Ford Ranger returns with turbo 2.3L, new off-road tech

Article content

The Ford Ranger — long the choice of small contractors, outdoors people and those who need a pickup now and then but didn’t want (or need) a full-size truck — is back after the midsize truck was mothballed in North America in 2012.

Article content

The last Ford Ranger built for our shores rolled off the assembly line on December 22, 2011. And that was a truck that hadn’t got much love from Ford in about a decade, the last significant update when the fifth-gen model arrived in 2001 — even though the Ranger sold almost 145,000 units in Canada from 2004 to 2012, and 10 times that many in the U.S. According to the Detroit News , Ford sold more than 6.6 million Rangers in the U.S. over its 29-year history. Ford said it sees the new Ranger as an ideal fit for a new wave of mid-size trucks buyers who have, in recent years, been limited to the Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Ford Ranger returns with turbo 2.3L, new off-road tech Back to video

Toggle full screen mode Previous Gallery Image

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

Next Gallery Image Toggle gallery captions

View All 17 Photos

1 of 17

All 17 Photos for Gallery

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 

Function Not Available

Full Screen is not supported on this browser version.

You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.

OK

Article content

The 2019 Ranger, based off the Ranger sold in other markets but modified for North America, gets a high-strength steel ladder frame and Ford-built, 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder, the same engine used in the Mustang and Focus RS. In the Mustang, the 2.3L produces 310 hp and 320 lb.-ft. of torque, while in the Focus RS gets 350/350. Ford has not yet released power figures on the truck engine, but notes the direct-injection engine features a forged-steel crankshaft and connecting rods plus chain-driven dual overhead cams. The engine will paired to a class-exclusive, 10-speed automatic transmission.

Three trims – the entry-level XL, mid-level XLT and high-level Lariat – can be had with different packages, including Chrome, Sport or FX4 Off-Road, which introduces Ford’s “Trail Control” technology. Designed for low-speed, rugged terrain, Trail Control handles acceleration and braking duties to let the driver focus on steering and negotiating difficult ground, much like the Tacoma’s Crawl Control. The FX4 also adds protective skid plates, upgraded tires, off-road-tuned shocks and suspension and a terrain management system, and includes the Terrain Management System found on the Raptor, which includes four drive modes including normal; grass, gravel and snow; mud and ruts; and sand.

Toggle full screen mode Previous Gallery Image

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Next Gallery Image Toggle gallery captions

View All 6 Photos

1 of 6

All 6 Photos for Gallery

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 

Function Not Available

Full Screen is not supported on this browser version.

You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.

OK

Article content

Power is distributed through Dana differentials with an available electronic-locking rear differential (standard on FX4). Four-wheel-drive Rangers have three modes: 2-high, 4-high and 4-low. Cab configurations include SuperCab or SuperCrew. A powerdome hood, high beltline, stamped tailgate, raked grille and windshield give the truck an athletic look and short overhangs help when off-roading. Both front and rear bumpers are steel. Inside, the center stack includes an eight-inch touchscreen for the available SYNC 3 system, while the instrument cluster features dual LCD screens that can display navigation and audio information.

Options are many, including LED headlamps and tail lamps, various exterior lighting options including LED lights for the bed, plus a towing aid that can alert the driver to faulty connections. Several driver-assist functions such as lane keep assist, and varying levels of technology, from Wi-Fi access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, can also be added. Automatic emergency braking will be standard.

Article content

Ford says the midsize truck segment is strong and growing, with U.S. sales up 83 per cent since 2014, mostly from “a new generation of midsize truck buyers” seeking more maneuverable, more affordable, more fuel-efficient pickups. Indeed, U.S. sales of the midsize Tacoma, for example, which is built in Texas and Mexico, rose 3.4 per cent in 2017 to their highest level since Toyota introduced the truck in 1995.

Ford also doesn’t see the Ranger eating into F-Series sales because F-150 buyers are different from those who might want a Ranger, and each would use their trucks differently. But the rise in midsize trucks is in step with the big lift in light trucks that in Canada accounted for 68.6 per cent of all vehicle sales in 2017.

Article content

“There will be something that will alter the market dynamics at some point, but it looks like it still has some upside,” said industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers. “I think next year there is a very high probability of light truck sales hitting 70 per cent on a regular basis.”

Carlos Gomes, a senior economist and auto industry specialist at Scotiabank, said the growth of segment is at the expense of sedans, with the truck market holding some upside yet. This year, he, said, “we’re likely to see most of the decline … within the car side of the business, as opposed to the light truck segment. The practicality and spaciousness of vehicles such as crossovers do mean that we will continue to see their share rise over time.”

Production of the 2019 Ranger begins late this year at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant.