Is the Ford Ranger a good car?

The Ford Ranger is a capable and versatile midsize pickup truck that is ready for anything. The Ford Ranger is an excellent truck for nearly anyone, available with everything from a high-torque turbo engine, off-road suspension, and a complete set of safety features.

How much can the Ford Ranger tow?

The Ford Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds with the trailer tow package equipped. This gives it the strength to haul a boat or camper trailer for a weekend of adventure. Few trucks in the Ranger’s class offer comparable towing capabilities.

How much is a Ford Ranger?

The Ford Ranger starts just under $25,000 with the XL trim that offers Ford’s rugged reliability with numerous selectable packages. The Lariat trim starts at around $33,000 and comes standard with features like leather seats and a premium B&O audio system.

How much does the Ford Ranger weigh?

The Ford Ranger has a curb weight ranging from 4,145 and 4,571 pounds.

2021 Ford Ranger Review | Pricing, Trims & Photos

Trims

2021 Ford Ranger trim comparison

Starting MSRP

$26,265*

$30,315*

$34,355*

MPG

Engine

NHTSA Overall Safety Rating

Drive Type

Seating Capacity

Automatic Emergency Braking

Basic Warranty

Horsepower

Blind Spot System

Surround View Camera

Adaptive Cruise Control

Remote Engine Start

Tow Hitch

21 city/26 hwy*

2.3L I4 Turbo

4 star

RWD*

4 passenger*

3 yr / 36k mi

270 hp

Engine Type

Fuel Type

Horsepower

Horsepower RPM

Torque

Torque RPM

Engine Displacement

Engine Configuration

Cylinders

Aspiration

Variable Valvetrain

Valvetrain

Number of Valves

Compression Ratio

EPA City Fuel Economy

EPA Highway Fuel Economy

EPA Combined Fuel Economy

Start/Stop System

Gas

Regular Unleaded

270 hp

5500 rpm

310 lb-ft

3000 rpm

2.3 L

Inline

4 cylinder

Turbocharged

Double Overhead

16 valve

10.0

21 MPG*

26 MPG*

23 MPG*

2021 Ford Ranger Review

Reviewed by Ben Stewart

Overview

The Ford Ranger is one of our favorite midsize pickups. It's available as a SuperCab (extended cab) or SuperCrew (four full-size doors). Both options are offered in 2WD or 4WD configurations. However, there's just one engine — a 270-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired to a 10-speed automatic. It's a great partnership. The Ranger is quick, nimble, and generally drives smaller than it is. Ride quality is on the firm side for the class and, depending upon the model, can offer a bumpy freeway ride. The fuel economy is slightly above average for the class. The Ranger offers some great options for off-roaders from the 2WD FX3 on up to the Ranger Tremor package with larger tires and an upgraded suspension. Its direct competitors include the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma, the latter being the most popular truck in the class for decades.

Positives

Good value. Potent turbo powertrain. Specialized off-road models.

Considerations

Dated interior. Choppy ride. No turbodiesel option like the competition.

Verdict

Truck shoppers hunting for a midsize pickup with a powerful engine, agile handling, and solid capability will like the Ford Ranger. It offers a range of great options, including specific off-road and eye-catching appearance packages, plus some of the best safety tech in the segment.

What's New for 2021

The Ranger rolls into 2021 with a few changes. The biggest news is the addition of the new STX and Black edition appearance packages and the off-road-focused Tremor package, which is optional on XLT and Lariat models. There's a newly optional cross-bed toolbox. On the inside, there are minor additions and deletions to the Ranger. Some of those highlights include: Power-folding mirrors are now standard on XLT, the power passenger seat is now six-way instead of eight-way, and Sync 3 is now an option on the base XL trim and standard on XLT and Lariat.

Trims and Pricing

Ford offers the Ranger in three trims: XL, XLT, and Lariat. Two-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive adds $3,855 to the price of an XL and $3,700 to the bottom line of XLT and Lariat. The XLT is the popular trim and it’s also our recommendation for the value.

XL

The base XL gets 16-inch steel wheels, a 3.5-inch "productivity" screen in the gauge cluster, a 3.5-inch screen in the center of the dashboard, manual single-zone A/C, manual cloth seats, power windows, and automatic headlights, and AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth and four speakers. It starts at $26,265 (including a $1,195 destination fee).

XLT

The XLT ($30,315) adds 17-inch wheels, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, premium cloth seating, additional safety equipment, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. We recommend the XLT trim based on the upgraded touchscreen interface alone, not to mention the numerous other features that it adds as standard equipment.

Lariat

Priced at $34,355, the Ford Ranger Lariat builds on the XLT's equipment list. It includes 18-inch wheels, a 4.2-inch color "productivity" screen between the gauges in the instrument cluster, a leather shift knob, ambient lighting, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Lariat also comes with leather power seats (heated in front), LED headlights, a reverse sensing system, and a push-button start.

Engine and Performance

Unlike some midsize trucks, every Ranger model comes with the same engine and transmission — and it's a great powertrain. So, in terms of performance, the base XL Ranger provides quite a lot of speed at a reasonable price. The 270-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder generates a solid 310 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. The Ranger is one quick machine, and with the Sport mode button pressed, the whole experience feels even more lively and responsive. Because the Ranger has a 10-speed automatic transmission — the truck always seems to be in the right gear. The turbo's low-end torque helps conquer long freeway grades without working too hard. At 70 mph the Ranger tackles those grades with the engine revving at just 2,000 rpm in 9th gear. The Ranger is about the same size as other midsize pickups but it drives smaller than it is — nimble and athletic. It's also easy to park. The Ranger can feel bouncy around town on certain roads compared to some midsize trucks.

