2026 Ford Ranger

For the third year in this generation of the Ranger, Ford continues to fine-tune its well-rounded midsize truck. This truck offers a choice of robust, tough engines, best-in-class payload capacity, second-best towing capacity among midsize trucks, and a comfortable ride. That’s a solid combination, which is why the Ranger is among the best in the highly competitive midsize truck segment.

This pickup from Ford comes solely as a crew cab short bed, but that is the most popular bed/cab mix for any truck and the heart of the market. The Ford Ranger is available with three engines and four trim levels, and enough variety to please those who want a solid work truck, an upscale ride, or a desert-racing specialist.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this collection of midsize trucks, including the Ford Ranger.

The Ranger will be available with a power moonroof on XLT and Lariat trims, starting in early spring. When opting for the Black Appearance package (XLT and Lariat), you can now add Black Appearance Graphics. The FX4 trim is now available on the base XL trim. The standard wheels on the XL are now 17-inch black steel wheels. The 17-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels, which used to be the standard wheels, are now optional. The new color Avalanche is introduced for 2026, with Azure Gray discontinued.

The 4-wheel-drive XLT is a very popular trim level, providing a great combination of features and value.

Within the segment, the Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma begin in the mid-$30,000 range. Starting prices of the Jeep Gladiator, GMC Canyon, and Honda Ridgeline are all in the low $40K range.

Looking elsewhere in the Ford lineup, the compact Ford Maverick truck begins in the high $20K region, while the full-size F-150 starts in the high $30,000 range.

Before buying a new Ranger midsize truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Ranger resale values tend to be above average for the class — usually better than the Colorado, but trailing the Tacoma.

None of the Ranger’s engines are slowpokes. Far from it, as even the base engine, a turbo 4-cylinder, has plenty of power to get to the jobsite or up steep grades with a load, and it’s rated to tow up to 7,500 pounds, like most of the lineup. But the optional engine, available in the XLT and Lariat, is the gem of the lineup. This twin-turbo V6 is remarkably quick. Throttle response is almost immediate, thanks to the engine’s 430 lb-ft of torque, and there is very little turbo lag. And its on-demand acceleration seems to have no limits, as passing another vehicle on the freeway feels nearly effortless. The third engine is a larger twin-turbo V6 only offered in the Ranger Raptor, and it’s even quicker and more powerful than the aforementioned V6.

The Ranger feels stable and well-planted, courtesy of the truck’s wide track and long wheelbase. The ride is compliant without feeling floaty. That, combined with the comfortable seats, makes this truck a pleasure on long freeway drives. The 10-speed automatic transmission works well, shifting frequently but seamlessly to make the most use of the engine’s power. Steering is on the vague side, but that’s a minor quibble.

Fuel Economy

The Ranger’s 22-23 mpg combined rating in both rear- and 4-wheel-drive models with the base engine is comparable to the rest of the midsize truck segment. The V6 turbo with 4WD gets 20 mpg, and the Raptor gets 17 mpg. The Tacoma Hybrid, the only truck in this class that’s available as a hybrid, nets 23 combined mpg. Learn more about the Ford Ranger’s fuel economy at the EPA website.

The vertically oriented touchscreen adds pop to the cabin, while the overall look of the interior is understated yet attractive. There are still physical buttons and dials below the screen, which we appreciate. A 10.1-inch screen is standard, and a 12-inch touchscreen is available. The gauge cluster is fully digital, and is 8.1 inches as standard, with a 12.4-inch display on higher trim levels. The transmission shifter takes a second to get used to, as the release button is at the top of the shifter instead of on the left side. The Ranger’s interior feels roomy in both rows for a midsize truck, with measured rear legroom that’s about midpack. Under the rear seats, there are storage spaces for small items. A power sliding rear window is available.

The C-shaped LED headlight surrounds and bold grille make the front end of the Ranger look similar to the F-150. The Ranger has four full-size doors and a 5-foot bed. Fortunately, the bed is plenty useful, as it’s wide enough to accommodate 4-foot drywall sheets between the wheel wells. Standard features include tie-down hooks and a power-locking tailgate, and an integrated bed step is available. We like the Convenience Package, which includes a 120V/400W outlet in the bed (and another in the cab), LED bed lighting, and more.

The Ranger Raptor sits taller than the rest of the lineup, with “FORD” stamped into the grille insert. Chunky off-road tires on available beadlock-capable wheels, plus its dedicated off-road suspension, give the Raptor a tough, intimidating stance that matches its capability.

Ranger Raptor
Powered by a 405-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, the Ranger Raptor is essentially a junior Ford F-150 Raptor. This off-road speed machine uses 2.5-inch Fox Racing shocks, a Watt’s link rear suspension, and locking front and rear axles. This truck also adds a Baja drive mode for high-speed runs in the desert.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist
Backing up a truck and trailer is tricky, as you have to turn the steering wheel the opposite way. With this optional feature, you turn a rotary control to set the direction of the trailer, and the system takes care of the Ranger’s steering wheel automatically. There are also camera setups to check out the trailer’s surroundings.

Tailgate Features
The Ranger’s tailgate is damped, so it opens softly. In addition, it has been designed to act as a workbench, with built-in clamp pockets and an integrated ruler. Little things like this help make the Ranger a useful tool.

Zone Lighting
This optional feature comes in handy when you’re camping away from a developed campground and moonlight isn’t quite enough. It’s controlled through the infotainment touchscreen or the FordPass app.

Sync 4A
This latest version of Ford’s user-friendly infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. It also includes Wi-Fi, navigation, wireless charging, satellite radio, over-the-air updates, two USB ports, an available 360-degree camera system, and a B&O audio upgrade.

There are three main trim levels of the 2026 Ranger: XL, XLT, and Lariat. They all come standard with Ford’s 270-horsepower turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine. A twin-turbocharged V6 is optional in the XLT and Lariat. It produces 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The optional mainstream engine is more powerful than almost everything else in its class.

The Ranger Raptor, which competes with the Colorado ZR2 and Tacoma TRD Pro, uses a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. It generates 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. That’s the most horsepower of any midsize truck, and only the Tacoma i-Force Max (hybrid) has more torque.

All three engines use a 10-speed automatic transmission. The XL, XLT, and Lariat models come with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 4-wheel-drive (4WD) system is available. The Raptor has 4WD as standard.

Towing and Payload Capacities

The maximum towing capacity for the 2026 Ranger is 7,500 pounds. Payload is 1,805 pounds with RWD, or 1,711 pounds when 4WD is in the mix. That’s best in class, and its towing capacity is only behind that of the Colorado/Canyon, which can tow 7,700 pounds.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Ford has a new-vehicle warranty of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. This includes 24/7 roadside assistance. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles.

Safety

The Ranger gets 4 Stars from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is fairly typical in its segment. It has not yet been tested by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This truck comes standard with the Co-Pilot360 safety suite on XLT and higher trims, and includes pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot assist, reverse brake assist, and adaptive cruise control.