2026 Ranger changes / upgrades / info?

[AlloyPony]

2026 Colorados are already on the lots for sale. What's interesting is that the Colorado has more content for less money despite a price increase for '26. The standard engine has more torque than the engine you have to option at $2,200 on the Ford. The base model WT has standard features that the Ranger XL and XLT don't have. And yet, the price is way lower.

To me that signals that Ford may be looking at their packaging for '26. Maybe they're going to try and be more competitive?

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[AlloyPony]

2026 Colorados are already on the lots for sale. What's interesting is that the Colorado has more content for less money despite a price increase for '26. The standard engine has more torque than the engine you have to option at $2,200 on the Ford. The base model WT has standard features that the Ranger XL and XLT don't have. And yet, the price is way lower.

To me that signals that Ford may be looking at their packaging for '26. Maybe they're going to try and be more competitive?

I mean, seriously. It's a joke. On the Ford Ranger XL, you have to pay:

- $535 for a trailer tow package just to get a receiver hitch and harness
- $275 to get a brake controller

And a 400+ lb/ft engine isn't even an option. There's some other stuff missing too, but I won't list it out here.

All of this is standard equipment on the Chevy Colorado base model. By the time you option both trucks similarly the Ford is like $3,500 more money.

And why doesn't Ford have a model with a 2" lift and nicer tires and such like the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss? Why do I have to pay $58k for a Raptor to get a powerful engine, small lift, offroad goodies, and nice tires? I can get those things on the Chevy for $44k.

I'm a Ford owner right now, and have had countless Ford trucks in the past. But Ford really needs to get their stuff together. They're getting trounced.

 

[superj]

They wont change stuff if it sells. If the colorado started outselling the ranger, they would make some changes but its not something that appears to be an issue

 

[Atom!]

I test drove a Colorado Z71 and a Ranger XLT on the same day and drove nearly the same route. At one point I drove both over a set of (rough) railroad tracks to see how they handled. That’s when I knew that the Ranger was worth the extra money.

 

[Fattirz in NC]

They wont change stuff if it sells. If the colorado started outselling the ranger, they would make some changes but its not something that appears to be an issue

The Colorado DOES outsell the Ranger…
https://tfltruck.com/2025/07/q2-2025-midsize-truck-sales-report/

I think the Ranger is the best midsize on the market but what’s hurting the sales in the NA market the most is the lack of options. Only 4 trims and one bed/cab configuration. Take a look at the number one selling midsize… 7 trims and 3 bed/cab configurations.

The big hole in the Ranger lineup right off the bat could be filled with a Tremor. A Tremor with the 2.7 would crush TrailBoss and TRD Off-road market share instantly. Come on Ford!!! You have to admit there is a huge gap between the FX4 and Ranger Raptor.

 

[AlloyPony]

Exactly. Give us options. I'll tell you right now that if Ford offered a 6' bed on the Ranger that one simple change would have me in the dealership today.

Everybody has different needs. By giving more options and flexibility you draw in more customers.

 

[superj]

maybe they are comfortable where they are since the f150 does so well?

a 6 foot bed would be so much better. thats one thing i love about my 04 ranger, the longer bed. i still use that ranger because of that reason

 

[pkvir]

The Colorado DOES outsell the Ranger…
https://tfltruck.com/2025/07/q2-2025-midsize-truck-sales-report/

I think the Ranger is the best midsize on the market but what’s hurting the sales in the NA market the most is the lack of options. Only 4 trims and one bed/cab configuration. Take a look at the number one selling midsize… 7 trims and 3 bed/cab configurations.

The big hole in the Ranger lineup right off the bat could be filled with a Tremor. A Tremor with the 2.7 would crush TrailBoss and TRD Off-road market share instantly. Come on Ford!!! You have to admit there is a huge gap between the FX4 and Ranger Raptor.

I think the main reason the ranger sells less than the GM counterpart is availability. I never see any Rangers on the lot. I wonder why they don't build more?

 

[Dingus83]

maybe they are comfortable where they are since the f150 does so well?

a 6 foot bed would be so much better. thats one thing i love about my 04 ranger, the longer bed. i still use that ranger because of that reason

Absolutely this, Ford doesn't want to cut into F series sales, but with pricing so ridiculous on an F-150 I can see more people stepping down the the Ranger to afford it. The MSRP on a Ranger Raptor gets you a basic XLT with very little options. I started at a Ford store in 2007 and a King Ranch F-150 topped out at $45,000, about 56% of what one runs today.

 

[Atom!]

I’d like to see Ford make a solid effort at putting more Rangers on dealers lots. There are 8 2025 Rangers within 40 miles of my house (4 of which are Raptors). There are 66 Colorado’s (10 ZR2s). It’s hard for a dealer to sell a truck that they don’t have.

 

[t88supra]

2026 Colorados are already on the lots for sale. What's interesting is that the Colorado has more content for less money despite a price increase for '26. The standard engine has more torque than the engine you have to option at $2,200 on the Ford. The base model WT has standard features that the Ranger XL and XLT don't have. And yet, the price is way lower.

To me that signals that Ford may be looking at their packaging for '26. Maybe they're going to try and be more competitive?

But have you driven one? I drove a trailboss colorado the other day and it was complete garbage.

 

[James D]

I think the main reason the ranger sells less than the GM counterpart is availability. I never see any Rangers on the lot. I wonder why they don't build more?

The why to the wonder is the F150.

 

[t88supra]

I mean, seriously. It's a joke. On the Ford Ranger XL, you have to pay:

- $535 for a trailer tow package just to get a receiver hitch and harness
- $275 to get a brake controller

And a 400+ lb/ft engine isn't even an option. There's some other stuff missing too, but I won't list it out here.

All of this is standard equipment on the Chevy Colorado base model. By the time you option both trucks similarly the Ford is like $3,500 more money.

And why doesn't Ford have a model with a 2" lift and nicer tires and such like the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss? Why do I have to pay $58k for a Raptor to get a powerful engine, small lift, offroad goodies, and nice tires? I can get those things on the Chevy for $44k.

I'm a Ford owner right now, and have had countless Ford trucks in the past. But Ford really needs to get their stuff together. They're getting trounced.

Trounced? that is comical.... again, the Colorado is complete junk, you get what you pay for. That is like "my kia has more standard options that the same size lexus" but its still a kia.

 

[superj]

thats a good point /\

my son's girlfriend has a 2024 colorado z71 (i think its a z71, its some 4x4 package with badges) and he really likes it. he said it drives very nice and he likes the interior more then our rangers. i know the engine is a larger 4 cylinder than my 2.3 so its got a little more power but it gets worse mileage since its got an 8 speed and larger engine. i have not ridden in it because she has two huge dogs that have left hair everywhere you see and i don't want dog hair all over my clothes.

she drives back and forth from houston twice a week for school and work and its never given her any trouble, so thats good. its a 3.5 hour drive from her parent's house to here in corpus christi so she already has racked up from miles on it because her grandparent bought it for her last november

 

[pkvir]

The why to the wonder is the F150.

Maybe true, but stupid of Ford. The two dealerships by me have hundreds of F-150's and 1 or 2 Rangers.

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