Towing and Capacity

If hauling heavy stuff is a priority, the Ranger is a true stand-out in the class. The top Ranger trims offer a payload that reaches nearly 1,900 pounds — a rating more closely associated with full-size trucks. And it provides the highest standard tow capability, with every trim rated to pull 7,500 pounds. In comparison, the Toyota Tacoma has a max payload rating of 1,685 pounds and a max tow rating of 6,800 pounds.

Fuel Economy

The Ranger's fuel economy is right on target for the class. A 2WD Ranger is rated by the Environmental Protection Agency to return an impressive 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. And four-wheel-drive Rangers are rated to deliver 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. On a 300-mile mixed driving fuel economy test, we averaged 21 mpg in a fully optioned 4WD Lariat. We also earned 20 mpg in both a similarly equipped V6 Chevrolet Colorado and a Toyota Tacoma over the exact same route.

Interior

The Ranger's cabin is slightly tight compared to some in the class, such as the Honda Ridgeline, so it doesn't feel quite as roomy as we'd like. The front seats are comfortable, but on SuperCrew models, the rear bench seat is perched high with barely enough headroom for an average adult. It's fine for short trips, but this wouldn't be the truck we'd choose for a road trip with four tall passengers.

Unlike some midsize trucks, the Ranger comes in one wheelbase and one overall length — no matter which cab you select. And that means buyers must choose more cabin space or more bed space. The SuperCrew models have a 5-foot bed, and the SuperCab models use a 6-foot bed. The Ranger was redesigned for the 2019 model year, but its interior is already old news. For example, the Ranger is one of the few new vehicles that still use a parking handbrake. That's a lot of real estate between the front seats that could be used more efficiently, perhaps for a larger center console.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The Ranger XL might be a good overall value, but the tiny screen between the gauges and 3.5-inch dash infotainment screen lack functionality and technology. And it makes the base model Ranger feel low-rent. Most buyers will want to upgrade to the 8-inch LCD touchscreen with Sync 3, enhanced voice recognition, dual USB ports, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But on XL trucks, it adds over $3,000. It might be more economical for tech-savvy Ranger buyers to move up to the XLT, where an 8-inch touchscreen is standard. And although that system works better, it still falls short of the giant screens and tech-forward upgrades available on other Ford vehicles such as the Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Safety

The Ford Ranger scored an overall four-star safety rating (out of a maximum of five stars) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Ranger a top "Good" rating overall.

The Ranger is a safety-tech leader among midsize trucks. It comes standard with automatic halogen headlights, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, and dynamic brake support. The XLT grade also gets Ford's Co-Pilot 360 safety system, which bundles auto-high beam headlights, a blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alert and trailer tow monitoring, lane-keeping assist, plus a driver alert system.

Ford Ranger vs. the Competition

The Ford Ranger trails behind the Toyota Tacoma by a healthy margin in sales. But the battle for second place is much closer, and the Ranger has been trading the number two position with the Chevrolet Colorado in the first few months of 2021. Likely spurring interest is the Ranger's new packages, including a more rugged Tremor off-road package. The Ranger doesn't offer an entry-level four-cylinder engine, V6, or a diesel option like other midsize trucks. Instead, Ford goes its own way with a single powertrain. We rank the truck's overall refinement slightly behind the Chevy Colorado and carlike Honda Ridgeline. And its off-road capability is a step behind the Jeep Gladiator, the 4X4 leader in the class. But the Ranger offers much to like, including the most payload of any midsize truck and the highest standard towing capability. The Ranger also is one of the most fuel-efficient pickups in the segment. In all, the Ranger deserves to be on every midsize truck buyer's shopping list.

Ford Ranger vs. Chevrolet Colorado

Ford Ranger vs. Honda Ridgeline

Ford Ranger vs. Jeep Gladiator

Ford Ranger vs. Toyota Tacoma

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Owner Reviews

2021 Ford Ranger Owner Ratings & Reviews

4th Generation Ford Ranger

2019 - 2023

Overall Rating

4.8

Based on

Performance

4.8

Comfort

4.5

Fuel Efficiency

4.2

Safety Technology

4.6

Features

4.6

87%

12%

< 1%

1%

< 1%

Search

All reviews

Search

5.0

Performance

5.0

Comfort

4.0

Fuel Efficiency

3.0

Safety Technology

5.0

Features

5.0

Performance

5.0

Comfort

4.0

Fuel Efficiency

3.0

Safety Technology

5.0

Features

5.0

pros

My husband had a 1998 Ranger and it was past time to update. I like: 1. it is a 4-5 seater, 2. it is not the highest tires but that they are 17 in.,

cons

Nothing. The only thing I can say is cost. We got a good deal but now we are back to payments on a vehicle again and this has nothing to do with the type of vehicle it is.

Submitted by Vanessa M on --- --- ----|2021 Ford Ranger XL SuperCrew 5' Box 4WD|Purchased on --- --- ----

5.0

Performance

5.0

Comfort

5.0

Fuel Efficiency

4.0

Safety Technology

5.0

Features

5.0

pros

Drives very well in the snow, has a very good turn radius , a lot of room inside the truck , has pretty decent power . It's a lot of other good things about the truck.

cons

I dislike the milage , it say 20-25 city/highway mpg but on the highway at 65-75 mph , it gets 17-18 mpg. I bought a tonneau cover and it went up to 21.8 mpg doing 65mph. Other than that it's a very nice truck. Note the truck only has 1800 miles on it and maybe it will get better.

Submitted by Jason H on --- --- ----|2021 Ford Ranger XL SuperCrew 5' Box 4WD|Purchased on --- --- ----

5.0

Performance

5.0

Comfort

5.0

Fuel Efficiency

3.0

Safety Technology

4.0

Features

4.0