2024 Ford Ranger

Inside, Lariat and Raptor drivers operate an electronic gear shifter that’s not nearly as satisfying to use as the mechanical lever on XL and XLT grades, but top models get dual glove boxes. An 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster can be optioned to 12.4 inches, and vertical vents shaped like Obama’s ears flank a 10.1-inch touchscreen or a 12.0-inch vertical screen on Lariats and Raptors. Raptor models flare it up with red stitching and red trim on the vents. Other than that, the Ranger is a pleasantly no-frills affair.

The 2024 Ranger uses a short-long arm suspension up front, with a solid axle and leaf springs in back. It’s more road-friendly than before, however. Ford changed some crossmembers and materials on the fully boxed high-strength steel frame and extended the wheelbase and the track about two inches. The rear shocks and mounts move to the outside of the frame, and even on the 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires that we tested, the Ranger handled much more calmly and more planted than expected with an unladen bed. 

A dial in the center console unlocks the drive modes, and as in other Ford trucks, it takes a minute to get used to turning it, waiting for the modes to appear in the cluster, then flicking the dial into the desired mode. In the center of the dial is a hot button for towing. Every Ranger has Normal, Sport, Tow Haul, and Slippery modes that differ how long gears are held and tweak the traction control and steering feel. The electronically-assisted steering feels meaty and tightly wound, in line with the heavy assuredness of the truck. 

Is the Ford Ranger 4WD?

It’s rear-wheel drive, but there are two four-wheel-drive systems available. A part-time, shift-on-the-fly system with an electronic locking rear differential costs about $3,500 extra, but the Raptor comes with a full-time four-wheel-drive setup with a 2-speed transfer case, the better to Baja with. 

What about the Ford Ranger Raptor?

Raptor models employ remote reservoir 2.5-inch Fox Live Valve shocks at all four corners that isolate the cabin from the whoops on a bouncy trail as well as cushioning the impact when launching off a table. The 17-inch aluminum wheels (beadlocks are optional) are wrapped in 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires with deep treads and plenty of grip. Electronic lockers front and rear help with rocky climbs and uneven descents.

Raptors swap out the rear leaf springs for a Watts link rear suspension with rear coilovers, and the Watts link controls lateral axle movement better so there’s more stability whipping around the esses at speed in Baja mode, opening up the turbocharged 405-hp 3.0-liter V-6. A welcome addition to the F-150 and Bronco Raptor family, the Ranger Raptor might be the most fun you can have on four wheels for under $60,000.

How much does the Ford Ranger tow? What’s the payload?

The basic trailer package with a bumper-mounted ball tows up to 3,500 pounds, but the Max Trailer package with extra cooling and a Class IV receiver ups the Ranger’s tow rating to 7,500 pounds with the 2.3-liter turbo-4 with rear or four-wheel drive. There’s plenty of power uphill and there’s no noticeable sag with the leaf springs, but with all-terrain tires on both the test truck and the 3,000-pound teardrop trailer, the judders are real, though it never feels like the trailer wags the cab downhill or at stops. 

The trailer views beyond the bed to the hitch, as well as the split-view blind-side and bird’s-eye views are helpful. A camera mountable on the trailer would be a full-size move. Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist ($825) is a must-have for occasional towing. Enter in a few stats in the touchscreen, press the tow-haul button in the dial, put it in reverse, and the dial becomes the controller, like a video game: instead of having to steer counter to where you want the trailer to go, you use the dial to incrementally turn the trailer where it should go. It’s a face-saving feature, especially for occasional towing of smaller, trickier trailers. 

Raptors are only rated to tow 5,510 pounds. The Ranger’s max payload rating is 1,805 pounds, but 4WD lowers the max rating to 1,711 pounds.

Even with a wider track and a longer wheelbase, the Ranger’s standard crew cab remains mostly the same in terms of roominess, with just an increase of 0.7 cubic feet of passenger volume. Three seatbelts in back mean five passengers could fit total, but with just 34.6 inches of rear legroom and marginally more hip and shoulder room than the predecessor, it’s going to be a tight and uncomfy squeeze on those vertical back seats. A new power-sliding rear window lets Fido climb on those fold-flat seats to stick his schlobber schnozz out to the breeze. 

Fido may enjoy the scents of what’s in back, but Ranger owners should enjoy the benefits of a slightly wider 5-foot bed. The width at the wheelhouses grows 3.4 inches, thanks in part to the wider track and the shocks moving outside the frame, to 48.2 inches, so sheets of plywood can fit across. There are six clamps in the bed, and available LED lighting illuminates the bed from the cab, good for when using the 120-volt outlet in the bed to pump up air mattresses when arriving late at the campground. There’s no tricks to the tailgate, but it has a ruler built into the top, bottle openers on either side, clamp openings, and fender steps wide and deep enough to fit both booted feet into it. 

Which Ford Ranger should I buy?

In a world ungoverned by scarce resources, we’d love the Ranger Raptor, but price and practicality preclude us from such dreams. We’d stick with the XLT with four-wheel drive for $40,600. The XLT adds a wireless smartphone charger, a satellite radio trial, remote start, blind-spot monitors, LED fog lamps and bed lighting, as well as the 120-volt outlet in the bed. For a Raptor-lite build, we’d add the Advanced Towing Plus Technology Package ($2,305) with the surround-view camera system and Pro Trailer Backup Assist, and the FX4 Off-Road Package ($1,295). That would check us out at $44,290.  

How much is a fully loaded Ranger?

The Ranger Raptor costs $56,960. It hurts us, too, but it’s fair. In addition to the mechanical upgrades outlined in the Performance section, it takes the following conveniences from the $45,120 Lariat: a heated steering wheel, power front seats, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, the twin 12.0-inch displays, and the top towing package mentioned above.