2024 Ranger First Reviews Are Here! 👈🏽

[DanTheMan]

ARTICLES:

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VIDEOS:

I was happy to hear about the acoustic glass and the generally positive overall performance but.... was I the only person severely underwhelmed by this media event? We waited for what seemed like an eternity for a very unexciting trip down some winding roads with and without a trailer. No offroading to even attempt to make the Ranger look sexy.

I'm sure after we see the Raptor reviews later in the week, this segment will just seem like an after thought.

Unless there is more than just Raptors getting airborne to come, this was pretty disappointing...

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[LFRR13]

…go for the best bang for the buck while getting the configuration I WANT- not what some marketing eggheads think everyone should want at the expense of the rest of us. Did I mention I already owned…

Here’s a thought: maybe, JUST MAYBE, the configuration of the new Ranger is EXACTLY what some buyers want? It isn’t what you wanted, congrats, you found that elsewhere…and owning 65 past Fords is irrelevant. I’ve owned VWs, Pontiacs, BMWs, Hondas and Toyotas. How does that factor into anything?

 

[LFRR13]

I was happy to hear about the acoustic glass and the generally positive overall performance but.... was I the only person severely underwhelmed by this media event? We waited for what seemed like an eternity for a very unexciting trip down some winding roads with and without a trailer. No offroading to even attempt to make the Ranger look sexy.

I'm sure after we see the Raptor reviews later in the week, this segment will just seem like an after thought.

Unless there is more than just Raptors getting airborne to come, this was pretty disappointing...

anything brand sponsored is likely to be underwhelming. Give it 6mo for the independent channels to receive their long-term-testers…then we’ll get something of substance.

 

[Ranger#5?]

Here’s a thought: maybe, JUST MAYBE, the configuration of the new Ranger is EXACTLY what some buyers want? It isn’t what you wanted, congrats, you found that elsewhere…and owning 65 past Fords is irrelevant. I’ve owned VWs, Pontiacs, BMWs, Hondas and Toyotas. How does that factor into anything?

Agree SOME % want exactly that. Here's another thought: Toyota is the dominant segment leader and they offer CHOICES- lot's of them. Something for everyone instead of 1 size fits all limitations. There's simply no argument on which business model is more successful in our American mid size truck market. Ford leads the full-size market with F-150s using the same something for everyone formula while Toyota and Nissan can't compete with Tundra and Titan. Food for thought...

 

[Rda2w]

Sure, Toyota "offers choices" but how many choices do you really have when you go to buy a Tacoma at your local dealer? What good is their online configurator if you can't build it and order it the way you want? The Toyota sales model hasn't changed since I shopped for my first new car 40 years ago. You either buy one off the lot or you have to select one from the list of incoming vehicles to the dealer that are configured the way Toyota decided to configure them. If you get lucky you may get close, or get something close through dealer exchange. However, the chances you get the color and all the options that you want are slim at best.

 

[LFRR13]

Agree SOME % want exactly that. Here's another thought: Toyota is the dominant segment leader and they offer CHOICES- lot's of them. Something for everyone instead of 1 size fits all limitations. There's simply no argument on which business model is more successful in our American mid size truck market. Ford leads the full-size market with F-150s using the same something for everyone formula while Toyota and Nissan can't compete with Tundra and Titan. Food for thought...

You sort of answered your own question. Ford dominates one segment, thus leading competitors to choose another avenue and to focus elsewhere. Similarly, Ford recognizes Toyota’s dominance in the mid-size segment, acknowledges they need to play, but not own it. More comprehensive offerings would probably cannibalize more F150 sales than conquesting Toyota Tacomas.

Ford maintains dominance in the full-size segment, while incrementally pulling in mid-size Toyota buyers. Arguably the same tactic that Toyota does with the Tundra.

