The new Ford Ranger is a welcome sight on US roadways. Ford went the better part of a decade without a mid-size pickup truck on the market there, after the third-generation Ranger, shared with Japan's Mazda Motor Corporation, was discontinued after the 2012 model year. Powered exclusively by a turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine like the one found in the Ford Mustang EcoBoost, the new Ranger make some 63 horsepower more than the most powerful third-generation model ever did, and accomplishes better fuel economy to boot.

As an added bonus, we think most would agree that its 2.3L EcoBoost engine sounds vastly superior to the big 4.0L V6 its predecessor relied on.

Of course, such things are subjective. Less subjective, however, is just how much better the new Ford Ranger sounds with an exhaust from Roush Performance. Roush is well known for its expertly engineered performance modifications for Ford-brand vehicles, and the company has taken its vast expertise and plied it to craft a freer-breathing cat-back exhaust for the 2019-2020 Ranger.

Mandrel-bent from 3-inch stainless steel tubing, the exhaust promises up to an extra 6 horsepower and 8 lb-ft of torque over stock, with dual Roush-badged 4-inch tips that look the business. The kit has a suggested retail price of $915, and if you ask us, it's worth every penny, if for nothing else then for the grin it'll put on your face every time you mash the throttle.

Speaking of performance mods, Roush also offers a cold-air intake for the 2019-2020 Ford Ranger, both with ($935) and without ($415) an engine recalibration that delivers an extra 14 horsepower and a whopping 53 lb-ft of additional torque at the rear wheels. Even without the recalibration, the air filter delivers up to 8 lb-ft of extra torque by virtue of its less-restrictive, higher-flowing design.

In the world of aftermarket performance, few companies have the sterling reputation of Roush Performance. It might be time to put that tax refund of yours to work.