2020 Ford Ranger

Ford has been updating their trucks with an increased interest after their decision of stopping the production of their passenger cars in America, there needs to be a product other than the F-150s that can keep the public interested in the brand. With the mid-size pickup segment spouting gold in recent times, it makes sense for Ford to want a share of the action. Hence, we now have the 2020 Ford Ranger Pickup Truck.

The Ranger is a very capable mid-size pickup truck, great for both leisure driving and working. The vehicle also gets some off-road driving assist features, although there isn’t a full-fledged off-roading ‘Raptor’ variant available yet. What you get though, are two body styles and one engine option. It isn’t plenty, but its enough for now.

Available as either as a two-door, four-seater SuperCab, or a four-door four-seater SuperCrew. Both the variants sport a 4-cylinder turbocharged mill, good for a 270 HP power output. Here we only concern ourselves with the SuperCrew variant, which comes in three trims.

Trim	XL	XLT	Lariat
MSRP (RWD)	$24,300	$27,940	$32,210
MSRP (4WD)	$28,460	$31,940	$36,210
Key Features	FordPass Connect with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot	Same as XL with additions or replacements	Same as XLT with additions or replacements
	Black front grille and bumper	Chrome front grille and bumper	Chrome front Grille with Chrome bars in the middle
	Plastic front grille - black	Steel front bumper - Body-colored	SYNC 3 with 8-inch LCD Touchscreen in Center Stack
	Autolamp - automatic on/off headlamps	Blind Spot Information System	Dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control
	Daytime Running Lamps - Halogen	Cross-Traffic Alert for both truck and trailer	Handles, door, and tailgate - Body-colored
	Carbon Black bumpers	Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
	Fog lamps	Auto High-Beam Headlamps
	Premium cloth 4-way Ebony Black seats	Rear View Camera
		Adaptive Cruise Control

The 'XLT' trim has the best value of all the trims present, although the base 'XL' trim is good options if you only need a rugged workhorse.

There's little to complain about, as the Ranger gets moving seamlessly and continues to accelerate swiftly even at higher speeds. Turbo lag is minimal. A standard 10-speed automatic transmission rattles off shifts with precision, and it finds the right gear for whatever driving situation you're in.  -Cars.usnews

The engine on the Ford Ranger is a rather modest 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-4 motor, capable of producing 270 horsepower and 308 pound-feet of torque. For a mid-size truck, these figures are quite impressive, especially the torque. The Lariat trim also gets push-button start and intelligent access in the cabin.

To harness the power, the Ranger uses an electronic 10-Speed automatic transmission, the same as used in the F-150 pickups. The gears are smooth to change and usually keep the vehicle in the powerband. The engine pulls neatly from a standstill in a polite manner, never pretending to be sporty.

Models	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline	Chevrolet Colorado	GMC Canyon	Toyota Tacoma
MSRP	$26,520	$29,990	$26,700	$27,600	$26,530
Engine	2.3 Liter EcoBoost V6	3.5 Liter V6	2.5 Liter Inline-4	2.5 Liter Inline-4	2.7 Liter Inline-4
Transmission	10-speed Automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic
Horsepower	270-hp @ 5,500 rpm	280-hp @ 6,000 rpm	200-hp @ 6,300 rpm	200-hp @ 6,300 rpm	159-hp @ 5,200 rpm
Torque	310 lbs.-ft. @ 3,000 rpm	262 lbs.-ft. @ 4,700 rpm	191 lbs.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm	191 lbs.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm	180 lbs.-ft. @ 3,800 rpm

Acceleration

Talking about acceleration, the Ranger has some. While trucks don't usually have the best performance figures, the 2020 Ranger does well, owing to the great engine-transmission combo. Even though it only gets an inline-4, the EcoBoost engine offers plenty of torque, which pulls the car neatly, surging it forward with gusto. Still, you won't see the speedometer needle rise too fast in them. The Ford pulls from 0 to 60 MPH in just over 6 seconds, fine for a vehicle this size.

Models	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline	Chevrolet Colorado	GMC Canyon	Toyota Tacoma
0-60 MPH	6.3	6.5	6.1	7.3	7.1
Quarter mile	14.7	15.1	14.7	15.6	15.5
Engine	2.3 L	3.5 L	2.5 L	2.5 L	2.7 L

Ride and Handling

The 2020 Ford Ranger is an adept handler as long as you remember you are sitting in a 2-ton-plus automobile. As the driver's seat is quite high, even the tiniest of body roll gets amplified ten times. The bulk can be felt under much at speed and ride-quality turns a little bouncy at speed, but the truck never feels out of breath anywhere. You can carry considerable speed into a corner, and the Ranger makes sure you come out alive.