Toyota sold 125k Tundras in 2023. Ford reports 750k F-series sales, of which the F150 is typically 2/3s...so about 500k. That 4x what Toyota moved. Conversely, Toyota moved 235k Tacomas to Ford's 32k Rangers...Ranger peaked at 101k in 2020, the 2nd year of the return to the US after an 8yr hiatus. And remember, the Ranger was already nearly 10yrs old in the ROW.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

With the amount of single-cab F150s, Tacomas and 5G rangers I see on the road....yeah I don't blame Ford for not spending millions on a config that 1 out of 20 people might buy. I would guess that after R&D and retooling they probably aren't a profitable configuration in this country and thus I don't blame them for not including them.

If you remove fleet trucks I'm guessing the take rate on those configs is abysmal. I tried finding some numbers but I couldn't, would be very interesting to see exactly how popular they are.

 

[shred5]

You sort of answered your own question. Ford dominates one segment, thus leading competitors to choose another avenue and to focus elsewhere. Similarly, Ford recognizes Toyota’s dominance in the mid-size segment, acknowledges they need to play, but not own it. More comprehensive offerings would probably cannibalize more F150 sales than conquesting Toyota Tacomas.

Ford maintains dominance in the full-size segment, while incrementally pulling in mid-size Toyota buyers. Arguably the same tactic that Toyota does with the Tundra.

Toyota sold 125k Tundras in 2023. Ford reports 750k F-series sales, of which the F150 is typically 2/3s...so about 500k. That 4x what Toyota moved. Conversely, Toyota moved 235k Tacomas to Ford's 32k Rangers...Ranger peaked at 101k in 2020, the 2nd year of the return to the US after an 8yr hiatus. And remember, the Ranger was already nearly 10yrs old in the ROW.

While it might be true, it is kind of stupid. If your going to produce something you should want to dominate in all sectors you are in.

So make a gimpy Ranger so you do not hurt F150 sales, so why even be in the midsized market at all.

GM already beats Ford in sales. I mean the Silverado and Sierra sales already beat F150.

So basically Ford cares more about bragging rights vs selling trucks except the F150?

Just sound stupid but honestly it is how it is starting to feel.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

So basically Ford cares more about bragging rights vs selling trucks except the F150?

Just sound stupid but honestly it is how it is starting to feel.

The ranger is the best selling pickup in Europe since 2016 and the best selling truck in Australia with the 6G being released 2 years ago. Ford is dominating the global market while the tacoma and the GM twins aren't even sold in most of these other places.

Sure they could "sell trucks" with those other configs, but if it costs many millions to even offer those configs here and they are only making a fraction of it back, why would they continue operating at a loss?

I would love a 6ft bed option but I don't expect Ford to offer it to me at a detriment to the company's finances.

 

[LFRR13]

While it might be true, it is kind of stupid. If your going to produce something you should want to dominate in all sectors you are in.

So make a gimpy Ranger so you do not hurt F150 sales, so why even be in the midsized market at all.

GM already beats Ford in sales. I mean the Silverado and Sierra sales already beat F150.

So basically Ford cares more about bragging rights vs selling trucks except the F150?

Just sound stupid but honestly it is how it is starting to feel.

It is far more nuanced that you're making it seem. For every iteration of a given model, the US requires crash testing. That R&D cost is in the millions. It isn't simply lost sales internally vs. sales gained in conquest, that was just an example. US regs are very different than ROW...just look at the "chicken tax" as an example: In the US there is an additional tax on 2-door SUVs, one that doesn't exist elsewhere. So Ford with the 2-door Bronco, Jeep with the 2-door Wrangler, Toyota with the old 2-door Rav4, Land Rover with the Defender and Range Rover with the 2-door Evoque all had to bake that into the MSRP of the vehicle. They may absorb some form by reducing profit, or pass some of it on to the consumer entirely.

In the end, the F150 is Ford's best selling vehicle in the US, so it gets the lions' share of attention through R&D dollars, parts & features, etc, etc. In AUS, the Ranger is their best selling vehicle...makes sense why it has more features across the board vs. the US spec...at least for now.

Conversely, you can look at the UK vs. the ROW for the Ranger Raptor. Emissions regulations cause it to be detuned by nearly 100hp. So they get rear AC vents but we get 100hp...which would you prefer?

