The closet thing you can get to a Ranger Raptor Tested: 2020 Ford Ranger Lariat FX4 Crew Cab

Suffice to say, I like most, would love to see the Ranger Raptor available in North America. So far, it’s only available in the “Land Down Under”. Toyota has the awesome Tacoma TRD Pro and Chevrolet has the Colorado Bison, so why doesn’t Ford get the picture.

I’ve tested more than my share of the latest generation Rangers since its 2019 intro, but this is the first Lariat I had for any extended period. Now that I’ve been in my third Ranger, I’m beginning to see its shortfalls, as well as its virtues.

First, my tester was the FX4 package, which means the off-road 4x4 version. It came in a toney Rapid Red exterior, Medium Stone leather appoints, as well as a sleek and a foldable hard shell tonneau cover. The grille and wheels were even blacked out.

For 2020, a new FX2 package joins the lineup, available only on rear-drive Rangers. Like Toyota’s previous Tacoma Pre-Runner, It's geared toward those who like traveling beyond the paved path and includes special body-side decals and performance upgrades such as off-road tires, an electronic-locking rear differential, and a suspension that's specially tuned for trail-busting. Additionally, the Ranger now offers a pickup box extender as an accessory, as well as three new exterior colors: Iconic Silver, Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, and Race Red. Ford has dropped Ingot Silver and Hot Pepper Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat (which was the color of our tester) from the color lineup.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

• XL: $25,305

• XLT: $28,460

• Lariat: $32,500

If utilitarian needs matter the most, you'll be just as satisfied with the base-model Ranger XL, where it's more no non-sense. Ford is toying with the idea of launching an even smaller pickup, such as the original Courier. The focus market would seem to be South America, though we could eventually see it here. Names differ from the old Courier name to one that has a little dust on it, Maverick. Really?

Like the other Ranger trim levels, the XL is equipped with forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking. With some rivals, these features are available only on the more expensive trims; and the fact that they're standard on the Ranger's affordable base model speaks to the truck's value proposition.

The Lariat package gets you upgrading interior trim and front seating leather appointments, yet very little else; except for LED headlamps and taillamps, push button start and 18" Machined Aluminum Wheel with Stealth Gray Pockets. So, the XLT would remains be my primary choice.

Pop the hood of the 2020 Ford Ranger, and you'll be greeted by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 270 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque. There's enough muscle there to make the Ranger reasonably swift, and output is silky. Things get even more impressive with the lighter Ranger XL, which is surprising with its speed and agility when put through its paces.

With all Ranger models, a 10-speed automatic is the only transmission choice, providing shifts that are smooth and quick. Rear-drive models offer 8.4 inches of ground clearance, while four-wheel-drive versions offer 8.9 inches. The Ranger is available with a Terrain Management System that tweaks things like engine responsiveness and transmission gearing to optimize the truck's performance on various types of terrain. Four selectable drive modes are offered: Normal, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, and Sand.

Towing capacity for all models has been bumped up to 7,500 pounds when outfitted with an optional tow package. The truck's engine remains poised and impressive even when pulling a heavy trailer. As far as payload capacity goes, the Ranger can handle up to 1,860 pounds.

The fuel economy ratings for the 2020 Ranger is identical to those of the 2019 model, which is a EPA-rated gas mileage of up to 21/26 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive and 20/24 mpg with four-wheel drive. However, my Lariat crew-cab four-wheel-drive tester achieved 16 mpg and 15 mpg combined after some aggressive driving.

The Ranger Lariat's cabin design has inspired leather seating surfaces, over the appealing cloth interior of the XLT, and the unadorned cloth seats of the base trim. On the plus side, the cabin's controls are easy to identify and use. The Ranger is available with either an extended cab (SuperCab) or a crew cab (SuperCrew).The family friendly SuperCrew seats five (barley), offering four full-size doors, while the SuperCab provides seating for four and has two smaller half-doors. Both cab styles offer lots of room for adults in both rows and provide wide door openings for easy ingress and egress.

The base-model Ranger is leanly equipped. A four-speaker AM/FM audio system is standard, along with a single USB port and a Wi-Fi hotspot that can connect up to 10 devices. The XLT and Lariat trims add features such as SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with swipe capability. The options list includes an integrated navigation system and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.

