2020 Ford Ranger

 The XLT trim has the best value of all the trims present. It adds a SYNC 3 infotainment system, dual-zone automatic climate control, and Ford's CoPilot-360 suite of safety features. If you need features like heated front seats, 8-way power front seats, power-folding exterior mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather steering wheel, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and a remote start, you have to buy the $2,450 Equipment Group Luxury package. 

The new Ranger comes with lots of tech features, though not as many as its rivals do- Autolist

The Ford Ranger is available in just three trims which include XL, XLT, and Lariat. The XL trim has a starting price of $26,810 while the top-end Lariat trim carries a price tag of $34,375. Add to this a $1,195 destination charge. Although both RWD and FWD configurations are available, just one 5-foot cargo bed is available for the Crew Cab body style. 

Although the entry-level XL trim comes with limited standard features, it is open to some optional packages. The $595 FX2 package adds a locking rear differential and an off-road suspension. It also offers Ford's Co-Pilot360 package that adds lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane keep assist for $625. 

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On the road, the Ranger drives with all the verve that its spec chart would indicate- Truck Trend

The engine on the Ford Ranger is a rather modest 2.3L turbo inline-4 motor, capable of producing 270 hp and 310 lb-ft. of torque. For a midsize truck, these figures are quite impressive, especially the torque. To harness the power, the Ranger uses an electronic 10-speed automatic transmission, the same as used in the F-150 pickups. Regardless of trims, RWD and AWD configurations are available. When properly equipped, the Ranger can tow as much as 7,500 pounds, which is really impressive. 

The 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. With FX2 and FX4 packages on offer, the Ranger is also a capable off-roader. 

Owing to the great engine transmission combo, the Ranger displays the best performance in its class. It pulls from 0-60 MPH in 6.8 seconds and completes the quarter-mile run in about 15.2 seconds. The top speed is limited to 120 MPH. These numbers are really good for a midsize pickup truck. The Ranger is a big and bulky vehicle and hence, its braking abilities are not that impressive. In the brake test, the Ranger achieves a braking distance of 127 feet, which is average for the class. 

The pricey Honda Ridgeline is the slowest contender here and has the lowest towing capacity on offer. Moreover, it is the only FWD vehicle in this segment as well. The powerful Chevy Colorado loses to the Ranger in both performance tests but its towing capacity is good. The Toyota Tacoma acts as a true rival to the Ranger in terms of performance and is the only true off-roader truck, 

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The 2020 Ranger is fuel-efficient among mid-size pickups- The Car Connnection

The EPA tested the Ford Ranger and found it to be even more economical than its rivals, which is a massive surprise. The truck returns 21 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway, which is roughly 23 MPG combined. Naturally, the 4WD models reduce the gas mileage by 1 MPG, which is still better than the competition. 

The Ranger is fitted with a small fuel tank that measures 18 gallons. When filled with regular gas, it offers 414 miles of combined range, 396 miles in the case of 4WD models. When compared with the competition, the Ranger does not stand out and the reason is its small fuel tank. Nevertheless, the Ranger is the most efficient trunk in its class.

Following the footsteps of the Ranger in terms of efficiency is the Honda Ridgeline with good gas mileage and driving range. The fuel ratings of the Toyota Tacoma and the Chevy Colorado are almost similar. They are not as efficient as the Ranger but their large fuel tanks translate for a better range. 

Inside, lower-trim trucks suffer from uninspired black plastics, but the top trims get upgraded to richer pieces- CarAndDriver

The Ford 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 can seat up to five people. Only the Lariat model gets leather-trimmed seats while cloth upholstery is standard on the other two trims. Similarly, the Lariat also adds 8-way power front heated seats. The seats are squishy and provide decent comfort. 

In terms of occupant space, a full-grown adult can get easily comfortable in the front row. If you plan on picking or dropping adult guests, you'd really appreciate the space. The legroom at the back is commendable while the headroom is great. There is a little bit of a hump in the middle but it's still workable. The rear seats can be flipped up to reveal some hidden storage areas. 

One of the main drawbacks of this vehicle is the lack of a standard touchscreen infotainment system. The SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen is available from the XLT model onwards. It features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The interface is quite intuitive though there are some glaring issues. The XL trim comes with four speakers while the other trims add two more speakers. 

