The mid-size truck market has been very busy over the past two years, with redesigned models from Nissan, Chevrolet/GMC, and Toyota. Now it is Ford’s turn with the Ranger. The last Ranger first arrived at Benna Ford as a 2019 model, but it has been a design used worldwide for several years. The new Ranger will also be sold around the world, but its design puts US interests and preferences first. Wider and Tougher Prioritizing the U.S. market resulted in a burlier model with several more inches in width and more muscular, squared-off dimensions. It much more closely resembles a smaller F-150. All 2024 Rangers will have the same five-passenger, four-door crew cab and five-foot (59.6-inch) bed. A key feature of the bed is that the wider rear track now enables your standard 4-foot wide plywood or drywall to fit flat on the bed floor within the wheelhouses, and this is an ability you won’t find in the Nissan, GM, or Toyota models. The tailgate now opens with a damped motion and features a torsion spring to ease closing. The Cab’s central locking mechanism also extends to the tailgate. An available deep and tall inset step just before the rear bumper on the side eases access to adjust things in the bed. All Turbo-charged Engine Lineup The Ranger was ahead of the game with its standard turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-4 engine, and you now see similarly sized turbocharged 4-cylinder engines becoming the standard across the category. The engine continues with the same power of 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque and remains paired to the 10-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the GM and Toyota models, a V6 upgrade is still available in the form of the F-150's EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6, which produces 315 horsepower and peak torque of 400 lb-ft. This powertrain will be available post-launch, and Ford has not yet specified it, but this will likely be tied to 4WD drivetrains. The maximum towing case for both models with either of these engines is 7,500 pounds. There will also be a Ford Ranger Raptor model for the first time in the U.S. It will be powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 that is good for a class-leading 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The Raptor will also feature full-time 4WD, front and rear locking differentials, and 2.5-inch Fox Live valve dampers. Updated Suspension Models without the prehistoric moniker have their own updated suspensions. The geometry is largely the same, but the front upper and lower control arms are now aluminum for greater stiffness and lighter weight. In the rear, the dampers are moved outside the leaf springs, and the helper leaf spring is composite instead of steel. When combined with new tuning for the dampers and springs, the result is a smoother and more refined ride. All-New Cabin Naturally, the interior is fully redesigned. Anchoring the center of the dash is a vertical 12.4-inch touchscreen. Within the tall screen, smartphone mirroring from either Apple CarPlay or Android fills the top two-thirds of the screen, while the lower portion features permanent controls for climate and other controls. Physical controls for the climate remain just below. Allow-profile electronic shifters sit on the driver's side of the center console. Another new cabin feature is that the back seat folds flat when needed for additional in-cabin storage. The model line remains with XL, XLT, and Lariat trim levels, with a starting MSRP of $34,265 for the XL. The Tremor model goes away to be replaced by the Raptor, which will arrive after the launch of the rest of the model line. As of this writing, 2024 Rangers are just starting to make their way into the Benna Ford Inventory. Check our site for a model you may be interested in, or check out what’s here, and if you like what you see, we will find one that meets your specifications.
The new Ranger is completely redesigned with a new exterior, interior, new engine, and for the first time, a Ranger Raptor. This will be the first redesigned Ranger since the model returned to the U.S. in 2019 after an 8-year hiatus. The Ranger is a global model sold in 180 markets around the world. In many of them, it has the same bedrock status the F-150 has in the U.S. The first new Rangers can expect to arrive in the Benna Ford showroom in late summer.
All models will be configured with the 4-door crew cab and a 5-foot bed and continue to feature a full-box steel frame. The rear shocks and shock mounts have been moved outboard of the frame rails for improved ride and control. All new Rangers will benefit from improved ground clearance and better approach and departure angles. The model will have a towing capacity of up to 7,500 pounds and a maximum available payload capacity of 1,805 pounds.
The completely redesigned instrument panel will include a digital instrument cluster for all models. The standard cluster will be 8 inches, with 12.4 inches as an option. The 10.1-inch center touchscreen is best-in-class for standard displays, and a 12-inch display is available. Ford’s SYNC®4A system will power the infotainment interface and will include a standard 4G LTE modem, wireless phone mirroring, and the ability to receive over-the-air software updates.The interior includes clever storage and useful features such as an available wireless charger, a large center console storage bin, big door pockets, and even an available second upper glove box. Rear cabin storage is also enhanced with under-seat rear cargo bins and fold-flat rear seatbacks for moving large objects you want to be secured inside. There is additional room behind the seats for tools and other equipment.
Though Bluecruise is not available, Ranger still has the most available driver-assist features in its class. These include Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, and BLIS® with Trailer Coverage, which warns of vehicles in blind spots while towing. The Lariat features a short-throw E-shifter that enables features such as the available Active Park Assist 2.0, a fully-automated system to assist with parallel and perpendicular parking in tight spots. Other towing features include Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Trailer Reverse Guidance, which uses cameras to show angles surrounding the truck and provides real-time coaching on how to maneuver the trailer.
