Used 2020 Ford Ranger SuperCab

Fresh from its triumphant return to the American market, the 2020 Ford Ranger puts a fresh twist on the midsize-pickup truck, offering only one engine and transmission choice with limited bed and cab configurations. Up against the Chevy Colorado, Toyota Tacoma and Honda Ridgeline, the Ranger looks pretty fresh, with a 7,500-pound max tow rating and best-in-class payload numbers.

It also sports some pretty high-tech features in terms of infotainment and safety, and its turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (borrowed from the Ford Mustang) pumps out a very healthy 270 horsepower while still returning 26 mpg on the highway.

For those who use their trucks for off-road adventures, the 2020 Ranger pickup now offers FX packages for both all-wheel and rear-wheel-drive (AWD, RWD) models.

Just as the full-size F-150 proved a turbocharged 6-cylinder could work harder than most V8s, Ford’s Ranger pickup for 2020 proves 4-cylinders are all you need to accomplish a hard day’s work. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine pumps out 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Ranger gets up and goes with authority, even when fully loaded with people and gear.

From behind the wheel, the seating position feels just right, delivering a commanding view and good lower back and thigh support. The suspension is clearly dialed in for work-truck duty because the Ranger’s ride is far stiffer than what we’ve experienced in the Honda Ridgeline and Chevrolet Colorado. The steering, on the other hand, is direct and responsive, helping make driving the Ranger more like driving a midsize SUV rather than a bulky truck. We suggest a good long test drive before you settle on the Ford over another brand.

The 2020 Ford Ranger midsize pickup has seating for either four or five passengers. SuperCab models have comically tight rear quarters with a pair of small, upright seats and not a whole lot of legroom. If you plan to regularly accommodate friends and family in back, you’re better off with a Ranger SuperCrew model, which has total seating for five, more rear legroom, and a matching set of doors for easy entry and exit. SuperCrew models also have a rear armrest, a nice touch for passenger comfort or for separating siblings.

If you want front seats with more than just 4-way adjustability and cloth material, you’ll have to step up to the top-end Ranger Lariat model, which grants leather and 8-way-power front seats, or add that extra comfort as an option on the XLT model. A manual sliding rear window is also offered, depending on trim and package.

Perhaps surprisingly, the new Ford Ranger doesn’t look like a small-scale F-150, its bigger brother and the best-selling vehicle in America. That’s not a bad thing, as it gives the Ranger its own identity. That identity includes slightly slanted headlight housings, a hexagonal grille, and its overall athletic stance. We like it.

The Ranger is offered in two cab configurations — SuperCab with a pair of rear-hinged half doors, and the larger SuperCrew with a pair of standard rear doors. Both models are the same length: 210.8 inches. The difference is how they divide the area, with SuperCab models getting a 6-foot bed and 4-door SuperCrew models getting a 5-foot bed. Unlike rivals, there is no long-bed SuperCrew version.

TOW-OPTIMIZED BLIND-SPOT MONITORING
Ford excels in inventing innovative new features we never knew we needed, but now can’t live without. One such example is the Ranger’s Tow-Optimized Blind Spot Monitor that extends its reach to include whatever is being towed behind the truck. The system can even memorize up to three trailer profiles with varying lengths.

BANG & OLUFSEN AUDIO SYSTEM
What’s a good road trip without great tunes? In the 2020 Ford Ranger, buyers can opt for a high-end B&O audio system with bright highs, rich bass and a volume knob that seemingly knows no limit (it has one, but your ears might give out first).

Ford’s Ranger midsize pickup truck comes in three trims: XL, XLT and Lariat. In its most basic form, the Ranger includes a turbocharged engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, power windows, 16-inch wheels, and automatic headlights. The base audio system is just a 4-speaker AM/FM unit with 3.5-inch screen, but at least there are inputs for USB and auxiliary cable. Commendably, the Ranger does come standard with a pre-collision warning system that can detect cars and pedestrians in front of the vehicle and ultimately brake on its own to prevent a collision.

We recommend at least stepping up to a mid-trim Ranger XLT model, which adds the Co-Pilot360 safety system with blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and trailer-tow monitoring. It also adds front and rear parking sensors, 17-inch wheels, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system with 8-inch touch-screen display and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone capability, and a 4G Wi-Fi modem.

At the top of the lineup is the Ranger Lariat, which includes leather interior, power-adjustable front seats with heating, the Sync 3 infotainment system with 8-inch touch screen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, push-button start, LED headlights, and 18-inch wheels. The XLT and Lariat models can also be optioned with navigation and adaptive cruise control.

The FX4 Off-Road package is available on all all-wheel-drive models, regardless of trim. It includes an electronic locking rear differential, front tow hooks, off-road suspension, skidplates, and a terrain-management system for tackling different situations like mud, snow, ruts and sand.

New this year is the FX2 package for rear-wheel-drive models. It includes an electronic locking rear differential, skidplates and off-road wheels and tires and Ford’s off-road instrument cluster that displays yaw, pitch and roll in real time.

For now, the 2020 Ford Ranger pickup offers only one engine and one transmission choice. Standard on every model is a 270-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged engine mated to a 10-speed automatic. Although many rivals offer a choice of engines including V6 and diesel options, the Ranger’s standard engine is very competitive in the areas of power and towing, and its fuel economy is near best-in-class for a gas-powered engine. Only the diesel-powered Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon offer better towing and even then, only by a couple hundred pounds. The Ranger’s engine includes start/stop technology to help conserve fuel, but the driver has the option to disable this function with just a push of a button. Another bonus? The 2.3-liter turbo doesn’t require premium fuel.

2.3-liter turbocharged inline-4
270 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
310 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/26 mpg (RWD), 20/24 mpg (AWD)