It has been eight lengthy years since Ford bought a brand new Ranger in america. However due to the pickup gods, it is again — and it was properly definitely worth the wait.

The brand new Ranger returns with turbocharged energy, sturdy towing and hauling capabilities and a few tech options you will not discover anyplace else within the midsize pickup class. Due to that, the Ranger is best poised to do battle with a rising crop of midsize vehicles. And so far as I am involved, it is positively the one to get.

Two cabs, one sturdy engine

The Ranger is presently out there in XL, XLT or Lariat trims, in both SuperCab configuration with a 6-foot mattress, or bigger SuperCrew with a 5-foot mattress. If that is not sufficient differentiation for you, 4 totally different look packages can be found, together with the Sport trim you see on this tester.

Each rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations can be found, however regardless of which you select, you are locked into one engine: a 2.Three-liter EcoBoost I4, good for 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Energy will get to the pavement through a 10-speed computerized transmission — sorry, do-it-yourself shifters, a handbook transmission is not out there.

A SuperCrew cab with a five-foot field appears to be like good on the Ranger.

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The peppy, turbocharged I4 is a superb engine, providing sturdy off-the-line acceleration and ample mid-range punch. The V6 engines discovered within the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon twins provide extra horsepower, however the turbocharged EcoBoost affords extra torque. Dig into the throttle and the Ranger has no drawback hustling to move slow-moving vehicles on the freeway.

The Ranger’s 10-speed computerized transmission is refined and clean — similar to it’s within the Ford F-150 pickup. The Ranger by no means hunts for the fitting gear, both. It’s going to downshift when wanted and upshift for gasoline economic system, nevertheless it’s not consistently swapping cogs like another 10-speed items. The transmission appears to downshift a bit harshly beneath braking, however that is a small foible in an in any other case clean powertrain.

That mentioned, you’d assume the 10-speed computerized would assist enhance gasoline economic system, however that is hardly the case. The EPA charges my two-wheel-drive Ranger at 23 miles per gallon mixed, which is a class-leading quantity. However throughout every week of testing, which included a big stint of freeway driving, I solely noticed 20 mpg.

With four-wheel drive, the Ranger is rated at 22 mpg mixed, whereas the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma provide anyplace from 17 to 20 mpg. Even the car-based Honda Ridgeline solely affords 22 mpg in its best, front-wheel-drive information.

Lest you overlook the mannequin of your Truck, there it’s stamped proper on the tailgate.

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Behind the wheel, the Ranger drives, properly, like a truck. The stable rear axle setup means it is not the smoothest factor on 4 wheels — this is the place the Ridgeline’s unibody platform helps it shine — however the Ranger is definitely on par with different midsize pickups when it comes to experience and dealing with. The steering is properly weighted however usually imprecise when it comes to suggestions, and braking energy is robust and safe.

Must you wish to get your truck soiled, the Ranger FX4 affords a terrain administration system, skid plate safety, and off-road particular tires and suspension. This makes it just a little extra roly-poly whereas cornering on-road, however an entire lot higher off the crushed path. I bought to check the Ranger FX4 on a Ford-designed off-road course on the truck’s launch occasion in San Diego, and located the truck to be greater than competent within the tough stuff.

The tow/haul chief

The Ranger has best-in-class towing functionality, rated at 7,500 kilos. What’s extra, you may pull that very same weight no matter drivetrain or cab configuration. If you’d like extra towing energy out of your midsize truck, you may should get one of many diesel-powered GM pickups, or anticipate the Wrangler-based 2020 Jeep Gladiator.

Past towing, the Ranger additionally affords extra payload capability than its classmates. The 4×2 fashions’ 1,860-pound payload score beats the pants off the Toyota Tacoma and the GM pickups. Nevertheless, in order for you a 4×4 Ranger, know that your bed-carrying skill drops some, to 1,560 kilos.

Drab cabin, however nice tech

Inside, the Ranger is fairly meh. The design and supplies aren’t horrible, however they do not spark pleasure, both, to borrow a phrase from a present cultural zeitgeist. Frankly, I anticipated a extra fashionable inside, however the Ranger’s cabin is however helpful and sensible.

Nonetheless, there are some vivid factors to this bland inside. The Ranger has a number of the most snug entrance seats of any pickup, and the warmth operate doesn’t stop. The rear seats provide extra legroom than what you may discover in a Toyota Tacoma, however taller of us will nonetheless really feel a bit cramped.

Like different Ford merchandise, the Ranger will get the well-known and well-liked Sync Three infotainment system, with each Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on an Eight-inch touchscreen. (Decrease-spec Rangers make due with the bottom Sync system on a smaller display.) The onboard Wi-Fi picks up sign even the place my cellphone fails to search out service. Base Rangers come customary with only one USB port, however greater trims add another to the occasion. As for different energy ports, the Ranger has two 12-volt retailers up entrance, and one other one in again.

There are a variety of driving aids on provide, too, together with blind-spot monitoring that may see the size of the truck and a trailer. Adaptive cruise management can also be out there, nevertheless it disengages beneath 12 miles per hour, making it ineffective in stop-and-go visitors (, the place you need this method most). Obtainable lane-keeping help may be turned on through a button on the finish of the flip sign stalk, and incorporates a customizable degree of depth, in addition to a selection of an audible alert, steering intervention, or each.

Well worth the wait

2019 Ford Ranger pricing begins at $24,300, not together with $1,095 for vacation spot, for an XL SuperCab 4×2. My tester, in the meantime — an XLT SuperCrew 4×2 — is available in simply above $30,000. Tick each choice field and you’ll spend properly over $40,000 for this truck.

The cabin is serviceable, however not fairly.

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The brand new Ford Ranger excels throughout the board with its sturdy powertrain and superior towing/hauling capabilities. Plus, it is bought some nice driving tech you will not discover on different midsize vehicles. The inside is likely to be drab, and the gasoline economic system leaves a bit to be desired, however for my cash, the 2019 Ranger is probably the most well-rounded pickup out there within the US right this moment.

Like all good issues, it was positively definitely worth the wait.