After a long hiatus, Ford revealed the resurrected Ranger pickup at January’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Long sought-after for its versatility and medium size, the Ranger has been dominating the world since it left our shores in 2011. Let’s discuss what’s to love about the new world-trekking 2019 Ford Ranger.
European T6 Design
Quite similar to the beloved European T6 model, the Ranger is available in an FX2 extended twin- or an FX4 quad-cab body style and three trim levels: XL, XLT, and the lavish Lariat. With a single wheelbase, you’ll get a 6-foot bed or a shorter, 5-foot one with the four-door SuperCrew. Ford used more steel than aluminum when constructing the Ranger, giving it the same reliable durability as their lineup of full-size trucks.
Quite dynamic and sporty to look at, the offshore Ranger got a facelift just for us here in America. Ford added a new grille, a distinctive bumper, and twin hood accents with a bit of a front overhang. Available leather seating on the Lariat trim gives the new Ranger a classy feel and a sleek appearance, and it’s more maneuverable than its big brother, the legendary F-150.
A Slew of Hot Features
If you want more “off” in your “roading,” then upgrade to the FX4 package. The ruggedly equipped Ranger features variable driving modes such as normal, grass, gravel, snow, mud, and sand, and the innovative Trail Control system that acts like cruise control for trekking through the wilderness. All terrain tires, heavy-duty steel bash and skid plates, off-road tuned dampers, and a locking rear differential round out FX4’s cross-country amenities.
An 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system is loaded with available Sync 3, and the standbys Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus Ford’s new Alexa personal voice assistant and navigation. Opt for the FordPass Connect and plug-in wherever you roam with a 4G LTE in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot that delivers enough power to operate 10 devices.
Best-In-Class Towing Power
Hook up that boat or camper, and leave the world behind. The engineers at Ford are boasting all about the Ranger’s best-in-class towing capacity, which means it has to exceed the Chevy Colorado’s 7,700 pounds. Hardcore numbers aren’t released yet. For added safety, Ford’s handy Smart Trailer tow connector will alert drivers to any faulty wiring issues on the trailer.
World-Class Performance
Perhaps a bit of puzzling news coming out of Ford headquarters — the Ranger will only have one powertrain option. Interesting. Despite the success of the Ranger diesel overseas, America gets a direct-injected 2.3-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. But never fear, this engine has been tried and tested for years under the hood of Ford’s celebrated pony car.
There is some good news with that surprise, though. Midsize trucks like the Ranger are becoming increasingly popular on our side of the pond due to improved fuel economy over larger sized pickups.
The Ford Ranger is back to reclaim its place in mid-size pickup history. Keep a lookout for one at your local Ford showroom soon.
Photo via Ford.com
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