Revamp in Order for the 2024 Ford Ranger

Photo Source: Ford

One of the most popular models in the compact pickup truck class received significant updates for the 2024 model year – the Ford Ranger. Ford expects the vehicle to hold its own with the introduction of the fifth-generation Ranger. To that end, the automaker has greatly improved, but not fundamentally reinvented the Ranger recipe. Keen-eyed truck enthusiasts will notice that the new Ranger is based on the previous one, with the same stout frame, cab structure, and base 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. However, beyond that, much has changed.

Ford knows that many midsize truck buyers are after family-friendly automobiles fit for adventure, and the Ranger does more of what such buyers want than ever, without sacrificing utility. For a truck that was fundamentally a decade old, the outgoing Ranger was a remarkably capable machine. The new version will retain not only its powerful but relatively fuel-efficient base engine, but also its class-leading payload capacity of 1,805 pounds and very healthy 7,500-pound maximum tow rating. The ten-speed automatic transmission remains as well.

Modern Features for 2024

The extended SuperCab body and six-foot bed are no longer available. Almost everything else gets massive upgrades or complete redesigns. That is just as well since the previous design, though introduced in the United States in 2019, dated all the way back to 2011. The 2024 Ranger pickup’s wheelbase grows by 1.9 inches, and its front and rear tracks are widened by 2.4 inches. That said, the new truck keeps the traditional front coil spring and rear leaf-spring suspensions but moves the rear shocks and their mounts outside the frame rails. That is likely to yield more stability and a smoother ride, in corners and on trails alike, while the wider track also equates to more bed space.

There is also more ground clearance, with rear-drive Ranger vehicles getting a minimum of 9.3 inches and four-wheel drive trims getting 10.4 inches, exceeding that of even the old off-road Ranger Tremor. This promises real capability for off-road truck fans even without having to spend money on a Tremor package or the Raptor. Best of all, there is now an optional engine to upgrade to. Even though the Ranger truck’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four engine accelerates up to 270 horsepower and generates 310 pound-feet of torque, it has been the automobile’s only engine in a class dominated by V-6s.

Aesthetic Characteristics

Thanks to a completely redesigned engine bay, now buyers can upgrade to a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V-6, generating 315 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Of note, since the Ranger has not gained any weight in its transformation, that should mean a large boost in performance. All of those changes come in a far more distinctive wrapper than before. Although the previous Ranger performed like a pickup truck, it had no real visual connection to Ford’s other trucks. It has been replaced with a muscular new look that takes styling cues from the popular F-150, lending the Ranger a familiar appearance. The front fascia varies depending on the trim level, but all feature a wide grille flanked by Ford’s signature C-Clamp headlights. The truck is clearly identified at the rear with RANGER spelled across the tailgate in large letters.

Inside, the cabin of the 2024 Ranger boasts an updated design with a focus on the large vertical touchscreen display and digital gauge cluster. High-quality materials give the truck a premium feel, and there is good storage space throughout the cabin. Rear seats are surprisingly spacious, boasting almost four more inches than the outgoing version, and there are multiple USB ports to keep devices charged.

If this article has prompted your interest in the 2024 Ford Ranger, please come visit Sunrise Ford. Are you excited about getting a new car? So are we. We are more than excited to help our customers; we are thrilled. We can help sell your current vehicle or bring it back to life like new with an online service appointment to our service center. Allow our professional technicians to get started on all repairs or maintenance work.