2022 Ford Ranger Review: Only In America

The Ford Ranger may be fairly new to the American market, but it has been around for a decade in other parts of the world. This may make it hard to justify against midsize truck rivals like the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado. Still, it's worth pointing out that the Ranger has received numerous significant facelifts since it was introduced elsewhere in 2011, so the pickup truck you see on US roads is the best possible version of the Ranger there is. To take the fight to the rest of the market, Ford avails the Ranger in a simple three-trim lineup, with just two cab styles available. A 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder is also the only engine available, producing 270 horsepower and enabling it to tow up to 7,500 pounds.

While it shares the same basic structure as Rangers sold elsewhere, the American Ranger has several unique features that you won't find anywhere else in the world. Ford put the Ranger through a rigorous testing process before it went on sale here, but was it good enough? And can the Ranger hide its age well enough to make it a worthy choice in 2022 before an all-new model arrives?

What's the Price of the New Ford Ranger?

The price of the Ford Ranger begins at $25,500 for the XL. This is followed by the mid-range XLT at $29,550 and the more luxurious Lariat at $33,590. Pricing here excludes the destination charge of $1,295 in the US and are for the trims in their cheapest 4x2 guise with the SuperCab body style.

Upgrading from the XL SuperCab to the XL SuperCrew will add $2,400 to the price. On the same model, upgrading from 4x2 to 4x4 will cost $3,855. It's easy to send the price of the new Ford Ranger soaring. For example, the Lariat 4x4 SuperCrew with the Tremor package will cost over $45,000.

2022 Ranger Exterior

Dimensions

2022 Ranger Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Ranger has some sporty potential, but it's not a sports car. It is fun on a daily basis, especially if you get a kick out of racing from one set of traffic lights to the next. It offers a perfect balance between everyday comfort and the ability to carry a load. It can feel on the floaty side, and it rolls a bit in the corners, but what pickup doesn't? The steering is light and provides little in the way of feedback, and that's perfectly fine for a pickup. It makes it much easier to maneuver around town.

Ford has a number of packages that allow you to tailor a Ranger to your specific needs. The FX2 package, for example, adds some chunky off-road tires and a beefed-up suspension. The Sport package gives you a Ranger more suited to tarmac driving, while the Tremor package aims to make the Ranger as off-road-capable as possible. It adds a lifted suspension with dampers from Fox and 17-inch alloy wheels with off-road rubber.

2022 Ranger Interior

2022 Ranger Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the 2022 Ford Ranger A Good truck?

It's quite clear that the Ford Ranger was never intended for the American market. Ford only decided to offer it years after its initial launch when a gap in the market appeared. While Ford tried its best to hide the Ranger's agricultural, old-school roots, it's blatantly apparent in certain places. The hard plastics, the small cupholders, and the awkward placing of some buttons result from a right-hand-drive-developed vehicle being converted to a left-hand-drive vehicle.

Having said that, the changes Ford made are quite significant, especially if you've had the misfortune of driving a third-world Ranger. The enhancements to the structure, for example, are quite significant. Not to mention the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-pot, which is a great engine.

The top models in this review of the Ranger are expensive when you compare them to their direct rivals, and the driving experience isn't as polished as we would have liked. However, if you stick to the bottom end of the range, the available packages make it easy to tailor a Ranger to your exact needs.

What Ford Ranger Model Should I Buy?

All Rangers are powered by the same 2.3-liter turbocharged four-pot engine and 10-speed gearbox combo, so you'll be getting a decent powertrain no matter what model you choose. We'd go with an XL SuperCrew, as it offers nearly as much space in the bed but with added space for the passengers. Unless you live in a state that demands it, or you enjoy a spot of off-roading, there's no need to go for a 4x4.

To that XL, we'd add the STX Special Edition package to get all the nice toys and the Ford Co-Pilot 360 to get all of the advanced driver assistance features. That way, you end up with a well-equipped Ranger 4x2 for $33,690 including the destination and acquisition fees.

2022 Ford Ranger Comparisons

2022 Ford Ranger vs Chevrolet Colorado

The Chevrolet is a better choice from a reliability standpoint. Not because the Ranger is unreliable, but because the Chevy has been available for much longer. The Chevy is also available with a torquey turbocharged diesel powertrain, which means it has a superior 7,700 lbs tow rating. The Colorado has a starting price of just $25,200, just marginally more than the Ford. At that price, Chevrolet only gives you a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-pot engine, and the Ford will run circles around it. If it's a reliable, comfortable, and capable workhorse you seek, the price difference is good enough to swing favor in the direction of the Chevrolet.

2022 Ford Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma starts at a higher price than the Ranger, and you don't really get much in return. At $26,700, you get a naturally-aspirated 2.7-liter four-pot engine. The outputs are a low 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. You do get more kit as standard, but rear legroom is a bit on the low side compared to the Ranger.

The Tacoma has a larger standard touchscreen infotainment system, and you can have it with a manual gearbox. The Tacoma was obviously designed for the American market. It has full-size cupholders big enough for a Big Gulp. The Tacoma is a better day-to-day and off-road companion, while the Ranger is a better workhorse.