds to 1,805 pounds.
I didn’t get to test the Ranger’s towing capacity, but it was highly capable when hauling rocks and lumber off to the dump. Without the fancy on-board scales of the F-150, it’s hard to see how much we loaded into the truck, but the dump’s measuring scales listed it at around 1,000 pounds. The truck performed admirably with the heavy cargo, but demonstrated much better acceleration and braking after the cargo was dropped off.
Surprisingly Smooth Ride
Pickup trucks aren’t known for being comfortable. Sure, people use pickup trucks as daily drivers, but they’re not the best choice. Most of the time, trucks of all sizes require some kind of compromise when it comes to ride quality. That’s the price you pay when towing and hauling take precedence.
Surprisingly and impressively, the 2024 Ford Ranger delivers an incredibly smooth ride for a midsize truck. Large bumps won’t throw you around and the suspension deals with consistent ruts without relaying sharp bumps into the cabin. The Ranger is the kind of truck you wouldn’t hate yourself for using as a daily driver.
A Usable Cabin
The 2024 Ford Ranger is only available as a crew cab with a five-foot bed, which may be a downside for some shoppers, but it’s not if you’re looking for a do-it-all pickup. The cabin has plenty of space, is decently quiet, and has intuitive tech. Even in lower trims like the XLT, the Ranger feels more high-quality than some of its competitors and both rows of seats have a good amount of space for adults.
If there’s a slight strike against the cabin, it’s that the Ranger’s four-cylinder engine can sound coarse under heavy acceleration and when being pushed hard. This, though, isn’t an exclusive downside to the Ranger, but is more along the lines of a trait for most turbo-four engines.
Impressive Roster Of Tech
Most of the 2024 Ford Ranger’s competitors lock premium features away in pricey packages on higher trim levels. That’s not the case, at least for the most part, with the Ranger. The XLT we tested came equipped with the XLT High Equipment Group, bringing a 12.4-inch central display.
The slick display features Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system that’s easy to use and has straightforward menus, while the truck also comes with a digital instrument cluster. The Advanced Towing Package Plus Technology Package, which is a pricey option, adds extra safety features in a one-stop package.
With a few optional packages, you’ll turn the work-oriented Ranger into a truck that’s much nicer to live with.
What The 2024 Ford Ranger Doesn’t Do Well
Truthfully, not much. There’s a reason why the Ford Ranger has won awards and ranks as a top choice among more enthusiast-run sites. It’s not perfect, but you’ll never find perfection if you go chasing after it.
A Little Too Reliant On The Central Display
Look, the 2024 Ford Ranger’s central touchscreen looks great and it’s one of the larger units available in the segment, but one too many controls are controlled through the screen. A couple of exterior physical controls wouldn’t hurt.
Don’t Expect Good Fuel Economy
With a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine, one would expect the 2024 Ford Ranger to have great fuel economy figures, but that’s not the case. Even with the base engine and rear-wheel drive, you’re looking at 23 mpg combined, which isn’t great.
You’ll Pay A Pretty Penny
Ford’s sheet for the as-tested vehicle didn’t list a price, but it’s not hard to figure out that the 2024 Ford Ranger that we tested was pricey. With a starting price tag of $34,415, the base Ranger XL is one of the pricier trucks in the midsize segment. The XLT we tested comes with more features, but carries a higher price tag of $37,855. Adding all of the features from the test vehicle brings an estimated price of $45,185. Yikes.
In addition to being pricey, the Ranger also has some odd features. The model we tested, for instance, had heated cloth seats with power adjustments. Are people okay with paying $45,000 and getting a vehicle with cloth seats? I don’t know if I would be, as I would expect to get synthetic leather upholstery at that price point.
Verdict
The 2024 Ford Ranger is one of the best midsize trucks on sale and I cannot understand why Ford is struggling to sell them. It’s a solid workhorse that won’t beat you up. What more could you want from a truck? The Ranger is so good, it could sway a diehard Japanese truck fan to switch brands.
