Ford Ranger

Safety

The range of available automatic safety and driver-assist features will help you to feel confident behind the wheel of the 2019 Ranger. Such features include Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Lane-Keeping System. Before buying, though, we recommend you check which features are available in which trim levels. 

As the next most recent model is 2011—when it was last manufactured—they won't have many of the modern safety features that drivers may expect. But they do come with four-wheel antilock disc brakes and stability control to keep the car steady on turns and prevent skidding, as well as front-seat side airbags. The model year also earned five stars in driver's side frontal impact testing.
 

Interior

Drivers have long appreciated the simple approach taken with the original Ranger’s interior. The 2019 Ranger preserves this modest approach while still including many of the modern trappings that drivers expect, including air conditioning and a 2.3-inch productivity screen. With the 2019 Ranger, cloth and vinyl interior options come standard, while leather is available at the LARIAT trim level.

Older model years may not have come with tons of perks, but it still had a good rep in terms of comfort and practicality. The 2006 model is a good example of this, with its comfortable cloth seats (leather was optional) and user-friendly control layout.

Technology

Ford says that the 2019 Ranger is all about freedom, and you can see why. A collection of technological features allow you to go where you want when you want without having to disconnect. Chief among these is FordPass Connect™, which turns your truck into a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with the FordPass™ app. If you choose the XL trim level, you’ll also get:

• 911 Assist, which initiates a 911 call in the event of an accident
• Smart charging USB port, which adjusts its power to whatever device you're charging, saving on your vehicle's battery power
• Voice-activated Communications and Entertainment System with 4.2-inch LCD screen

The LARIAT trim level upgrades the LCD to an 8-inch colour touchscreen and adds Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility. While older models aren't loaded with tech, they still come with configurations that make for an entertaining ride. Models from 2008 come with a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio jack to play your own tunes.
 

Space

While the original Ford Ranger was a compact pickup, the 2019 model is a mid-size, leaving more room for you and your stuff. There are two size options with the new model. The SuperCrew size seats four and has a six-foot cargo box. The SuperCab adds room for an extra passenger while sacrificing a bit of that that cargo space in the process—it has a five-foot box. No single cab option is available in the new Ranger. In earlier 2000s models, space might feel a little tight for taller front passengers.

Comfort

Despite its focus on fuel-efficiency, rest assured that the Ford Ranger was made to be driven off the beaten path. The 2019 Ranger has the innovative Terrain Management System, available with the FX4 Off-Road Package. This package includes:

• Off-road tuned suspension for those journeys through rough terrain
• Electronic-locking rear axle, providing additional traction in case your wheels get stuck
• OWL all-terramakein tires, ideal for rocky surfaces, packed snow, and mud

It's thanks to this workhorse that the Ranger displays surprisingly good payload capacity. Though, some may be disappointed that this engine and transmission option are the only ones available.