Overview & Reviews

They say that in the event of Armageddon, the only thing to survive will be cockroaches. Well, there's a good chance you'd see some old Ford Rangers cruising around, too. This compact pickup truck soldiered on with relatively few revisions for nearly three decades. Of course, there were styling and interior overhauls over the decades, but the platform and most mechanicals underneath it all were practically Jurassic. Even those styling and interior updates dated back to the 1990s.

Older Rangers aren't quite as out of date compared to competitors of similar age. And given its wide choice of trim styles and lower pricing than comparable Japanese rivals, a well-maintained late-model Ford Ranger could be a good choice for a used pickup, provided you don't need a lot of passenger capacity or horsepower. But if you're looking for a relatively new used compact or midsize pickup, the Ford Ranger pales in comparison to other trucks with their more powerful engines, roomier crew-cab body styles and greater overall refinement.

Used Ford Ranger Models
The most recent generation of the Ford Ranger was produced from 2001 through 2011 and typically came in four different flavors: XL, XLT, Sport, and the off-road-oriented FX4. Depending on the year, there were also the monochromatic Edge, sporty STX and sound system-centered Tremor. Only standard and extended cab body styles were offered, as there was still no crew cab version.

Engine selection consisted of a 2.3-liter four-cylinder, a 3.0-liter V6 (until 2009) and a 4.0-liter V6. Output of the smaller engines varied slightly depending on year, with the 2.3 making 135-143 horsepower and the 3.0 making 148-154 hp. The 4.0 made 207 hp. Transmission choices included a five-speed manual and a five-speed automatic for all engines, though initially the 4.0-liter V6 came only with the automatic.

Although nimble on- and off-road due to its true compact size, even this latest version of the Ranger was seriously dated in terms of features and available body styles. While its midsize rivals offered roomy crew-cab (four-door) models, more modern features and much more powerful V6 engines, the Ranger made do with standard and extended-cab configurations only, and relatively low-tech power plants.

The second generation of the Ranger ran from 1993 through 2000. Styling was less blocky than the first-gen truck and the cabin was likewise updated with less angular forms. Standard and extended cab body styles were offered, but they were joined by a stylish, flareside bed version dubbed the Splash. Under the hood was the expected choice of a four- or six-cylinder engine. Notable changes throughout this generation are the availability of four-wheel antilock brakes in 1995, a five-speed automatic transmission (versus four-speed) for V6 models in '97 and freshened styling for '98.

Introduced for 1983, the Ford Ranger started life as a standard-cab, four-cylinder compact pickup truck with a choice of two bed lengths. The mid-'80s saw the introduction of the extended-cab body style known as the "SuperCab," which offered jump seats that were best left to kids. The Ranger continued through the early '90s with minor upgrades to the powertrains and small cosmetic changes.

User Reviews:

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  2007 Ranger - 2007 Ford Ranger
  By mac0s9user - May 27 - 5:37 pm

  Overall not a bad truck. Great off-road with the limited slip differential. Manual trans does well with no slippage. Body is okay but a little to much plastic for my personal liking.

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  Ford tough - 1991 Ford Ranger
  By Zeke Dalrymple - May 25 - 1:51 pm

  This is a great strong truck highly recommend

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  120,000 miles, No Problems - 1994 Ford Ranger
  By Vasolini - May 25 - 11:45 am

  This has been a great vehicle. Although the 4 cylinder engine lacks a bit of power for towing, the truck has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. The only time Ive ever had it in the shop was because of the hydralic clutch. I could not get that thing to bleed out the air! Other than that, just the usual maintenance, and this truck could last forever, just about!

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  2003 Ranger ratings - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By bfunk62 - May 4 - 4:27 pm

  I love my Ford Ranger! I think the exterior as well as interior design are awesome. It is fun to drive and gets OK gas mileage. I just calculated mine today and I get 16.5 mpg. This is actually really good for a pickup truck. On the other hand, because its such a small pickup truck, the ride is extremely rough and any pothole or uneven road will throw the truck around. The driver must keep their hands on the wheel at all times because unexpected bumps will send it off the road. I noticed this in two other Rangers that I drove, so I can say that they are rough riding trucks and not just from one experience. Overall I love my ranger and I think it is 10x better looking than Chevy S-10s!

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  Is it worth it? - 2007 Ford Ranger
  By David - May 4 - 1:14 am

  I recently brought a Ford Ranger Fx4 level 2 due to its low price and standard options on the vehicle. My experience with this truck it aint great. After 2 weeks of driving, the wheel alignment was off, battery died have to get it boost. The truck is a gas guzzler. It doesnt provide a lot of power, throttle response is very slow. Bottom line, the truck isnt worth buying. Ford commercial looks good on TV, but where they get you is when you purchase their vechicle.

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  Glad to be rid of it - 1999 Ford Ranger
  By Rod - April 27 - 7:31 am

  The only good thing I can say is that the front seats were very comfortable. Reliability was the key issue. During the 6 years of ownership I spent about 50% of the purchase price in repairs. At the time I traded it the EGR needed to be replaced, the A/C was leaking, the differential had problems, and the left door light switch was bad.

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  No problems after 5 years - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By Dave - April 25 - 2:41 am

  I have had this truck now for five years with zero problems. The V-6 is fabulous for a 2001. The only other V-6 that equals this is the Tacomas, but was a lot more to purchase. I really have loved the truck, and other than a few recalls when I first bought it, Ive never have taken it in for any reason. I wish gas mileage was better, but its just as good as any other truck engine that size.

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  Love my mans truck - 1992 Ford Ranger
  By D Havens - April 22 - 1:44 pm

  Weve had 2 Mazda Proteges and a Toyota Sienna in the time since we bought this truck, and the truck has easily outlasted them all. Granted, the red paint has faded to a funny dark pink, but it has never been in the shop for any major repairs. And, no, we dont work on it at home. My Sienna, which cost more than 3 times the amount, has cost me at least the price of the truck in repairs. Thank you, Ford, for a simple, no- frills, dependable product.

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  Great Truck - 1998 Ford Ranger
  By 4x4RangerGuy - April 12 - 9:33 am

  Besides the automatic, my Ranger has been bulletproof. I off-road as a hobby, and this truck has taken me everywhere without ever breaking a thing. The 3.0 V6 is bulletproof, and the 4x4 always works. I replaced the hubs with manual hubs to get rid of the vacuum assist, and its been great. The truck is comfortable, and it has been on long trips with no complaints. These magazines are bought out by Japanese manufacturers, so they never have anything decent to say about American vehicles. Well, the Ranger disproves it all. A solid, well built and well priced vehicle. I will be buying another Ford Ranger for my next vehicle.

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  Its a great truck - 2002 Ford Ranger
  By Ray - April 11 - 5:59 pm

  I bought this truck new in 02. I now have 140,000 miles on it. It still looks and drives like new. I have only had to do routine maintenance. It was in the shop 1 time for a sensor that went out of range and that was covered by the warranty. All I have had to do is keep the oil changed, brakes, and tires. Its the most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned.