The 2024 Ford Ranger is more extensive and has an improved interior, more engine options, and more storage space. The Ranger Raptor, which cost
- The 2024 Ford Ranger is more extensive and has an improved interior, more engine options, and more storage space.
- The Ranger Raptor, which costs $56,960, features the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine with 405 horsepower, 33-inch tires, and other components as the Bronco Raptor.
- Both vehicles will be completed by the end of the summer of 2023. They are manufactured in Michigan.
The 2024 Ford Ranger and 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor continue revitalizing the market for midsize pickup trucks. One could say that they were the first to arrive since their global recognition a few years ago. Even though we knew we wouldn’t receive the turbo-diesel engine or manual transmission, we were still intrigued about how the U.S.-spec truck would appear in other respects. We have observed both vehicles up close, sat inside them, and gained a deeper understanding of their operation.
Contents
Goodbye, Extended Cab and Extended Bed
Comparable to the Jeep Gladiator and the new Chevrolet Colorado, the 2024 Ford Ranger has only a four-door crew cab and a five-foot trailer.
The SUV is constructed on a modernized version of the Ford T6 platform, which also underpins the Bronco. The wheelbase has increased by 1.9 inches, whereas the overall length has decreased by 0.2 inches. Effectively, the front wheels are closer to the front rim, reducing the overhang by 1.9 inches and enhancing the approach angle.
The rear suspension of the Ranger still consists of leaf springs (see below for information about the Raptor), but the shocks have been relocated closer to the wheels, making them less susceptible to trail debris.
The overall width has grown by 2.3 inches, giving the cab and berth more room. It is now possible to accommodate a four-foot sheet of drywall between the wheelhouses.
Built To Be Faster
We do not recall anyone complaining about the previous model’s powertrain. When we last tested it, the turbo four and 10-speed automatic allowed it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. As far as we can tell, Ford does not find that satisfactory, and we cannot argue with him.
The $34,160 base XL retains the 270-horsepower, 310-pound-feet-of-torque 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. The XLT and Lariat, on the other hand, have the Bronco and F-150’s twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6. Here, the V-6 can generate 315 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, comparable to the Bronco’s performance on conventional fuel. Regardless of the powerplant, the transmission is always a 10-speed automatic.
There are two- and four-wheel drive systems, with the latter lacking a locking rear differential. We wouldn’t be astonished if an unreleased Tremor update included this feature.
Large Storage and Larger Displays
The interior of the 2024 Ford Ranger has received several enhancements. The main center display has expanded from 8 to 10.1 inches, and there is also a large, vertically oriented 12.4-inch display. Similar to the Bronco, the instrument panel is digital and can be either 8.0 or 12.4 inches in size. Even though we had limited time to use the screens, they were attractive and fast. Even activities like Sudoku were displayed on the large screen in the center.
As the height and width have increased, the interior has expanded, and the total passenger volume has grown by one cubic foot. The headroom, width, and shoulder space in both rows have increased from the previous year.
Most Rangers have a mechanical transmission. On the other hand, the Lariat 4×4 and Raptor feature a compact, short-throw electronic shifter that enables driving aids such as trailer backup and an automatic parallel and perpendicular parking system.
A 360-degree exterior camera, over-the-air updates, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and Ford’s Zone Lighting system, which allows owners to select which exterior lighting to activate when the vehicle is parked, are also available. Rangers with the FX4 off-road package are equipped with Ford’s Trail Control off-road speed control system.
There are numerous storage options. Under the tablet is a slot that can accommodate a phone; on the XLT and higher models, this slot transforms into a wireless charger. A phone or wallet can fit on a ledge above the glove box, followed by a second, smaller glovebox.
Using the back seats as storage space is a significant advance over the previous model. When the seat bottoms are raised, there are two tiny compartments for storing items, such as jumper cables and a first-aid kit. The back of the rear seat also folds to create a flat surface for loading larger objects that do not fit in the bed.
Read More: The 2024 Hyundai Kona gets bigger, but it stays funky.
Pull the Line
With the available Trailer Tow package, which includes an integrated trailer brake controller and allows you to tow up to 7,500 pounds, your maximum towing weight remains unchanged. Like the F-150, a mobile application can inspect the trailer’s lighting.
Like the F-150, the trunk has a ruler extending from one end to the other and compartments for C-clamps. A bottle opening on the passenger side and 12-volt and 120-volt outlets in the tonneau can provide 400 watts of tailgating power. Compared to the previous iteration of crew cabs, the maximum payload for two-wheel-drive Rangers is now 1805 pounds, and for four-wheel-drive Rangers, it is 1711 pounds.
The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor.
The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor could be considered a scaled-down F-150 Raptor, but a more accurate description would be a Bronco Raptor without 37-inch tires.
The Ranger Raptor employs a slightly less potent variant of the Bronco’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, with 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Like the Bronco, the engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, an all-wheel-drive system with locking front and rear differentials, and a low range and 4A mode. Even the cruising ratio of 67.88:1 is identical.
The Ranger has 33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO3 tires wrapped around 17-inch rims that can accept a beadlock ring from Ford’s accessories. Even though the Ranger Raptor is not as wide as the Bronco, the combination of the rims and tires makes the track width 3.5 inches wider, and the fenders increase the total width by 4.3 inches.
All exterior clearances improve, but the Raptor’s 33-degree approach angle will not impress drivers of the Jeep Gladiator Mojave (44.7 degrees) or Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 (38 degrees). Similar to the ZR2, it has a ground clearance of 10.7 inches, 0.9 inches less than the Mojave. However, the Raptor has a superior exit angle than the other two trucks, which have angles of 25.1 and 25.5 degrees, respectively.
The Raptor prioritizes suspension control over the high-ground clearance required by rock excavators. Under its more prominent fenders, the Raptor is equipped with 2.5-inch-wide Fox Live Valve coilovers. Trailing arms and a Watts-link system replace the standard Ranger leaf springs in the rear. Behind the strong-looking rear axle is a full-size spare.
Aside from this, the Ranger Raptor and the Bronco share the same hardware. It has the same X-pipe and dual outlets for the exhaust and the same off-road driving equipment, which includes several drive modes, Ford’s Trail Control, and Trail Turn Assist, which brakes the inside rear wheel when turning at low speeds to make the turning circle smaller. The standard Bronco has a mudguard with a winch mount, whereas the Ranger Raptor does not.
Upgrades to the interior include seats with improved side support, upfitter controls near the rearview mirror that make a clicking sound when turned, and numerous brightly-hued accents. Similar to the Bronco Raptor, controls on the steering wheel permit independent adjustment of the dampers, steering, and exhaust from the drive mode. Also present are large shift switches.
In addition, the exhaust is loud in Baja mode, accompanied by a warning that reads “off-road use only”; why not? Like the Bronco Raptor, this configuration keeps the turbos spinning for several seconds after the driver releases the accelerator. Thus, the surge remains when it is time to accelerate again.
The modifications reduce the maximum payload of the standard Ranger to 1,411 pounds. This is still 211 to 260 pounds heavier than the Colorado ZR2 and Gladiator Mojave. However, the towing capacity of the 5150-pound truck is slightly less than that of the other 6000-pound trucks.
The Raptor’s base price of $56,960 is also higher than that of the Gladiator Mojave and Colorado ZR2. Fans of the Raptor will confirm that neither vehicle has more than 400 horsepower.
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