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The Ford Ranger is a beast of a pickup that has evolved through the years. However, what is the best year for the Ford Ranger?

The Ford Ranger has been in production since 1983. The Ford Ranger may be a powerful vehicle, but it does face some stiff competition. Overall, the midsize pickup truck has got loyal customers with mixed reviews.

The 2019 Ford Ranger is a midsize pickup truck for drivers who don't thrive on superlatives. When it comes to pick-up duties, the vehicle performs better than most of its rivals in the category. Plus, it does not take up much parking space and hauls and tows as much as you’ll need.

Buying a car is not the same as going grocery shopping. It is important to do your due diligence and study everything about the model before purchasing it. The 2019 Ford Ranger comes with a myriad of tempting packages and adds big bucks to the price tag.

However, after extensive testing, we have decided to choose the 2019 model as the Ford Ranger’s best year.

Table of Contents

Best Year Ford Ranger – 2019

Exterior

The 2019 Ranger is attractive but not eye-catching. It is styled inoffensively. Buyers can add character to the truck by choosing various paint, trim, grille, and wheel options.

For instance, there is a range of options, including the Black Appearance, Sport Appearance, STX Appearance, Chrome Appearance, and much more that can alter the overall appeal of the Ranger.

Interior

The 2019 Ford Ranger comes with a spacious interior and can accommodate a family of 4. The 2019 Ranger’s cabin is more like an SUV rather than a pickup truck. It lacks the industrial design of the bigger F-150.

It comes with soft synthetic leather that covers the entire dashboard, making it look more upscale. However, most inner surfaces are made up of hard plastic, which can wear and tear over time.

Moreover, the upper door panel sills are also made up of hard plastic rather than softer padding. The armrest is soft and plush, making your arm or elbow sink into the unyielding texture underneath as you lean on it. The steering wheel provides a firm grip and has a thick rim.

There were a few quality issues during our testing, but nothing to be overly concerned about. With less than 6,000 miles on the odometer, the fabric hook used to pull the rear center armrest down was tearing. Furthermore, when seated in the passenger seat behind the drivers, the front seatback emerged to be canted toward the center of the vehicle, almost as if it were bent.

Seats

It did not feel as if the seat back was bent while sitting in the 2019 Ranger’s driver’s seat, so we believe that looks can be deceiving in this scenario.

However, it does give you the feeling of sitting in a BarcaLounger with soft and mushy seats wrapped in leather.This may be great for laying back and enjoying a movie night, but not so great for trucks.

Despite the comfy seats, drivers have trouble getting comfortable. Plus, the sitting space is a bit cramped, which is a big problem for tall drivers. Nonetheless, you will get used to the seats once you start driving the truck frequently and won’t feel any difference in your driving experience.

The midsize pickup truck offers great backseat comfort. There is sufficient leg space, and both front and back seats are padded softly, making the seats more enjoyable. It also greets passengers with a 110-volt 3-prong power outlet and two USB ports; however, the rear does not come with air conditioning vents, which might be an issue during extreme heat.

Climate Control System

Although the truck has no trouble moderating the hot or humid weather temperatures, the Ranger's air conditioning takes a while to cool the entire black leather interior. The 2019 Ford Ranger could work on the automatic climate control system.

Moreover, The Ranger has installed switches for adjusting the temperature instead of having knobs. The switches are difficult to see, especially while driving and when you’re wearing gloves. This makes the system quite inefficient and less user-friendly for some buyers.

Infotainment System

The 2019 Ford Ranger has the best infotainment system. It comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, and the Sync 3 system includes the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

It is also equipped with Sync AppLink with Alexa integration and Waze, FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi link, and a navigation system. A 10-speaker B&O Play sound system from Bang & Olufsen was also present, along with two quick-charge USB ports.

Unlike the climate controls, the radio controls include large tuning and volume knobs. The voice activation navigator and Sync 3 are quite easy to use, and you can understand where you want to go.

The Bang & Olufsen sound system is amazing; although it does not use the high-end components that you may find in luxury trucks, it is quite popular among buyers.

Space & Storage

The Ranger's storage capacity is decent, but it could be better if it didn't have a strange hand-operated emergency stop on the center console. Despite the lack of trays, bins, and cubbies, most buyers do not protest.The tailgate of the Ranger is not damped. It simply thuds on the ground and isn't particularly light. The bed has six cargo tie-downs;however, none of them are adjustable.

Safety and Visibility

While the driver's seat is not very comfortable, the outward view is superb in all directions. Parking assist sensors and a standard reversing camera are also installed to provide assistance.Automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning are standard on every Ranger.

Ford Co-Pilot 360 technology is also available on the XLT and Lariat model levels. A blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert with Trailer Coverage, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, driver attention monitoring, automatic high-beam headlights,lane-keeping assist are all included with this package.

For a midsize truck, that's a long list of safety features, and everything on the LX trim is optional. So, congratulations to Ford!Thanks to the Lariat's considerable suspension motion, the Ranger's stability control engages quickly. However, this is done in a fairly subtle way.

Engine and Transmission

A turbocharged, direct-injected 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine with energy-conserving automatic start/stop technology is standard on every Ranger. A 10-speed automatic transmission manages the engine's 270 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque.Because the optional 4-wheel-drive system lacks an automatic mode, you'll have to choose between 2-wheel drive, 4-Hi, or 4-Lo.

