Downgraded Ranger Lariat

[WsDesmond]

Hello everyone, just joined the Ranger 6g family. I own a 2019 Ranger Lariat(5G), and finally decided to trade it in for a 2026 last week. I love my 19 Ranger , it was built solid that I feel the build quality and material really justified the price back in the time. And I can tell that even more when I started to hunt for a 26 Ranger Lariat, by comparing the new trucks to my 19’s.
As the ford employee pricing is out in Canada, I finally pull the trigger on a 26 Lariat last week. I’m about to pick the new truck some time this week, and just learned that Ford went even cheaper by downgrade the headlight to a reflector on Lariat. The fake leather I can live with it, but I’m really hunted by these ancient looking reflectors.
I then start to check all local deals, and found something more interesting.
It seems that some of the 2026 Lariat actually equipped with the projector style headlights, and some are not. It almost feels like the assembly line accidentally put the xlt headlights on Lariat if that is even possible?
So far I have seen the lariats with reflector headlights were made before July, but I did find a couple of lariats with reflectors that was assembled in early July. And for sure the lariats with projector headlights are made from late June (as early as June 26). So I guess Ford now is not only going cheaper, but also doing mix and match?

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[Jason B]

Nope. Not a mistake. If you look at the Build and Price for 2026, it specifically states Reflector Head Lamps on Lariats for 2026

 

[WsDesmond]

Nope. Not a mistake. If you look at the Build and Price for 2026, it specifically states Reflector Head Lamps on Lariats for 2026

That is the interesting part, when I look into the lariats I found with projector headlights, the window sticker does also state reflector leds

 

[bgn]

Part of the reason why I got a 2025 is the 2026 decontenting is just sick. The other reason was the almost 20% off I got.

 

[WsDesmond]

Part of the reason why I got a 2025 is the 2026 decontenting is just sick. The other reason was the almost 20% off I got.

I get it if this is consistent for all 26 rangers, and it really triggered me when I found out there are some hidden variations.
This is 100% on me, I started looking for a new ranger a year ago when Lariat was equipped with projector leds as standard （I even have projector on my 19 rangers). So I just assumed it is also standard on 2026 rangers, it is just too obvious for ford to get cheap on.
It turns out i was completely wrong.
It makes me more sick when I realize I’m one of the fewer ppl who got the ancient reflectors on my lariat

 

[daytoncarter]

I get it if this is consistent for all 26 rangers, and it really triggered me when I found out there are some hidden variations.
This is 100% on me, I started looking for a new ranger a year ago when Lariat was equipped with projector leds as standard （I even have projector on my 19 rangers). So I just assumed it is also standard on 2026 rangers, it is just too obvious for ford to get cheap on.
It turns out i was completely wrong.
It makes me more sick when I realize I’m one of the fewer ppl who got the ancient reflectors on my lariat

I doubt there are many, if any, 2026s with projectors. Looking at rendered pics (computer generated) some show projectors but I haven't seen any real 26s with projectors.

 

[Sharpix]

To add an insult to the injury, the Wildtrak 4x4 version offered in Mexico, has the Ranger Raptor Headlights (Double projector). The electric sliding tonneau, and some other stuff not available in US. Also, The truck is sourced from Ford South Africa plant, codenamed 703P.

 

[HighDesertRanger]

To add an insult to the injury, the Wildtrak 4x4 version offered in Mexico, has the Ranger Raptor Headlights (Double projector). The electric sliding tonneau, and some other stuff not available in US. Also, The truck is sourced from Ford South Africa plant, codenamed 703P.

Does it have the 3.0 diesel engine too?

 

[WsDesmond]

I doubt there are many, if any, 2026s with projectors. Looking at rendered pics (computer generated) some show projectors but I haven't seen any real 26s with projectors.

That’s actually a good point, I’m gonna go check in person to see if they are really equipped with projectors or not.
This might be a relief to me, knowing that I’m not the fewer ones who got a lariat with reflector headlights

 

[WsDesmond]

To add an insult to the injury, the Wildtrak 4x4 version offered in Mexico, has the Ranger Raptor Headlights (Double projector). The electric sliding tonneau, and some other stuff not available in US. Also, The truck is sourced from Ford South Africa plant, codenamed 703P.

I’m actually ok with that since that is not even available in our country.
What really hurts me is firstly I had the assumption that lariat automatically the better lights.
And even worse, based on what I have seen, Ford only put the cheap stuff on what was produced in the first half, and for whatever the reason was, they are now back to what it should be for the second half of 2026

 

[daytoncarter]

I’m actually ok with that since that is not even available in our country.
What really hurts me is firstly I had the assumption that lariat automatically the better lights.
And even worse, based on what I have seen, Ford only put the cheap stuff on what was produced in the first half, and for whatever the reason was, they are now back to what it should be for the second half of 2026

The Lariat lights are good, but light distribution is not the best. I'd say they're a solid 8/10 in terms of headlights. I enabled the Matrix feature on mine and while it's near for illuminating the ditches it's pretty low resolution so you don't get lane-by-lane dimming like more advanced versions.

 

[surfstar]

Sorry

2025s r better

*biased 2025 owner - not only cheaper ($9500 USD off MSRP).... better

 

[WsDesmond]

Sorry

2025s r better

*biased 2025 owner - not only cheaper ($9500 USD off MSRP).... better

You are not biased, I was looking for a 25 Ranger lariat the same time last year, and was about to pull the trigger until the wife pointed out the color wasn’t her thing
Now I’m with this 2026 brand new beauty with eyes from last century. Great job Ford.

 

[Bigsack]

I'm liking my ranger so far but Ford can suck a D. I stepped away from them for a while because their quality took a $hit. Decided to give them a try again and the amount they charge for a ranger lariat with what you don't get nowadays is BS. You don't even get close to fake leather anymore and no cooled seats. Thats just the beginning. Penny pinching bastards.

 

[daytoncarter]

I'm liking my ranger so far but Ford can suck a D. I stepped away from them for a while because their quality took a $hit. Decided to give them a try again and the amount they charge for a ranger lariat with what you don't get nowadays is BS. You don't even get close to fake leather anymore and no cooled seats. Thats just the beginning. Penny pinching bastards.

I hate that people feel that bad buying a new truck. I was salty too, no vented seats, no AWD, no AC in the rear felt like cost cutting to me, too. But I'm happy with the Ranger. I installed Openpilot and none of the other midsizers except the not-a-real truck Ridgeline can do it. And the Ridgeline doesn't have vented seats either.

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