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Midsize Pickup Truck
Ford Ranger
→ Consider
Solid choice with some caveats
You're shopping two completely different trucks under one badge. The old compact Rangers (1990s-2011) earned their reputation the hard way, owners routinely push them past 300k miles on original drivetrains, fix them with junkyard parts for pocket change, and replace them with another Ranger when rust finally wins. The current midsize version (2019+) tows 7,500 pounds, rides like a car, and packs a punchy turbo four, but it's grown to F-150 dimensions at near-F-150 money, and 2021-2023 models are showing up with oil leaks and transmission hiccups while still under warranty. Buy a clean old one if you want a proven workhorse that'll outlast your career. Skip the new one unless you need modern towing and safety, and even then, you're betting on Ford ironing out first-generation kinks.
The generation that matters
This product isn't one story — here's how each era is regarded.
1990s–2011 (compact Ranger)
1990–2011
Legendary
Widely praised as simple, durable, and 'built to last'—users call them 'indestructible' and note they're still common on roads decades later. Parts are cheap and the trucks survive abuse.
2019–2023 (reintroduced mid-size)
2019–2023
Strong
Owners report solid reliability and capability, with some calling it 'the best truck I've ever owned.' However, the 10-speed transmission drew criticism for rough shifting and slipping, especially pre-2024.
2024+ (redesigned mid-size)
2024–present
Solid
Experts praise the roomy cabin, strong engines, and off-road competence, but note a brittle ride, vague steering, long braking distances, and an unrefined transmission. Transmission issues reportedly fixed after Nov 2023.
−
Common complaints6 issues−Current generation (2019-2024) has early reports of transmission issues, oil leaks, and build quality problems on brand-new units
−New Rangers are significantly larger than older compact models, losing the 'small truck' appeal
−2.3L four-cylinder in older models is underpowered for modern expectations
−Rust is a major long-term concern in salt-belt regions, particularly on frames and suspension components
−Current generation pricing overlaps with full-size F-150, making value proposition questionable
−Safety ratings on older generations are poor by modern standards
✓
What owners praise7 strengths✓
Older generations (1990s-2011) are exceptionally durable, with multiple owners reporting 200k-500k miles with minimal issues
✓
2.3L four-cylinder and 4.0L V6 engines from older generations are proven reliable workhorses
✓
Current generation (2019+) offers strong towing capacity (7,500 lbs), modern features, and 2.3L EcoBoost performance
✓
Compact size of older models makes them easy to park and maneuver while still being functional trucks
✓
Parts availability for older generations is excellent and affordable
✓
Current generation rides smoothly and quietly with comfortable cabin
✓
Strong community support and enthusiast following for all generations
📊 How this score was calculated — 6-dimension rubric
High confidence▼
815 sources analysed with long-term owner data present
815 sources analysed — strong data quality
Reliability & Durability(22%)8.0
12 positive vs 3 negative long-term reports
User Sentiment(22%)6.6
2,847 positive upvotes vs 1,456 negative upvotes
Complaint Severity(16%)7.3
Complaints: 8 cosmetic, 47 functional, 4 systematic, 1 safety
Consensus Strength(8%)3.3
Opinion is use-case dependent — product divides opinion by intended use
Value for Money(15%)3.7
9 'worth it', 7 'overpriced', 12 mention better-value alternatives
Owner Advocacy(17%)8.7
4 repurchased/gifted, 14 unprompted recommendations, 2 regrets
Scores are percentile ranks: 5.0 is the median product in existence. 8.5+ is reserved for genuinely exceptional products (top ~10%). The score reflects consensus quality, what owners say about the product. Risk is tracked separately and shown above the summary when present. Both are calculated deterministically, so the same signals always produce the same score.
Specifications2026
▼Pricing
Starting MSRP
$33,550
Range
$33,550 - $57,270
Capability
Towing capacity
7,500 lbs
Payload
1,805 lbs
Fuel economy
20-21 city / 24-25 hwy MPG
Drivetrain
RWD / 4WD available
Dimensions & capacity
Seating
5 passengers
Cargo
5-foot bed, 59.6 in long x 48.2 in wide
Powertrains
2.3L Turbo I-4
standard engine
270 hp · 310 lb-ft
2.7L Twin-Turbo V-6
available upgrade, 4WD only
315 hp · 400 lb-ft
3.0L Twin-Turbo V-6
Ranger Raptor only
405 hp · 430 lb-ft
Trim pricing
XL 4x2
base trim with crew cab
$34,265
XL 4x4
base trim with 4WD
$37,910
XLT 4x2
mid-level trim
$37,205
XLT 4x4
mid-level with 4WD
$41,190
Lariat 4x2
top-of-the-line with leather seats
$45,225
Lariat 4x4
top trim with 4WD
$48,710
Ranger Raptor
high-performance off-road, 3.0L twin-turbo V-6, 4WD standard
$59,165
🏆
How it ranks in Midsize Pickup Truck
10 products compared
1
Nissan Frontier
8.8/10
✓ Buy
2
Honda Ridgeline
8.4/10
✓ Buy
3
GMC Sierra 1500
7.9/10
→ Consider
4
Ford Maverick
7.7/10
→ Consider
5
Ford F-150 Lightning
7.5/10
→ Consider
6
Toyota Tacoma
7.4/10
→ Consider
7
Nissan Titan
7.3/10
→ Consider
8
Ford Ranger you are here
7.2/10
→ Consider
9
Hyundai Santa Cruz
7.2/10
→ Consider
10
Ram 3500
6.9/10
→ Consider
If you're buying
Know what others paid before you walk in.