Depending on the arrangement, the Ranger can transport up to 1,860 pounds of payload and tow up to 7,500 pounds of trailer.The turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is fantastic - if thirsty. It gives quick acceleration, good passing power, and sounds fantastic when revved.

The 10-speed automatic transmission isn't quite as smooth. It frequently, but not always, transitions smoothly. Upshifts can occasionally be accompanied by an abrupt thrust from the back axle, which can catch the driver off guard.

There is also a sensation comparable to axle binding when reversing and turning.Overall, the drivetrain is a little rough around the edges.

Fuel Economy

According to the EPA, the Ranger 4WD should obtain 22 miles per gallon in mixed driving. On the testing loop, the test truck averaged 19.6 mpg. This shortfall could result in buyer dissatisfaction, given that 91 percent of midsize truck purchasers avoid cars with high maintenance expenses.

Driving Forces

As one would expect from a truck, the Ranger's steering is sluggish, but it gives steady weighing all through the range of action. There isn't a dead spot in the center when driving on the highway, giving the truck a much-needed sense of steadiness. The brakes are also in good shape, with no pedal feel or responsiveness issues.

The suspension calibration on the Ranger has to be addressed by Ford. The Ranger's roly-poly ride and cornering grip get old soon. While this translates to a thrilling carpet ride experience on smooth pavement, the Ranger's roly-poly handling and ride qualities become old, fast.

The back end bucked over the speed humps on the street leading to my children's school. The Ranger rattles and rolls as it pulls into driveways or parking and can fling everyone's heads back and forth.

It might sway and wobble up a winding mountain route, but it can still skitter down the street on damaged pavement amid potholes.

Simply said, the Ranger does not feel adequately protected, which is why it is not recommended for people looking for a smooth, hassle-free ride. However, with modest restrictions, handling is predictable.

Quality & Comfort

The inside of the 2019 Ford Ranger is larger than that of other midsize pickup trucks. Extended cabs lose a point for their almost useless back seats—the back doors open for storage or pets, not adults.

The front seats in the base Ranger XLs are reasonably supportive, with height adjustment and a nice view out. When you choose the Ranger XL with the STX appearance package, Ford adds more supportive front seats with lumbar adjustment for the driver.

Both front passengers can adjust their height and lumbar on models with power front seats, such as Lariats, and select XLTs.The rear seats of the crew cab are reached by broad doors.

In some models, the rear bench has a flop-down armrest with two small built-in cup holders; however, the backrest is not adjustable.

No Ford Ranger is lavish on the inside. The door panels, center console, and dashboard are all made of hard plastic. The Ranger Lariat's dash top has a lovely stitched panel, but it doesn't lighten up the mood enough to earn an extra point.

We wish Ford's interior designers were a little more inventive with trim finishes, patterns, and materials, because all Rangers, regardless of price, appear practically identical on the inside.

Safety

Although the 2019 Ford Ranger has not yet been crash-tested, all variants come with adequate standard safety equipment. The 2019 Ford Ranger is equipped with active safety technology that we consider important.

As a result, it should get at least an above-average grade. For the time being, we'll have to wait for the NHTSA and IIHS to complete their crash tests.

The good news is that all Rangers leave the automaker's Detroit-area production plant with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking.

Only the Toyota Tacoma has this life-saving technology as standard equipment among its competitors.

Every Ranger model comes with a package that includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and active lane control.

Performance

Under the hood of the 2019 Ford Ranger lies a powerful pickup truck engine.The process of buying a 2019 Ford Ranger is quite simple, at least when it comes to what's under the hood. The 2019 Ford Ranger receives 7 out of 10 for its excellent quick-shifting and engine transmission. Plus, it has a towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.

Don't be put off by the engine's size; the turbo-4 outperforms better than most competitors not because of its 270 horsepower but because of its 310 pound-feet of torque. With an optional towing kit, the Ford Ranger is capable of towing up to 7,500 pounds.

A 1,860-pound payload is also available in rear-drive extended-cab models. Based on calculations, the rear-drive Ranger weighs around 4,000 pounds, but a fully outfitted crew cab with four-wheel drive weighs nearly 4,500 pounds.

A simple console-mounted knob controls the Ranger's optional four-wheel-drive system. Rangers equipped with the FX4 package get some off-road traction control settings and a crawl control system that operates like a mud-ready cruise control system, allowing the truck to lope along at speeds as low as 1 mph and as high as 20 mph.

Unlike the Toyota Tacoma's identical technology, the Ranger does not rattle with loud brake actuator noises. In addition,the Ford system is also suitable for low-speed towing, thanks to its wide speed range.

The Ranger is supported by a separate ladder frame with independent front suspension and a solid rear axle held in place by leaf springs. In most configurations, the Ranger rides less bouncy than its competitors do, which is usually fair for a midsize pickup.

Its electronic steering is direct and smooth, with car-like precision that is uncommon in most pickup trucks.

The Ranger's main disadvantage over its rivals is its relatively loud cabin. Although the Lariat has more sound-deadening features than the other trims, the extended-cab vehicle has more road and wind noise than preferred.

Best Year Ford Ranger

About The Author

Charles Redding

Charles Redding

I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more.

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