The Evolution of a Legacy
Story By: Kyle Callen
Photos By: Brandon Bunch
Starting in 1983, Ford needed a replacement for the Currier, which led to production of the Ranger. The all-new design was Ford’s entry into the compact truck market. The popularity of the model would continue for 29 years until the powers that be decided to quit making it. After their seven-year hiatus, Ford has now brought the Ranger back with a whole new look.
Picking up the Lightning Blue Ranger, I had zero expectations. Owning several Rangers in the past, I wasn’t sure if the sleek new design and modern identities would live up to the legacy that its predecessor left behind, however, there was little time to look the truck over. I had to get from Los Angeles, CA, to Laughlin, NV quickly to help cover a desert race. Tossing my gear into the back seat, I noticed it was a bit cramped, but the interior looked nice. With the driver’s seat slid all the way back, I hit the highway.
True to all LA stereotypes, I sat in stop-and-go traffic for hours. This time going nowhere gave me ample time to get well acquainted with the interior amenities. The utilitarian styling Lariat package was less than impressive next to the Platinum and Limited Edition models of the F-150 and F-450 that we’ve experienced, but the quality of the materials seemed great and it seems to stand a fair chance of lasting for a lot of hard miles, just like the interior of the prior Rangers. The dual 4.2” productivity screens were easy to read and use with the seats adjusted properly, and offered all the information you could try to read while driving. The leather seats were firm yet comfortable on the 5-hour long drive. Luckily, it was just me in the truck. Being on the taller side of humans, I had the seat pushed all the way back, which left almost zero legroom for anyone behind me, but left enough room to keep my gear bags in the back seat and out of the elements.
In stop-and-go traffic, the 2.3l Ecoboost engine equipped with auto start-stop technology was annoying to deal with. While it is proven to help with fuel economy, the delay in throttle response while waiting for the engine to start was less than ideal. I could see this being a cool feature once you got used to it, but for me, I had to shut it off. As the traffic began to clear, I was able to open up all 270 horsepower and make up some time. The engine coupled to the fantastic 10-speed transmission ran flawlessly. The Ford Ranger was a great highway cruiser. It was comfortable, easy to drive, and got almost 20mpg. The adaptive cruise control would kick in and slow things down even when I wasn’t paying attention making it invaluable on the road.
Exiting the pavement and onto the dirt in Laughlin, the FX4 Off-Road package shines. The smooth ride over rough roads made the truck feel planted and easy to drive, while the 4-wheel drive pulled it through any questionable soft spots with ease.
Once home, we hooked up the Ramptek flatbed and loaded a new Polaris RZR PRO XP to head for the trails. The Ford Ranger pulled the near 3,000 lb load pretty well for a compact truck. The towing ability of the original Ranger was ok, but definitely struggled to get a decent size load stopped. The mighty little 2.3l Ecoboost in the new Ranger found its happy place around 3500 rpm and cruised right along, and with 310 lb.ft. of torque, it had no problem getting things moving from a standstill. The brakes were one of my favorite parts of the new Ranger. The 4-wheel disc brakes would bring the load to a halt in a heartbeat. With great pedal feel and performance, I never had to worry about getting things stopped.
Overall, the new Ford Ranger is a great truck for someone that wants a comfortable commuter and doesn’t need the full capability of a half-ton truck. The features and build quality are what we expected out of Ford, and despite the radically different styling, the new Ranger will carry on the legacy of great compact and durable trucks.
