LIKES
- Grunty turbo power
- Well-behaved gearbox
- Decent infotainment system
- Utilitarian pickup bed
DISLIKES
- Not as cheap as you think
- Bouncy ride
- So-so fuel economy
- Meh interior
BUYING TIP
- The 2023 Ranger can almost be a good value if you stick with an XL model and then add a few options.
The 2023 Ford Ranger has its appeal, but this design is ready for replacement.
What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Ford Ranger? What does it compare to?
The 2023 Ford Ranger is a mid-size SUV. Shop it against the Chevy Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier.
Is the 2023 Ford Ranger a good truck?
It’s alright. We like the Ford Ranger’s turbo power and its optional infotainment system is a model of simplicity. However, the Ranger is pricey for what it is, and its ride quality trails competitors. We give it a TCC Rating of 5.0 out of 10.
What's new for the 2023 Ford Ranger?
The Ranger sees no notable tweaks for 2023 as Ford readies its 2024 replacement.
The Ranger impresses far less inside, even when fitted with the optional 8.0-inch touchscreen.
Underhood, look for impressive grunt from the 270-hp turbo-4, which teams well with the standard 10-speed automatic transmission. That setup is good for 21 mpg city, 26 highway, 23 combined, or 20/24/22 mpg with optional four-wheel drive.
The dated cabin features comfy front seats, but rear-seat riders ought to be kids. The 8.0-inch infotainment system that’s optional on the XL and standard otherwise brings the Ranger back into the 21st century, too. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto require an upgrade to the bigger screen, something most rivals have moved on from.
The Ranger’s four-star NHTSA rating is cause for some concern. The automaker has yet to test the 2022 model.
How much does the 2023 Ford Ranger cost?
The 2023 Ranger starts at $27,895, though that’s for an extended-cab, rear-wheel-drive model. Most shoppers will step up to a crew cab with four-wheel drive for $33,725 to start.
That’s hardly chump change, especially since it buys steel wheels, cloth seats, vinyl floors, and a basic audio system.
Where is the 2023 Ford Ranger made?
In Wayne, Michigan.
Styling
The 2023 Ford Ranger raises few eyebrows in the style department.
Is the Ford Ranger a good-looking car?
Its neat, attractive lines have aged well, even though there are some odd details. We rate the 2023 Ranger at a 6 out of 10.
Park a new Ranger next to its F-150 and Super Duty siblings and there’s little familial linearity. The smaller Ranger is almost sleek and curvy against its blocky siblings. It’s a breath of fresh air—unless you live in southeast Asia, where this design has been around for a very, very long time.
Performance
The 2023 Ford Ranger offers excellent power, but its bouncy ride can be tiring.
We like the turbo-4 under the 2023 Ford Ranger’s hood, but not enough to fully counteract the bouncy ride and truckish handling. It’s a 6 on the TCC scale.
Is the Ford Ranger 4WD?
Many are. A part-time four-wheel-drive system is optional, and Ford offers FX2 and Tremor off-road packages with varying levels of four-wheeling accoutrements. Tremor versions in particular feature a high-riding suspension with nearly 10 inches of ground clearance plus Fox shocks that manage to make the truck ride better on-road, too.
The 2.3-liter turbo-4 cranks out 270 hp and 310 lb-ftof torque, making it the life of the party. A slick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission adds appeal.
That’s where our praise ends, though. The Ranger’s independent front and leaf-sprung solid rear axle deliver a choppy ride in any form, especially when equipped with the Tremor off-road package. Though the steering has nice heft, it’s utterly devoid of feel. Couple that with substantial body lean and the 2023 Ranger becomes more of a chore than a joy to pilot.
One asset is its towing ability, though. Properly equipped, Ford rates the Ranger to lug a trailer weighing as much as 7,500 lb, and it can handle upward of 1,800 lb in its bed.
Comfort & Quality
The 2023 Ford Ranger impresses for cargo, but its cabin is just acceptable.
The seemingly endless utility offered by the Ford Ranger’s open bed earns it a point above average here, for a 6 out of 10. It gets no credit for interior comfort and space, though.
The front seats offer decent support even with standard manual adjustment. A power driver’s seat is optional. Cloth seats are standard on XL and XLT trims, while leather comes with the range-topping Lariat.
Extended-cab versions have an itty-bitty back seat best for briefcases and dogs. Crew cabs are only marginally better, though, especially considering their limited shoulder and head space.
Out back, the 6-foot bed on extended-cab models shrinks to a still usable 5-foot cargo area on crewcabs. Various bedliners and tie-downs are available through Ford’s accessories department, too.
Safety
The 2023 Ford Ranger lags when it comes to safety.
How safe is the Ford Ranger?
There are better choices. The NHTSA says that the 2023 Ford Ranger is a four-star overall vehicle, and it notes a disconcerting three-star rating for rollover resistance.
The IIHS has only performed a handful of tests, so we don’t factor its rating into our score.
We land at a 5, with points deducted from NHTSA ratings but one added for crash-avoidance tech.
Features
The 2023 Ford Ranger can be a decent value in select configurations.
Ford wants nearly $34,000 for a crew-cab Ranger with four-wheel drive. That’s a hefty sum, and it doesn’t buy much truck. You’ll find a basic 4.2-inch audio display with Bluetooth, steel wheels, and power windows.
A basic 3-year/36,000-mile warranty covers the Ranger.
That base equipment cancels out the standard crash-avoidance tech, bringing the Ranger to a 5 for features.
An XL with a few options can mean an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, plus cruise control and a few other niceties. You’ll spend the better part of $38,000 to get one, though.
An XLT with the Tremor package and a bedliner runs upward of $44,000.
How much is a fully loaded Ford Ranger?
Fuel Economy
The 2023 Ford Ranger’s fuel economy is above class average.
Is the Ford Ranger good on gas?
It can be thrifty. Rear-drive models are estimated at 23 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 combined. Four-wheel drive dings those figures to a nearly identical 20/24/22 mpg.
0 comments:
Post a Comment