Certified 2023 Ford Ranger XLT

The 4-cylinder engine powering all Rangers displaces 2.3 liters and makes 270 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque, which is sent to the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission, the only transmission available on the Ford Ranger. Buyers can opt for four-wheel drive which costs about $3700 extra, but obviously makes the Ranger far more capable in off-road or low grip situations.

There are two basic body styles available, what Ford calls its SuperCab combined with a six-foot cargo bed or the bigger SuperCrew cabin combined with a five-foot bed. Either body style comes in one of three trims: XL, XLT or top of the line Lariat.

The basic XL trim comes with automatic headlights, 16-inch steel wheels, wi-fi hotspot, manual locking tailgate, locking glove box, power door locks, USB port, Ford's SYNC infotainment system, rearview camera, pedestrian detection alert, and forward collision mitigation. While the bigger SuperCrew cab obviously has larger and more comfortable rear seats, it's worth noting that even the basic SuperCab has ditched the sideways facing rear seats of compact pickup truck lore, with all-four seats facing the correct direction and featuring reasonable leg room.

The XLT trim adds both luxury and style over the XL with 17-inch aluminum wheels, bumpers painted in body color, fog lamps, auto high beam, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, driver attention alert, power mirrors, rear window defroster, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Dual-zone automatic climate control, 6-speaker system, satellite radio, 8-inch radio touchscreen, SYNC 3 infotainment system with voice activation, power locking tailgate, and cruise control.

At the top of the Ranger lineup sits the Lariat, with leather trimmed seats, Full LED headlights and taillights, LED fog lights, ambient lighting, auto-dimming rearview mirror, proximity doors with push button start, and chrome grille. The Lariat also comes standard with 18-inch machine finished alloy wheels, power folding heated side mirrors with turn-signals, driver and passenger partial power seats, and heated front seats.

The Ranger offers a good range of extra equipment with packages based on trim level, here are some of them: Dual-zone automatic climate control, SYNC 3, power mirrors, power-folding mirrors, Ford Co-Pilot 360, rear parking sensors, front parking sensors, leather steering wheel, 110-volt power outlet, remote start, heated power front seats, navigation system, Adaptive Cruise control, LED headlights, leather seats, 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Other choices are Sport/Chrome/ or Black appearance package, Technology Package, Convenience Package, and the Tremor Off-Road Package.

Traditional Ford Pickup Truck Toughness

Standard Driver-assistance Technology

Compact Exterior Dimensions

Fuel Efficient Engine

Available Four-wheel Drive

Stylish Exterior Styling

Strong Turbo

Can Tow Up To 7500 Lbs.

The 2023 Ford Ranger carries over with minimal changes.

The Ford Ranger competes with other compact pickup trucks such as the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado. Pricing is competitive with short cab and crew cab versions costing just a few thousand dollars more. Unlike its rivals who generally offer either an underpowered 4-cylinder or a large V6, Ford have opted to give the new Ranger a more modern drivetrain, powering all models with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine which makes similar horsepower to a V6 while returning better gas mileage.