2024 Ford Ranger Review and Test Drive
The new 2024 Ranger delivers wide-ranging midsize pickup truck capability wrapped in a familiar package.
Christian Wardlaw
The redesigned 2024 Ford Ranger should broadly appeal to midsize pickup truck buyers. Aside from the Baja-blasting Ranger Raptor performance version, the 2024 Ranger is more about competence and capability and less about excitement and innovation.
Highlights of the truck's redesign include that new Raptor model, F-150-ish styling, an expanded powertrain menu, and new infotainment and driver-assistance technologies.
Christian Wardlaw
2024 Ford Ranger Prices Creep Higher
The 2024 Ford Ranger is available in XL, XLT, Lariat, and Raptor trim levels. Base prices range from the mid-$30,000s to the mid-$50,000s, including the destination charge for shipping the truck from the Wayne, Michigan, factory that builds it to your local dealership.
For this Ranger review, I test-drove the XLT with a four-wheel-drive (4WD) system in Southern California. Highlights from the options list included the XLT High Equipment Group (301A), the Advanced Towing and Technology package, and a spray-in bedliner. The manufacturer's suggested retail price of the test vehicle came to $45,800, including the $1,595 destination charge. Ford provided the vehicle for this Ranger review.
Christian Wardlaw
Rugged Yet Refined
The new Ranger's design fits nicely with the rest of the Ford truck family. Compared with the previous-generation Ranger, the hood looks flatter with squared-off corners; the cargo bed sills appear lower; and the grille, lighting elements, and other details more closely align with the smaller Maverick and larger F-150. The Ranger exudes a rugged, purposeful, traditional truck appearance.
That observation applies to the interior, too. As expected, the cabin has many hard plastic surfaces, but Ford textures and finishes them for a more sophisticated look and feel. It doesn't seem like a cheap truck inside, from how the doors thunk shut to how the XLT's fabric upholstery looks and feels.
Ford retains numerous traditional controls in the Ranger. My test vehicle had a key that I had to twist to start the engine, and a traditional PRNDL transmission shifter lived on the center console next to a dial for choosing driving modes and buttons for activating the 4WD system.
Though equipped with a large 12.0-inch touchscreen with access to climate controls, the Ranger featured temperature and stereo volume knobs. Headlight controls to the left of the steering wheel add convenience you won't get in some rivals. Ford also uses matte-black backgrounds and white markings for all physical control surfaces, reducing glare and improving legibility.
Essentially, you can get into a 2024 Ford Ranger and drive it without thinking too much about where something is or how it works. That's refreshing.
Christian Wardlaw
Improved Rear Passenger Comfort
My test truck had the XLT High Equipment package, which adds heated and power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-sliding rear cab window, and a larger 12.0-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. This upgrade is worth the cost.
I found the fabric-wrapped, 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat to be comfortable, but after several hours of nonstop driving, my butt did start to hurt a bit. I prefer cloth to artificial leather for its comfort in hot and cold climates, but it can stain more easily. The Sandstone fabric offered a dramatic contrast to the otherwise black interior, giving the Ranger XLT's cabin more visual interest.
The Ranger comes only in a crew-cab configuration, and the back seat feels roomier than in the previous-generation model. Before, I found the Ranger a tight squeeze. Now, it offers just enough legroom to qualify as livable. Also, the bottom seat cushion offers decent leg support. Unfortunately, the test truck did not have rear air-conditioning vents.
Christian Wardlaw
A 5-Foot Bed With 1,805 Pounds of Payload
Ford offers just enough in-cab storage space to avoid criticism. My oversized water bottle didn't fit anywhere except the front passenger's seat cushion, which meant it rolled onto the floor more than once. Otherwise, I found enough stash space for the items I typically carry with me, from my smartphone to my house keys.
The crew-cab-only Ranger has a 5-foot cargo bed and a maximum payload rating of 1,805 pounds, depending on the model. Upgrade from XL to XLT trim, and the Ranger adds LED cargo bed lighting and a 120-volt/400-watt power outlet. In addition, the test truck featured the optional spray-in bedliner but not the available integrated box side steps. Those will undoubtedly come in handy and don't cost much extra money.
Christian Wardlaw
2024 Ford Ranger Sync 4 Infotainment Review
Ford equips the new Ranger with a Sync 4 infotainment system. A 10.0-inch touchscreen display is standard, with a larger 12.0-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade.
The system's highlights include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and FordPass Connect services include access to a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot. My XLT test truck also had SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and a connected navigation system with three years of complimentary service. With the Lariat and Raptor trims, Ford replaces the standard six-speaker stereo with a 10-speaker audio system from Bang & Olufsen.
I prefer infotainment systems with landscape-oriented rather than portrait-oriented displays. Why? With the portrait-style layout, I look too far down and away from the road to find virtual buttons to stab. Fortunately, Ford's inclusion of actual knobs and buttons for primary stereo and climate functions makes this less of a problem in the Ranger.
The Ranger's Sync 4 technology could benefit from some fine-tuning. It regularly dropped the Apple CarPlay connection when I restarted the truck (but not always). Also, the voice recognition system worked well except for one occasion. While driving through Ventura, California, on U.S. Route 101, I asked for "directions to the closest Chipotle." Sync 4 recommended one almost 60 miles away in Granada Hills.
I'm a big fan of Bang & Olufsen sound systems, but my XLT test truck's standard six-speaker stereo was surprisingly decent. So, unless you must have the upgraded B&O system that is standard on the Lariat and Raptor, the six-speaker setup should be acceptable.
Christian Wardlaw
Just Enough Tech to Make the Ranger Modern
A configurable 8.0-inch digital instrumentation panel is standard with XL and XLT trim, while the Ranger Lariat and Raptor get a larger 12.0-inch display. I initially found the steering wheel controls fussy to use while driving, but over time, they became more intuitive.
My test truck had the optional surround-view camera system, part of the Advanced Towing and Technology Package. This feature is helpful and provides pathway and side-clearance guidance lines.
In addition, that option package adds a semi-autonomous parking-assistance system and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. That latter feature lets you reverse with a trailer attached by turning a dashboard knob in the direction you want the trailer to go. The technology translates your inputs into the necessary steering to achieve success while you operate the brake and accelerator pedals. I've used Pro Trailer Backup Assist in the Ford F-Series Super Duty, and it's impressive.
Christian Wardlaw
2024 Ford Ranger Co-Pilot360 Review
When it comes to standard safety features, the further up the trim-level ladder you climb, the more technology the Ranger has.
The XL comes with a forward-collision warning system and automatic emergency braking. Choose the XLT trim, and Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard, a collection that includes lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring (with trailer coverage), rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. Lariats add adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and front parking sensors.
The Ranger's advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) worked as expected during my testing. On one occasion, when the driver ahead wasn't paying attention and suddenly braked hard due to abruptly slowing traffic, I had to override the technology and activate the brake myself. But that wasn't the fault of the adaptive cruise control.
I cannot say the same for the rear automatic braking (RAB) system. Before leaving on my evaluation drive, I went into the Sync 4 screen to ensure all ADAS functions were active and configured to my preferences. That included the RAB. Then, I tried to back out of my angled driveway and discovered, unpleasantly, that the RAB wasn't having it. After three attempts, even at a crawl, I drove back up to the house, turned that feature off, and left it off for the remainder of my time with the Ranger.
Christian Wardlaw
Three Flavors of Turbocharging
Ford offers three engines in the 2024 Ranger. The XL, XLT, and Lariat have a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder making 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. With XLT and Lariat trim, you can upgrade to a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivering 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Raptors have an exclusive twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 good for 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft.
All three powerplants employ a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard on all but the Raptor, which has a full-time 4WD system. You can upgrade the XL, XLT, and Lariat with part-time 4WD. Ford Trail Control technology is standard on the Ranger Raptor and optional on trucks with 4WD and the FX4 Off-Road package. It includes an off-road cruise control system that automatically modulates low-speed acceleration and braking while you focus on steering.
When properly equipped, Rangers can tow up to 7,500 pounds (5,510 pounds for the Raptor).
Christian Wardlaw
Good to Drive, On or Off the Pavement
My test truck had the standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine and 4WD. It offers plenty of power for everyday driving and a pleasant engine note when accelerating. However, on several occasions, with the truck in its Normal driving mode, after rounding a corner and stepping on the accelerator pedal, the powertrain displayed a momentary lack of response. That wasn't an issue in Sport mode, but in Normal mode, the transmission was slow to downshift to keep the turbo four in the thick of its torque band.
Though my Ranger had no specific off-roading upgrades, it did feature a firm ride. On some sections of Los Angeles freeways, it shimmied and shook, causing a tremor in my voice when speaking to my passengers. Also, the standard all-terrain tires are unwilling accomplices when rushing down a winding mountain road. However, in the cut-and-thrust of urban and suburban driving, those tires, ride quality, and high clearances allow the Ranger to shrug off bumps, cracks, holes, and curbs.
Christian Wardlaw
While its lack of tire grip on the pavement is nothing to praise, a 2024 Ranger drives with a predictable cadence, making the engine's occasional drop-off in power especially irritating. But the truck feels robustly engineered — solid and secure, no matter the situation. On my evaluation loop, it averaged 21.2 mpg, within striking distance of the official EPA fuel-economy rating of 22 mpg in combined driving.
A short but sweet off-roading jaunt revealed the all-terrain tires provide impressive rut-crawling capability. The Ranger 4WD also has 9.3 inches of ground clearance, and my XLT test truck didn't have a pesky front air dam hanging below the front bumper like some of its rivals, so tackling challenging terrain wasn't a problem. Switching into 4Hi and 4Lo is easy, thanks to the push-button controls for the truck's transfer case.
Christian Wardlaw
If the 2024 Ranger Were an Ice Cream Flavor, it Would Be Vanilla
With the redesigned 2024 Ranger, Ford improves its competitiveness in a midsize pickup segment loaded with numerous appealing choices. These include the recently redesigned Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, the SUV-like Honda Ridgeline, the unique Jeep Gladiator, the back-to-basics Nissan Frontier, and the totally redesigned Toyota Tacoma.
Having spent a week living with the new 2024 Ranger, I think it does almost everything well without setting new standards. It's like a good, dependable, proven set of functional and not fancy tools. And like vanilla ice cream, that's a simple recipe for success.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Christian WardlawMy first word was “car.” That’s what I’m told, anyway. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. I’m a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but I’m also most interested in the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. Anybody can tell you that a sports car is fast. What you need to know is whether or not you should buy that new SUV, and why. My life purpose is to help you make that decision.
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