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Older Rangers aren't quite as out of date compared to competitors of similar age.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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  Ranger 4X4 SuperCab 4-Door FX4-Level II - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By TruckLarry - June 24 - 2:00 am

  Outstanding initial build quality. Tight, perfect paint, no sqeaks or Rattles. Everything screwed together very well. Cabin layout is near perfect and well designed. Switchgear is tactile and solid. 4.0L V6 has plenty of power and torque. BFG All Terrain KO 10.5X31X15s are superb in the snow. Torsen limited slip is a definite improvement over a standard Limited Slip in the snow. Above tires, wheels and rear are specific to the FX4- Level II package. I have the 5 speed Automatic, which was not listed as an option here on the review site.

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  10 all the way - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By 03cobra21 - June 23 - 2:00 am

  i love ford rangers. i drive a ZR2 at work all day it is not all what made to be it has been stuck in the mud 10 or 15 times. I have not been stuck at all. I HAVE PULLED a suburban ot of the mud in 4 wheel low and it didnt have a hard time.

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  Great - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By Jerkwad - June 21 - 2:00 am

  I love This Vehicle and would never get another on like it.

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  Ranger beats the rest - hands down - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By TerryM - June 12 - 2:00 am

  My second Ranger - I purchased this vehicle after test driving and/or renting Chevy/GMC, Nissan, Toyota, and others. None can compare to the Ranger for quality, performance, drivability, driver position, seat comfort, driver visibility, quiet cab, and pure "fun to drive". And after extensive shopping, the Ranger was the best value I found.

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  2003 Ford Ranger - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By F. Hamlett - June 11 - 2:00 am

  Drives well, comfortable interior. Would have liked leather but not available. Reliability has not been great. It sported an out-of-round rear axle from the factory and I thought it may have been just a fluke, but a few months later a front axle bearing went out. These kinds of reliability problems could have been avoided with more care at the manufacturing level. No more problems to report at this time. I feel a little better about the truck now that these problems have been addressed and I have driven it for approx. 10,000 miles since the incident with the front bearing with no other problems to report.

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  Third Ranger is a charm - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By Hitman & Speedy - June 10 - 2:00 am

  My third Ranger and by far the best to date. My mileage is 16.5mpg and I dont baby her either. Love her and plan on keeping this 4x4. Previous Rangers are as follows: 97 (2wd 2.3) had butt loads of rear axle problems and no umph. I gladly traded it in for an 02 (2wd 3.0) and really enjoyed it until the Nebraska winter needed a 4x4.

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  2001 Ranger - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By kc5dsv - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Excellent Truck Overall! It has met all of my expectations, and actully surpassed some of my expectations!

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  Great Buy - 2002 Ford Ranger
  By Awsome Truck - June 8 - 2:00 am

  I got this truck used for $7400 because of some hail damage. It had only 27,000 miles. The first day I had it it leaked oil. Off it went to the ford dealer cause it still had warranty. After that I have had no problems. I have the 2.3L I4 with the automatic. It is not fast but it handles awesome and the brakes are great. This is my first vehicle.

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  Overrated - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By bdoug - June 6 - 2:00 am

  My previous small truck was an 89 Mazda B2200 and I really miss it. At 64" I have trouble seeing to my right at crossroads because of the mirror. The gas mileage has been awful. The gas mileage started out around 15 mpg and is at 13 now that I am running the air conditioning. The worst thing, however, has been the bouncing bed. On any road that has bumps, the rear end of the truck bounces all over the road. I took my winter weight and have been driving it around this spring to try to keep the rear wheels on the road.

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  Ranger xlt - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By Joe Rotsinger - June 6 - 2:00 am

  I love my truck and wqouldnt trade for any car. I have the 4.0 liter which has plenty of power for its size and still has a pretty smooth ride for a truck. This truck still amazes me with its off-road capabilities (I go in some very deep mud when I haul grass to a recycling composte site, so I know what Im talking about).