You get electronics like Blind Spot Information System to make sure don't accidentally hit any motorist with the side of the box or the tail section. Apart from this, the Ranger gets a lane-departure warning and assist, blind-spot monitors with trailer coverage as well.

Braking

The Ranger is a big vehicle, and when you brake, you feel the weight. The car also gets driver-assistance features including ABS, EBD, and automated emergency braking. All these electronics make it easier, and also considerably safer too.

Model	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline	Chevrolet Colorado	GMC Canyon	Toyota Tacoma
Brake Front (in.)	-	-	-	-	-
Brake Rear (in.)	-	-	-	-	-
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4,232	4,242	4,027	3,996	4,095
60-0 MPH (ft.)	-	-	-	-	-

Towing Capacity

Just like its bigger and more powerful cousin, the F-150, the Ranger has an impressive towing capacity. With the vehicle rated at 7500 pounds of towing capacity, it can haul some serious metal, nearly 4 tons!

Model	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline	Chevrolet Colorado	GMC Canyon	Toyota Tacoma
Towing capacity (lbs.)	7500	3,500	3,500	3,500	3,500

Payload Capacity

The Ford Ranger has an impressive payload capacity of 1860 pounds, which is a little more than 100 pounds short of the F-150. What this means is that you can throw almost a ton's worth of cargo in the back and go about your work.

Model	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline	Chevrolet Colorado	GMC Canyon	Toyota Tacoma
Capacity (lbs.)	1860	1,465	1,444	1,475	1,505

This mid-size truck is surprisingly efficient for its size, courtesy the turbo inline-4. EPA tested the vehicle and found it to be even more economical than the Honda Ridgeline, which is a massive surprise. The car returns a gas mileage of 21 MPG in the city and 26 on the highway, which is roughly 23 MPG combined.

Model	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline	Chevrolet Colorado	GMC Canyon	Toyota Tacoma
MPG (city)	21	19	20	20	20
MPG (highway)	26	26	26	26	23
MPG (combined)	23	21	22	22	21

The Ford leads the way in fuel efficiency, owing to its lovely engine, which is smaller than others.

The Ranger is reasonably accommodating. The front seat is roomy and easy to get in and out of, but the same isn't true of the crew cab's rear bench. Likewise, visibility out the front is good, but the view out the rear is another story.  -Edmunds

The Ranger doesn't really have the best quality cabin, and feels quite outdated, to be honest. Still, it feels well-built and sturdy. The SuperCrew version gets a 4-door 4-seats, with plenty of space all around, unlike the SuperCab version which just has space in the front. If you plan on picking or dropping adult guests, you'd really appreciate the space.

There are plenty of cubby holes around as well, and the doors have bottle holding spaces too. Not only does the Ford offer a lot of space, but a lot of equipment too, such as Pre-Collision Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Tire Pressure Monitoring System as standard. You also get interior lighting, and lighting for the bed behind as well, which are some neat practical touches.

Model	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline	Chevrolet Colorado	GMC Canyon	Toyota Tacoma
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	41.0/56.3/43.1	40.1/62.0/40.9	41.4/57.5/45.0	41.4/57.5/45.0	39.7/58.3/42.9
Rear (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.3/56.3/34.5	38.8/61.5/36.7	38.3/56.1/35.8	38.3/56.2/35.8	38.3/58.9/32.6

Infotainment

As standard, the 2020 Ranger gets a 4.2-inch LCD display in the center console, and a 2.3-inch screen in between the dials in the driver's console as well.

• AM/FM Stereo with seek/scan
• Enhanced Voice Recognition Communications and Entertainment System
• 911 Call Assist
• Applink
• Single Smart Charging USB Port
• FordPass Connect with 4G LTE Wi-Fi
• Remote vehicle control
• 6-speaker system
• AUX Input Jack

Ford's Sync infotainment system does duty in this vehicle, which although nice, is a little outdated at the moment.

You'll probably find this truck's shape familiar. The 2020 Ranger is loosely based on the third-generation Ranger T6, designed in Australia and sold essentially everywhere other than the US.  -Road and Track

This mid-sized pickup truck has quite generous dimensions, with nearly 210 inches of metal between the nose and the tail. The wheelbase is also quite long, at 127 inches, and that makes maneuvering a little difficult.

Weight is also quite high, at 4000 pounds, but still less the competitors, mainly Honda Ridgeline. The weight is never a problem though unless you are actively trying to find the limits of the car. Under everyday driving conditions, it isn't really noticeable.

