2024 Ranger Lariat new owner review: why I ditched my Tacoma Limited order

[Jason B]

You didnt drive a 25 2.3. Completely different engine.

Completely different? In what way? I thought it was only that '25 has port and direct injection.

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[HighDesertRanger]

Completely different? In what way? I thought it was only that '25 has port and direct injection.

It's a pretty significant update to the 2.3:

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/thre...-2-3l-ecoboost-w-direct-port-injection.17215/

 

[superj]

yeah, its completely different. different stroke, different bore, everything

 

[Rangerjimm]

Completely different? In what way? I thought it was only that '25 has port and direct injection.

Completely new block , heads, bore, stroke, valves, twin scroll turbo, electric wastegate and much smoother on the low end. Same engine used in the Mustang all of 2024

 

[superj]

it just happened to be similar enough cc displacement that they called it a 2.3, also

 

[Rangerjimm]

I got mine by pure luck. I ordered in Nov. 2024 and took delivery in early March. I had no idea it was a new engine.

 

[ChronciallyChronic]

I got mine by pure luck. I ordered in Nov. 2024 and took delivery in early March. I had no idea it was a new engine.

Did you order a '24 or a '25?

 

[Rangerjimm]

Did you order a '24 or a '25?

A 2025 but before we knew about the new engine.

 

[MK8.5 Golf R]

Same here

 

[garyo]

You made the right choice Peter. I briefly considered the Tacoma limited but quickly concluded that the 2.7 Lariat was the optimum choice for my requirements. Having come from a 2019 Nautilus that I ordered with the 2.7, there was never any question on engine choice.
Enjoy your Lariat!

I opted for the same. 2024 Lariat FX4 with the 2.7. Absolutely love it. Was down to the taco and Ranger and it came down to a few things for me; V6, 5’ box (tight garage) interior finish, exterior styling and I agree the taco 4 cylinder seemed just off and rough to me as well as every bump I hit the middle hood bounced which turned me off. Almost three months later and loving my Ranger!

 

[mrmike7189]

Love the Shadow black with the red 4x4 decals. It really pops!

 

[Bushmechanic]

Well, after finally being able to test-drive the Tacoma Limited I had been waiting for for a year and a half, I immediately bought the Ranger Lariat instead!

Things I prefer about the Ranger

1. I find the V6 engine is way smoother. The Tacoma 4-cylinder puts out power, but I found it rough. I'd make the decision again on this one factor alone; the Ranger 2.7 is just so smooth

2. The Ranger cab seemed somehow less confining to me (and it's super quiet BTW)

3. I much prefer the vertical screen below the dash vs. the Tacoma novelty-sized horizontal screen sticking up out of the dash...

4. The Ranger has a dedicated button to turn off the autostop/start, and I didn't see one in the Tacoma (maybe because of the hybrid)

5. Didn't like all the chrome on the Tacoma Limited

Things I still like about the Tacoma Limited

1. All-time four-wheel drive. I wish Ranger offered this in the non-Raptor models, like they do in Australia (maybe diesel only?)

2. HUD. Not "important", just a nice-to-have

Some random observations on my new Ranger

- the V6: I drove the 2.3 and 2.7 back-to-back and would go for the 2.7 every time, for the extra smoothness and power and very reasonable option price

- Lariat vs. XLT: I could go either way on this, and bought the Lariat because it's what was available with the options I wanted. The deciding factor was when the dealer agreed to swap out the wheels for the XLT wheels

- FX4 package: I know some writers say the FX4 makes road driving harsher, but I could never see how that would make sense, and for me I'm happy to say it doesn't. I drove with and without FX4 back-to-back at the dealer, and there's no doubt in my mind that the FX4 made for a better on-road experience in terms of soaking up any bumps. Haven't tried off-road yet

- The transmission is smooth. During the test drive it sometimes seemed a bit clunky, but I'm happy to say this has gone away and there are zero issues in day-to-day driving. The truck has about 800 km on it now

- The adaptive cruise control is great & works flawlessly. The lane centering OTOH seems stupid in its insistence to keep both hands on the wheel, thereby defeating its own purpose of making your life easier. Hoping for a software update

- My gripes: (a) lack of all-time four-wheel drive, even as an option, (b) the stupid shifter in the Lariat - it's just a bad design all around in my view, (c) tailgate is pretty heavy going down and coming up, and (d) the billowing leather seats - I've read up on this seat issue now and conclude Ford does not yet have a fix for this. So I think I'll wait and monitor this and make a warranty claim perhaps later once I believe there's an actual fix. The cloth seats on the XLT don't seem to have this problem (they stay taut)

Overall, I think this is a great truck, a very competent vehicle, and I'm really happy I bought it!

So far as I am aware only the 4Runner Limited got the center differential. I didn't see any manner of information suggesting otherwise when I was looking it all up and configuring vehicles.

Looking again now, Toyota still lists it as a part time 4WD vehicle.

If I'd have sniffed out a center diff in that truck, I'd have bought one immediately. If I find out it does have a proper center diff ... I might not own this Raptor very long.

 

[Aardvark]

I admittedly don't know a lot about this, but here in Canada, the Toyota website describes the Limited in Hybrid form having "all time 4 wheel drive", and at least on reddit it references a locking center diff. Not sure beyond that.

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