It's a balancing act for all manufacturers.

 

[PawnX]

Agree SOME % want exactly that. Here's another thought: Toyota is the dominant segment leader and they offer CHOICES- lot's of them. Something for everyone instead of 1 size fits all limitations. There's simply no argument on which business model is more successful in our American mid size truck market. Ford leads the full-size market with F-150s using the same something for everyone formula while Toyota and Nissan can't compete with Tundra and Titan. Food for thought...

Um ford offered choices on the last gen didn't they... This is the first time limiting to the one config. So you can't really blame those poor sales on this gen. Last gen was def catered to the international market since it was not even available in the US till 2019.

 

[bill_AUS]

In the end, the F150 is Ford's best selling vehicle in the US, so it gets the lions' share of attention through R&D dollars, parts & features, etc, etc. In AUS, the Ranger is their best selling vehicle...makes sense why it has more features across the board vs. the US spec...at least for now.

Conversely, you can look at the UK vs. the ROW for the Ranger Raptor. Emissions regulations cause it to be detuned by nearly 100hp. So they get rear AC vents but we get 100hp...which would you prefer?

While here in Australia it is the vest selling vehicle, the numbers are still small vs the US. And we get three cab configurations, seven trim levels and three engine options. We still have compromises though, we don't get manuals (first time ever for Ranger in Australia, Europe still has it), we will never get the long wheelbase model that North America is getting eventually, and we will never see the 2.7 EcoBoost, just like you won't ever see the diesels.

We do get rear air, and the full fat engine in the Raptor though, for now.

 

[richman555]

Pretty good reviews it seems across the board. Only remaining question I have is 2.3 liter 4 cylinder vs 2.7 liter V6. Perhaps once my dealer has a few on the lot, it would be good to take a test drive.

 

[shred5]

Pretty good reviews it seems across the board. Only remaining question I have is 2.3 liter 4 cylinder vs 2.7 liter V6. Perhaps once my dealer has a few on the lot, it would be good to take a test drive.

Honestly I trust very few reviews from Youtube influencers.
Few of these guys are honest.
I have seen some of these contracts these guys have to sign and the money some get paid for a video. Not in the truck segment but other hobbies I am in. These guys are flown out wined and dinned.
Very few will say something bad or they will not get a invite back. In another hobby I am in a guy just showed a contract they wanted him to sign and it was for allot of money. He said no because that is not a review it is a advertisement. He said even if he turns it down the next person will take the money.

Then there are those who are Ford fanboys or Toyota etc.

I just use videos by most of these guys as guidance to what is on a vehicle, their opinion means little to me..

That said the Truck does look nice. A few short comings but I also still see nothing that makes me defiantly want the Ranger over another truck. I am still up in the air on what to buy next. I am now at the point where I need to sit in the Ranger to make up my mind. I mean these videos are just the basic same ole stuff we knew already..

 

[richman555]

Honestly I trust very few reviews from Youtube influencers.
Few of these guys are honest.
I have seen some of these contracts these guys have to sign and the money some get paid for a video. Not in the truck segment but other hobbies I am in. These guys are flown out wined and dinned.
Very few will say something bad or they will not get a invite back. In another hobby I am in a guy just showed a contract they wanted him to sign and it was for allot of money. He said no because that is not a review it is a advertisement. He said even if he turns it down the next person will take the money.

Then there are those who are Ford fanboys or Toyota etc.

I just use videos by most of these guys as guidance to what is on a vehicle, their opinion means little to me..

That said the Truck does look nice. A few short comings but I also still see nothing that makes me defiantly want the Ranger over another truck. I am still up in the air on what to buy next. I am now at the point where I need to sit in the Ranger to make up my mind. I mean these videos are just the basic same ole stuff we knew already..

I agree with most of what you said. There are many factors at play and much to consider. I know my Dad's approach to buying vehicles was always on a whim. My mom once sent him out to pick up groceries and he came home with a new car ha ha....

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