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Older Rangers aren't quite as out of date compared to competitors of similar age.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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  Good Truck - 1997 Ford Ranger
  By Ken - December 14 - 12:51 pm

  I purchased my 1997 Ranger new. I bought a compact 4 cylinder standard transmission truck I like. Its not a power, gas guzzling demon, like some of the V8 and V6 trucks I looked at. This truck has been reliable over the years and only had small problems. I had to replace the brakes, tires, and one oil seal in the rear axle. This Ranger rides like a truck on bumpy country roads, but on the interstate its not bad. Still I know Im driving a truck. The only complaint Ive got is this: steep hills require downshifts, but its only a 4 cylinder engine. Ill keep the Ranger till I have to junk it

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  Alaskan Mans Review of Ranger - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By Kenjini - December 14 - 2:00 am

  I like it...suits me, its a bright obnoxious yellow

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  good overall truck - 2000 Ford Ranger
  By heath - December 13 - 12:14 pm

  This is a great truck that I know is reliable. I have put this truck through hell and it still runs like it is brand new. i have 78,000 miles on it now and it still runs the same. Good power for the engine size, but terrible gas mileage. There are only two things I dislike about the truck. One is it gets terrible gas mileage and the other is that the truck has holes underneath the fender flares. Whoever made this design of holes underneath the flares is not very smart. Some people might want to take those off and now they have 40 or 50 holes in the side of their truck. I am one of these Ford customers who has this problem.

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  The Little Truck That Could - 2002 Ford Ranger
  By kevy002 - December 12 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this truck a month ago and use it everyday for work. I put a box cover on it and store all my eqipment and parts back there. The 4 doors help a huge amount when trying to get to things in the back of the cab. My first new truck, and it rocks!

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  blue tiger - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By bill412 - December 9 - 12:37 am

  Only problems I had were water leaking through rear window seal, and throttle body malfunctioning. This is a manual shift model, and the clutch feels kind of soft. Very dependable truck, and will haul lots more weight than I thought.

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  If safety is not important - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By teresa - December 5 - 1:42 pm

  Ive taken my car in to have my seatbelts checked several times, starting in the first year - I never got any satisfaction and the seatbelts still release spontaneously while Im driving and Ive even had it come unfastened before I could even start my car. I wouldnt recommend it to drive your family in, especially if you love them. The side mirrors stink they are difficult to adjust and dont really give adequate coverage. The blind spot is pretty large when Im looking for cars in the mirror and checking out my window. I wouldnt buy another one and I especially would not count on Ford to follow-up on their "warranty", I guess you have to consider your new truck purchase to be "as is".

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  Best Ive ever owned - 1994 Ford Ranger
  By Mountain Man - December 5 - 1:03 am

  This has been the best vehicle Ive ever owned. After 157,000 miles (mostly commuting), Ive not had a single mechanical failure. My only expenses have been maintenance. I drove it on a 12 hour trip and it was as comfortable as any car Ive ever driven.

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  4 Cylinder -- Auto - 1995 Ford Ranger
  By Phil - November 27 - 1:45 am

  Nice little truck, had some dome light and chime issues, taken care of by using WD-40 on the door lock assembly. The wipers wipe once on their own about one every couple weeks (strange). And the brake lines rusted away. Other than that I love the truck. You sure wont win any races with it!

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  Exceptional Value - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By Fudge - November 23 - 2:20 am

  I originally bought this vehicle for a part time job that I had delivering lost airport luggage to passengers. It was perfect for that. Good gas mileage, load carrying capacity, reliable, etc. Since then Ive used it as a work truck for construction sites. It has good off road capability. When I moved from a townhouse, I used this vehicle to haul "everything". I do mean everything, sofas, big screen tvs, tables, beds. I have a five speed thats been good on gas. Ive added side step bars, and a cab. This is a very nice looking truck that looks more expensive than it costs. Very happy with it.

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  Buy a Ranger...Get an Extended Warranty - 1999 Ford Ranger
  By cday1 - November 17 - 10:38 pm

  Love the truck, except transmission problems at 50,000 miles and again at 70,000 miles. Ive had enough, Tacoma here I come.