Daily Slideshow: Ranger fans aren't pleased with its increase in size. But a new Ford Courier might just give us the small truck we really want.
Compact Desires
By all accounts so far, the new 2019 Ford Ranger looks like it's going to be a great truck. But if there's one gripe our readers have about the resurrection of the fan favorite, it's the large increase in size and price over the old, compact Ranger.
Many of you want the option to buy a small, bare-bones, cheap pickup. You know, what the Ranger used to be. And now it looks like Ford might just be working to fill those desires by resurrecting yet another old nameplate - the Courier.
Pending Reality
Test mules of this new Courier have already been spotted testing in the wild near Ford's headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. The small pickup looks like it's destined to slot in below the mid-size Ranger, filling out Ford's truck lineup once again. But the question remains - will truck fans embrace it the same way they embraced the original Ranger?
>>Join the conversation about a possible new Courier right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Light(er) Duty
It's easy to say yes, but there are some details surrounding the new Courier that are sure to turn off traditional truck fans. For starters, the new pickup is rumored to ride on a Focus-based platform. This is largely due to the fact that Ford wants to build something better suited for urban city hauling than off-road adventures or heavy-duty loads.
>>Join the conversation about a possible new Courier right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Pickup for the People
Ford already sells a number of similar small 'utes outside of the U.S, including those badged as Couriers. The previous generation of which used the even-smaller Ford Fiesta chassis as its underpinnings. Those small, economical trucks are quite popular in many countries where congested city centers and high fuel costs make them a great fit for people's needs.
>>Join the conversation about a possible new Courier right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Changing Tides
That might've been fine years ago when we thought high fuel costs were here to stay in the U.S., but things have certainly changed. People have flocked back to large pickups and SUVs in throes, eschewing small, economical rides in favor of interior space and hauling/towing capacity.
>>Join the conversation about a possible new Courier right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Entry Level
The one exception to this rule applies to today's younger generation. These urban dwellers prefer smaller vehicles that still pack lots of utility. Which is exactly why subcompact crossovers are selling like hotcakes. Ford might just be targeting these kinds of customers with the new Courier, giving them something affordable and usable with the option to grow into a Ranger or F-150 later on.
>>Join the conversation about a possible new Courier right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Pending Disappointment?
Clearly, traditional truck fans would be highly disappointed by the Courier's low ride-height, front-wheel drive configuration, and small, low-power engine offerings. But while we assume that these are the kinds of characteristics we can expect from the new compact pickup, nothing is set in stone as of now.
>>Join the conversation about a possible new Courier right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Opportunity Knocks
Of course, that doesn't mean that a car-like Courier will be a total failure. There seems to be a robust market for such a vehicle, and as of now, there aren't many options out there. Especially in the United States.
>>Join the conversation about a possible new Courier right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Gateway Truck
So to sum things up, no, the Courier doesn't look like it'll be the traditional compact truck that we so covet. And that's a shame, really. But it does stand a pretty good chance at helping Ford seize more market share and attract new customers who will probably upgrade to bigger, more profitable pickups in the years to come. So for those reasons, at least, a car-like Courier makes a lot of sense for the Blue Oval.
>>Join the conversation about a possible new Courier right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
For information on maintenance and repairs, visit our How-To section here in Ford-Trucks.com.
