I have a friend who told me that when she tries to keep her mouth shut instead of proffering opinions on things she doesn’t need to be commenting on, she calls it “self-editing.” She said most times it works, and she doesn’t embarrass herself, or say the wrong thing. Because she thinks ahead.
You know, it’s so tempting to think of editing as this super easy thing. But it’s tricky, and you can’t always get it right the first time. It should be easy to edit the clothes out of your closet that aren’t a good fit for you. It should be easy to say exactly what you mean all the time. It should be easy to give a truck a makeover that meets the needs of future owners just right, but it isn’t always the case. I’m glad to say that Ford does a great job with its new 2024 Ford Ranger pickup truck.
Related: The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor: When a Pickup Truck is Meant to Make You Feel Alive
The 2024 Ford Ranger Has Had a Pretty Significant Makeover
If you’re paying attention, you’ll know that the 2024 Ford Ranger mid-sized pickup looks different to you. Even if you haven’t been paying attention, you’ll know that the 2024 Ranger looks really, really good. You can get a 2024 Ford Ranger starting at $35,010 after charges and fees, but know that is the base model 2-wheel drive. A base 4-wheel drive Ranger will start at $38,655 after charges and fees.
Related: 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R – So Extra, So Wanted
There Are Solid Engine Options on the Ford Ranger
The 2024 Ford Ranger comes with a 2.3L 4-cylinder ecoboost engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. For an additional $2,195 you can get a larger 2.4L V6 ecoboost engine.
The 2-wheel drive gets an estimated 21 city/25 highway/22 combined miles per gallon, and the 4-wheel drive is a smidgen less efficient at an estimated 21 city/24 highway/22 combined miles per gallon. My test Ranger was an XLT with a bunch of goodies, and it rang up at $45,830 after charges and fees.
The Ford Ranger Looks Like Its Big Sis, the F-150
The 2024 Ranger is not a giant truck, that’s the realm of its sibling, the full-sized F-150. That said, there are designs on the Ranger that mimic the F-150. Case in point, the new grille and stacked c-clamp headlights. It’s super distinctive and doesn’t need a ton of other massive changes to make those lights stand out. The grille and hood have also been modified, and it’s all subtle but adds up to a modern look to the Ranger. I love it. It looks like a truck that’s going to get stuff done.
Related: The 2025 Ford Maverick Didn’t Need to Get Better, But it Did
The Ford Ranger Truck Bed: Small Footprint, Big Hauler
The 2024 Ford Ranger has a bed that’s about five feet long. So, you may need to edit what you put in there. But the good news is they have a bed extender you can add as an option. You put the tailgate down and flip the extender into place and then you have extra room for longer items, or just simply more items.
The bed also has electrical outlets and interior LED lights in case you need to load or unload at any dark, ungodly hour. My test truck also had the spray-on bed liner, so I wouldn’t have been afraid to put anything in there. This is definitely an upgrade I would do if I owned a truck. Like, who wants to be the person who says, “Don’t scratch the bed!”
The Ford Ranger Interior is Soothing and Stylish
The inside of the Ford Ranger has modern upholstery, a variety of materials and textures, and updated tech that make the Ranger feel new and fresh. I liked the lighter interior of my test Ranger, it kept the interior from feeling small. The texture is really cool, it was kind of a surprise to see the seating details and they elevated the interior of the truck.
I liked the air vents, the consistent nod to the honeycomb-ish pattern that is echoed elsewhere in the truck, like the seating upholstery and the grille.
The Ford Ranger Has Crisp and Clean Screens
There is digital driver information display screen and a 12-inch vertical multimedia touchscreen in the 2024 Ford Ranger. For techie folks, the Ranger has the Ford Sync 4 system, which is very easy to use, and I particularly liked the vertical orientation of the screen. It’s a crystal clear display and the functions are easy to get used to.
It Has Great Cameras, Too
The touchscreen will also display the backup camera and even a front-view camera which is great for off-roading. The driver display will show you what mode the Ranger is in when you switch, and will go back to the regular driving screen after a few seconds. When you get in the truck, you’ll see a fun animation of the Ranger with its headlights on.
Anyway, the drive modes are Normal, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Eco, and Sport. These are all accessible through the twist of a knob on the center console. There was definitely a difference in each mode, though I didn’t test the towing mode because I don’t own anything I can tow.
You Can Tow A Lot in the Ford Ranger
The 2024 Ford Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds when equipped with an optional towing package. Check out our video for an overview of the towing assistance package. The 2.3L engine in the Ranger I tested had a lot of torque and really got up quickly from a stop. I did not feel as though I was lacking power and in fact, had to keep my lead foot in check sometimes.
A Smooth Tech Experience Can Be Found in the Ford Ranger
The multimedia screen is large and it’s pretty easy to use. The native system is pretty simple to use, the navigation was easy and my device paired smoothly. In case you prefer your known system, the Ranger’s multimedia system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Below the screen are physical buttons for stereo and climate controls. I love this and love not having to take my eyes off the road to turn up the heat.
Next to the multimedia screen is a two-tiered glove box setup. There is a regular lower glove box with an open tray on top. My test car did not have the nifty upper glove box that you see on some other trims, but it’s available and a cool storage feature.
The Ford Ranger Interior is Modern and Well Put Together
But here on the dash, you can see the expertly edited variety of details. Lots of different materials, contrast stitching, those cool air vents. It all goes together and looks very upscale. The Ranger has a center console for storage.
Your Passengers Will Be Comfortable in the Ford Ranger
The back seat is spacious in the 2024 Ford Ranger, and the seats actually fold flat for more storage if you need it. People using car seats regularly will want to test this space to make sure their seats of choice fit properly. The doors open wide for easy access, and I was comfortable sitting in the back seat.
The Ford Ranger Is Extremely Versatile
The overall passenger space in the Ranger is really good. It’s a mid-sized truck so it’s easy to reach everything, and keep an eye on all your stuff. It’s a great truck for city dwellers, it’s really maneuverable and you can park it on some narrower streets. But it’s also really good elsewhere, like the suburbs and the country. Ford has edited it so it’s just the right amount of truck.
If you’re towing, if you’re driving around town, if you’re helping your friends move (aren’t you so nice?), the Ford Ranger is a perfect fit. With the peppy engine and nimble handling, the Ranger will fit into lots of work and life situations. I’m glad Ford did such a great job editing this new edition of the Ranger.