The SuperCrew model comes with just a 5-foot bed. This bed offers a cargo space of 33.9 cubic feet, which is decent in its class. There are several in-cabin storage solutions available as well. One area where the Ranger stands out is payload capacity. It has the best-in-class payload capacity of 1,860 pounds. Some other interiors and infotainment features of the Ranger are:

• Tilt & telescopic multi-function leather steering wheel
• Cloth & leather upholstery
• 8-way power front heated seats
• Dual illuminating vanity mirrors
• Color-adjustable ambient lighting
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Remote start
• Proximity keyless entry
• 8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• 4 & 6-speaker stereo
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Navigation system

The new Ford Ranger doesn’t look like a small-scale F-150, its bigger brother and the best-selling vehicle in America- Kelly Blue Book

The Ford Ranger does not have a mini F-150 appearance. Instead, it looks sportier with a more rounded appearance. The grille design is the same but the layout differs for each trim. The Lariat trim adds chrome bars in the middle. Halogen headlamps are standard but the Lariat trim replaces it with LEDs. Fog lamps are available from the XLT onwards but halogen DRLs are kind of disappointing. 

With a ground clearance of 8.4 inches, the Ranger is good enough to explore rough terrains. Its overall width is smaller than its rivals which affect the shoulder room on the inside. The Ranger gets 16, 17, and 18-inch alloys, depending on the trim levels. The rear of the Ranger has that classic truck design. Ranger is spelled across the tailgate and you get nice-looking LED taillights. 

The Toyota Tacoma is a dedicated off-roader and its 9.4 inches of ground clearance proves this. With a V6, the Chevy Colorado is  only available with a full-size bed and hence, its wheelbase and overall length are greater in measurements. The Honda Ridgeline has the shortest wheelbase which benefits from better handling. Some other exterior features of the Ranger are:

• LED auto high-beam headlamps
• Fog lamps
• LED taillights
• Puddle lamps
• Halogen DRLs
• Power-folding, heated exterior mirrors
• Chrome grille with active grille sutters
• LED pickup bed LED lights
• 16, 17 & 18-inch wheels
• Black window trim

Despite some safety-rating shortcomings, this pickup has no shortage of driver assistance features- Autolist

Both NHTSA and IIHS have conducted various crash tests on the Ford Ranger. Five out of five stars were awarded by NHTSA whereas IIHS gave 'Good' ratings in most of the crash tests. A 'Superior' rating was given for its front crash prevention but the headlights were rated 'Marginal'. In conclusion, the Ranger is a safe vehicle. 

Ford has also made sure that the Ranger offers good safety equipment as well. The base XL trim has very limited safety features but the other two trims come with Ford's CoPilot-360 which is a suite of driver-assist features. Besides this, six airbags are installed in the cabin of the Ranger. The list of available safety features are:

• Rearview camera
• Automatic emergency braking
• Forward collision warning
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Front & rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Ford's MyKey

2020 Ford Ranger SuperCrew vs 2020 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab

The Honda Ridgeline is a more expensive offering than the Ranger. It is much less capable off-road and has much less towing capacity. The fuel economy is also better in the Ranger. The wider dimensions of the Ridgeline make it feel roomier. It offers a touchscreen infotainment system as standard whereas it's an extra option on the Ranger. On the safety front, the Ridgeline has an upper hand with more standard driver aids.

2020 Ford Ranger SuperCrew vs 2020 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

Both the Ranger and the Chevrolet Colorado are brilliant vehicles. However, Chevy inches a little ahead in terms of engine options and towing capacity. The main difference on the inside is that the Colorado comes standard with the touchscreen infotainment system. The interior quality of the Colorado seems better when compared. Cargo space is better in the Colorado. However, the Ranger has better payload ratings and more safety features. 

2020 Ford Ranger SuperCrew vs 2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 

The Toyota Tacoma is an expensive option. It offers a great quality interior and touchscreen infotainment is standard but the legroom is a bit less in the rear row. Both the engines are similarly powered but the Ranger has a better towing capacity and gas mileage. However, the off-road capability is certainly better in the Tacoma. The Tacoma is a step ahead with good reliability and more safety tech as standard. 

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, the 2020 Ford Ranger is one vehicle that you should definitely consider, and probably keep at the top of your buying list.