The mid-size pickup truck segment is back in a big way and there are now plenty of options available in the segment including the new Ford Ranger.
The 2019 Ford Ranger is powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that delivers 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic gearbox is standard.
There is no six-cylinder option, but that’s not a problem as the Ranger is as capable as its six-cylinder mid-size pickup competitors when it comes to towing stuff.
It starts at $30,969 and can go up to $42,289 for the loaded Lariat model. That’s more expensive than the Chevrolet Colorado or Nissan Frontier, but every Ranger gets four-wheel drive in Canada.
Two bed options are available: The SuperCab with a 6-foot bed or the four-door SuperCrew with a 5-foot bed option. Standard equipment includes forward emergency warning with automatic braking and SYNC infotainment with built-in Wi-Fi.
You’ll have to go with the Ford Ranger XLT ($35,539) to get aluminium wheels as the base model comes on steel rims. You’ll also get Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of active safety and driver assistance technologies, and front and rear park assistance. The 2019 Ford Ranger Lariat adds leather seats and SYNC3.
2019 Ford Ranger First Drive
There are a ton of packages that allow you to add features to each trim, notably the FX4 Off-Road package that comes with Ford’s Terrain Management System and Trail Control.
The first provides various driving modes to better handle different types of terrain while Trail Control is essentially an adaptive cruise control system for off-road driving. Simply set the speed and handle the steering wheel while the Ranger controls throttle and braking to get you through a tough part of the off-road trail.
Now that we know the trims and equipment, let’s look at whether you should buy one or not. You can also check out our 2019 Ford Ranger review.
Why You Should Buy a 2019 Ford Ranger
1) The 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine is probably the best mill you can get in the mid-size pickup truck segment. It provides impressive fuel economy and is quick to react to whatever you need it to do. It has V6 power with four-cylinder fuel-efficiency.
2) Towing is an impressive 7,500 pounds and payload is rated at 1,500 pounds. If you need to tow more, buy a full-size pickup.
3) We found the new Ranger to be quite comfortable on the road. Ford built it to be an everyday truck that active buyers will use both during the week to get to work, and on weekends to go camping or boating. It handles both jobs very well.
4) It’s an impressive truck off the beaten path, especially with the FX4 Off-Road Package. The Terrain Management System works very well and so does Trail Control.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy a 2019 Ford Ranger
1) The interior looks dated, even in the top-of-the-line Lariat model. The 2019 Ranger is all-new for North America, but it’s been around for a while in other markets and you can tell when you step inside. The Toyota Tacoma doesn’t have that problem.
2019 Ford Ranger First Drive | Photo: Charles Jolicoeur
2) Sure it has standard 4×4, but pricing may be an issue. If you just want a “work truck”, you may find that the entry-level model doesn’t provide enough value.
Final Thoughts
The 2019 Ford Ranger is the right pickup if we need to tow often and are worried about the fuel consumption of a V6 engine. It’s also a worthy purchase if we need to go off the road frequently. The interior is an issue for us, but not from a quality perspective. It just looks like a 2008 pickup in there. Aside from that, there’s no reason not to buy a new Ranger if your budget allows you to do so.
And by the way, you don’t have to remove the wheel to do an oil change…
2019 Ford Ranger Images
