Although once dominant in the compact truck category, the 2011 Ford Ranger mainly stands out for its unimpressive interior and lack of features. In an MSRP range of $18,160 to $26,070, it may appeal to the budget-minded, but there are much better small pick-ups on the market. Best suited for commuting and around-town driving, the Ranger handles poorly and can be used for light towing and hauling only. (Gas mileage is rated at 22 city and 27 highway.)
The Ranger's major competition is the Toyota Tacoma, which opens at $1,500 less, has superior interior comfort, better towing capacity, and offers a better ride. Comparison shoppers would do well to drive the Nissan Frontier and the Suzuki Equator. They're almost identical and in the same price range with the Ranger, but each one can tow about 200 lbs.more. (Ditto for the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Coloardo.)
There are three trims, the XL, XLT, and Sport and two cabs, Regular and Super. (Fleet buyers have an option for a 7-foot bed, which is a foot longer than standard. Cargo space comes in at 37.4 cubic feet.) The two engine choices are a 2.3-liter I4 with 143 hp and a 4.0-liter V6 with 207 hp. Reviewers find both to be underpowered. Both are paired with a five-speed manual overdrive with an option for an automatic to the tune of $1,000.
After the last refresh, the Ranger has a bolder-grille and a raised power-dome hood. The design, frankly, doesn't get much in the way of comments. The Ranger just is what it is. The interior is adequate, but unimpressive. There's not much room. Everything is basic. You can opt for a bench or optional bucket seats, with Super Cabs including a couple of folding jump seats in back.
The base is incredibly bland, with a 60/40 bench, AM/FM stereo, and manual windows and doors. Most everything that's optional, should be standard: AC, CD player, cruise control, tilt/telescoping wheel. Frankly it's just ridiculous to pay extra for things you can get standard on other trucks. Safety features include roll stability control, seat side airbags, tire pressure monitoring, traction control, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes. Side curtain airbags are not available.
US News ranks the 2011 Ford Ranger 6 out of 7 small trucks considered. It's not that the Ranger is necessarily a bad truck, it's just plain -- and pricier than it should be when you start tacking on desirable options. If you want plain vanilla and you're on a budget, you may love the Ranger, but drive the others before you choose.
