2025 Ford Ranger

Pros

• It has a strong engine and can pull and carry a lot of weight.
• A ride that is smooth and pleasant.
• The Raptor upgrade improves the Ranger’s off-road performance.
• Technology tools are easy to use.

Cons

• It costs more than similar names.
• There is only one mix of bed and car.

How does a Ranger get around? The four-cylinder engine is strong overall. Our four-wheel-drive Ranger Lariat reached 60 mph in 6.7 seconds on the Edmunds test track. When we tested it, the same Tacoma took almost a full second longer to hit 60 mph.

It can be slow for the truck to cruise at slower speeds, but it has plenty of power for passing or merging. The Ranger handles turns well for a truck. The weight and turning assistance are ideal. The car is simple to drive straight on the highway and in parking lots.

How does the Ranger make you feel? No matter what truck limitations are usually in place, the Ranger is comfortable. The ride is smooth and much better than those of the rivals. If you choose a Raptor, the front seats will be even cozier and have more support to keep you locked in off-road. The front seats are nice and supportive for long trips. The Ranger needs help in busy places. The engine makes a rough sound when it’s running at full speed, like other medium trucks with four-cylinder turbochargers.

How is the inside? In the front, there is a fantastic amount of space. The driver’s seat and steering wheel can be adjusted in many ways, which makes it easier to find a good driving position. The Ranger can also see better than its rivals because its hood is lower. The Ranger’s back seat legroom isn’t as big as a Ridgeline or Gladiator’s, but it’s good enough for kids and people who travel rarely.

The main tablet and other often used elements are easily accessible to the driver. Some climatic settings on the LCD can distract drivers. The top-of-screen row of quick-access buttons is useful for the optional camera system.

What’s wrong with the tech? The Ranger’s networking features are great. Smartphone integration choices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto talk to each other wirelessly, which makes it easy to switch between them and the original entertainment system. This infotainment system can understand real speech, but Google Assistant in the Chevrolet Colorado is better.

When it comes to driver-assistance systems, the Ranger truly distinguishes itself from other midsize trucks. They should be easier to see and more functional for regular driving. The additional surround-view camera is excellent as well. It gives you a clear view in all directions, and the front-facing camera shows the path of the front tires with lines, which makes it easy to drive over or around objects when you’re off-road.

How do you store and tow things? The Ranger has only one cab-and-bed option. Ford has stretched the bed so that it can hold up to 1,805 pounds of cargo and has 4 feet of room between the wheel wells, which is enough to lay a sheet of plywood flat. A new step built into the frame instead of the bumper has been added to make it easier to get to the bed.

The most weight that can be on a trailer is 7,500 pounds, which is a little less than the Colorado’s 7,700 pounds. Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist system, on the other hand, has a knob in the center dashboard and lets the driver reverse the car while pulling a trailer. It is the most advanced tow technology on the market.

How much fuel does it use? The EPA says that the Ranger with a four-cylinder engine will get an average of 22 mpg in both 2WD and 4WD driving. Medium truck gas mileage. EPA projections were straightforward to follow with the Ranger. There will also be a V6 engine that is more powerful but gets 20 mpg on average.

Is the Ranger worth anything? People often say, “You get what you pay for.” Each trim level of the Ranger costs a little more than it does for the Chevrolet Colorado. The Ford is more refined than the Tacoma, and it has better materials. So, it’s a good deal for the quality you get, even though the base price of the truck goes up at each stage.

This truck doesn’t really have any problems. It offers a decent combination of quality, technology, and driving skill, which helps to circumvent many of the issues that come with truck ownership. It’s okay if a Ranger that isn’t a Raptor looks less powerful than it really is. These days, trucks are trying too hard to show how strong they are.

As of this writing, Ford hasn’t said anything public about the 2025 Ranger yet. After seeing the Ranger from last year, we like the XLT, but we’ll change our mind if anything changes. Will we tell other people about the Lariat we bought? Even though it’s a nice truck, people who don’t have a work budget will like the extra safety features that come standard on the XLT and the fact that they can save money on other options.

Several types of Ford Rangers

The bed of the crew-cab medium Ford Ranger is 5 feet long. In terms of trim choices, you have the option of selecting between XL, XLT, Lariat, or Raptor. The base engine has 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque and is a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It comes with an automatic transmission with ten speeds. That’s the only choice for the XL. The XLT and Lariat come with a more powerful turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 (315 hp, 400 lb-ft of torque). A 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged engine that makes 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque is in the Raptor. It is the most powerful engine on the market. It also gets more off-road and interior upgrades that make it stand out from the others in the line.