In crash testing conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Ranger earned four out of five possible stars overall. The Insurance Institute for Highways Safety did not name the Ranger a Top Safety Pick. Key safety features include: Standard forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection; Standard automated emergency braking; Available adaptive cruise control; Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert; Available lane-keeping assistance; and Warranty and Maintenance Coverage. Ford provides the Ranger with a competitive 3 years or 36,000-mile warranty. However, unlike the Tacoma and GM siblings, the Ranger isn't available with complimentary scheduled maintenance.

In conclusion:

Compared to the other mid-size pickups, the Ranger is an admirable choice, now ranking just behind the Tacoma in sales. The interior space is rather cramped, especial in the rear. Maneuverability is fantastic, in that it can turn on a dime and parking is a breeze. However, loaded up and gussied up, the Ranger competes fairly lose to its big brother, the iconic F-150, and with the major updates it will receive, it make the decision that much harder.

What’s new for 2021 and beyond:

The Ford Ranger is technically new to North America, although it’s based on the T6 global medium-size platform which is several years young. As such, Ford is already in the stage of developing its successor which means a major refresh probably will appear sooner than later. And when it does, we might even see it with some new engine choices which Ford has been testing in the arid desert of Australia.

At present, the Ranger sold here is supported exclusively by the 2.3 liters EcoBoost I-4 which produces 270 horsepower and 310 pound-foot torque. Although that’s enough for most people, there’s always room for improvement. Especially if Ford decides to send the Ranger Raptor to the US with its next generation. One engine that is reportedly being tested is the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6. Rated at 325 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft of torque in the US, this would be a perfect improvement for the Ranger, especially if Ford wants to produce the Ranger Raptor. A source within Ford has confirmed that as the quality has been significantly updated, the Ranger engine structure will get extensive rework with its next update.

While the future of the 3.2-liter five-cylinder and 2.0-liter four-pot that is currently installed on the Ranger is still unclear, Ford plans to add the 2.7- & 3.5-liter EconBoost V6 engines to the lineup. The second generation of the ‘Nano’ Ecoboost made its debut in 2018 and featured several changes borrowed from the 3.5-liter Ecoboost, which is paired to the F-150 Raptor. When mounted on an ordinary F-150, this twin-turbo V6 produces peak power of 242kW at 5000rpm, while all 542Nm of torque is generated at only 2750rpm.

However, it is unlikely that this engine is strictly being developed with the North American market in mind. That is not to say that the Aussies will be left behind, but high-powered dual-cab gasoline mid-size trucks have not been ever offered out of the factory by any manufacturer.

Initially, it’s believed that Ford was evaluating a tuned version of the 2.3 liters turbocharged Ecoboost four-cylinder engine as an option for US-spec’d Ranger Raptor. However, it seems that the Blue Oval has put this on the back burner, in lieu of choosing more cylinders to get the desired effect.

The upcoming styling update is designed to emulate its 2021 “Big Brother”, which will, for sure, steal some of the Ranger’s limelight. It’s to debut as an early 2022 model. At the front, the truck has two large chrome bars dividing the rectangular lattice, like what was found on the F-150 pickup and Super Duty. The thin C-shaped headlamps enclose the two bars, and there is a square fog light on the bumper. The hood of this car is far more aggressive and clearer than what’s in the Ranger at the moment, and also like what Super Duty has. Chrome bumper has two large vertical elements that extend to the top, such as brush guard support. The overall style of the side of the truck is as lumpy as the front, with a fender box flare reminiscent of a 1980s rally car instead of an excessive round fender like what Ranger has today.

The surface is generally much quieter than the current Ranger, with folds and non-horizontal lines kept to a minimum. A vertical hole in the fender looks like the one in the “Baby Bronco” crossover which formal unveiling is set to debut in mid-July. In the rear, the changes are more evolutionary. The tailgate seems to have lost the stamped “RANGER” script, and Ford’s oval has risen higher (as has the tailgate handle), and the rear lights are a bit blockier and more complex.