Model	Ford Ranger	Honda Ridgeline	Chevrolet Colorado	GMC Canyon	Toyota Tacoma
Curb weight (lbs.)	4,232	4,242	4,027	3,996	4,095
Length(in)	210.8	210.0	212.7	212.4	212.3
Width(in)	85.8	78.6	74.3	74.3	74.4
Height(in)	71.1	70.2	70.7	70.7	70.6
Ground clearance (in)	8.4	7.3	8.3	8.3	9.4
Wheelbase (in)	126.8	125.2	128.3	128.3	127.4

Design and styling

The last Ford Ranger (2011) sold in the US was not a very handsome car, but that is not the case with the 2020 model. The current iteration of this vehicle looks extremely modern, and is based on Ford's T6 global platform. It has a big front grille, very reminiscent of the F-150 Raptor.

The headlights are simple, near-rectangular, units. The car feels very high due to the placement of these elements on the face. The vehicle gets 17-inch steel wheels as standard, with 17-inch alloys as an option. You don't get LED lights though, and even the DRLs are halogen, which is a bit disappointing.

Ford has also made sure that the Ranger offers good safety equipment as well. Standard safety features on the truck are listed below:

• Rear View Camera
• AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
• Airbags - Front, Driver and Passenger
• Airbags - Front, Driver and Passenger seat-mounted side
• Airbags - Safety Canopy side curtains
• Curve Control
• Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
• Child Seat Tether Anchors
• Safety belts - Active Restraint System (ARS), three-point manual lap/shoulder belts with height adjusters, pretensioners and energy management retractors on outside front positions
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• SecuriLock passive anti-theft system
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System
• Spare tire and wheel lock

NHTSA and IIHS have not yet rated the 2020 Ford Ranger

Ford Ranger vs Honda Ridgeline

The Ridgeline is a more expensive offering than the Ranger and is only offered as a Crew Cab. It is completely different from the rest of the segment, in that it is much less capable off-road, has much less towing, but is much more car-like than the others. If you want a good car that just coincidently happens to have a box attached to the backside, this is the car to have. If you want a proper truck, however, then the Ford is the better pick. It does all that a truck should do, and is much less expensive too. The Ranger also has better gas mileage than the Ridgeline, which just adds to the money you save with the former over the latter.

Ford Ranger vs Chevrolet Colorado

Ford and Chevrolet are both very popular brands as far as trucks are considered. Both the Ford Ranger and the Chevrolet Colorado are brilliant vehicles, however, the Chevy inches a little ahead in terms of engine, or rather engine options. The Colorado offers a powerful V6 and a fuel-efficient turbodiesel, as opposed to the Ranger which only has a single engine option, a turbo inline-4. The max towing capacity is also better on the Colorado by a few hundred pounds, although payload capacity is still better on the Ford.

Ford Ranger vs GMC Canyon

GMC Canyon is basically the same car as the Colorado, and except for the looks, both these cars are essentially the same. The interiors are better than the Ford, and the car is cheaper too, as with the Colorado, although the difference between the Canyon and Ranger isn't as much. You could let personal preference choose this one, as there isn't a clear advantage of having any of the two.

Ford Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma

Toyota Tacoma offers great quality interior, better than the base model Ford Ranger in all honesty. The Toyota is best described as the Jack of all trades in the segment. It does everything well enough, but nothing exceptionally well. It is underpowered when compared to the Ford, and also hauls less in towing and payload. It has better interiors though, and off-road capability is certainly better on this, although enthusiasts would prefer the much more specialized Tacoma TRD Pro variant for that.

Ford's re-entry into the mid-size segment may have not been the best, but it certainly created a huge series of ripples in the market. Ford's popularity with the F-series means that they know how to build trucks, and that is one piece of info you can't argue with. Reliability has never been an issue, and neither has service backup, which are two very important things to consider. Overall, this is one vehicle that you should definitely consider, and probably keep at the top of your buying list.

FAQ

What chassis is the Ford Ranger built on?

The new design and chassis were developed for North American truck buyers. The foundation for the 2020 Ford Ranger is a fully boxed frame formed from high-strength steel. The front suspension is a double-wishbone independent design, while the rear features class-exclusive parabolic springs.

Does the Ford Ranger have Apple CarPlay?

Ford vehicles available with Apple CarPlay. Just about every Ford vehicle for the 2017 and 2018 model years comes available with Apple CarPlay. No matter what your vehicle preference is, you can stay connected in your Ford.

Where are the 2020 Ford Rangers made?

The old Ranger was built in the defunct Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul, Minnesota. The 2020 Ford Ranger starts life in Wayne, Michigan, at the Michigan Assembly Plant, which used to make the Focus and C-Max. It will be joined by the Ford Bronco SUV in 2020.