‘No Doubt that the Ranger is the Best Midsize Truck You Can Buy,’ Says CNBC
Ford’s newest pickup gets high praise and few complaints.
Fans of Ford’s smaller trucks have missed the Ranger in the eight years since it was discontinued. Within that time, the midsize pickup truck market has shrunken down to almost nothing, only to experience a small renaissance in recent years.
We’re as eager as anyone to see the return of the Ranger, and CNBC Autos thinks it’s the best of the current crop of midsize pickups. Let’s see why the new Ford Ranger was worth the wait, and, just as importantly, what CNBC thinks the Blue Oval can make even better.
CNBC’s Mack Hogan spent a week with a 2019 Ranger Lariat Supercab 4×4, the highest-spec Ranger you can buy today. Equipped as such, this Ranger will set you back $40,685. Addressing the elephant in the room, Hogan states that while the price for the new Ranger is considerably higher than the previous Ranger, the new truck justifies its price and then some.
In every metric that matters — road manners, cabin comfort, and payload — the Ranger easily defeats its rivals in this class, the Toyota Tacoma and the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon. While the diesel Colorado and Canyon can haul slightly more, you’ll pay dearly for the privilege to the tune of several thousand dollars over and above the price of this premium-trim Ranger. What’s more, you’ll be left with a dated truck that lacks refinement compared to the new Ranger.
“There’s no doubt that the Ranger is the best midsize truck you can buy,” writes Hogan. “It offers more flexibility, capability and refinement than its rivals at a price that is seriously competitive.”
Hogan doesn’t think that the Ranger is perfect, though. The EcoBoost engine exhibits noticeable turbo lag, a rarity for forced-induction powerplants these days. Buys expecting the comfort of a crossover or SUV will be let down, but that should be expected for any pickup truck, not just the Ranger.
‘There’s no doubt that the Ranger is the best midsize truck you can buy. It offers more flexibility, capability and refinement than its rivals at a price that is seriously competitive.’
Hopefully, the Ranger will be a roaring success for Ford, and inspire other manufacturers to step up their game or offer midsize pickups of their own. Competition is a good thing, after all, and with the Ranger at the top of the heap now, we can’t wait to see how good things can get for this new addition to Ford’s stable of trucks.
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