Have you felt a little short-changed that Ford hasn’t seen North America important enough to bring the finest Rangers here? We have. Way back when, we had the laughably small Ranger with only two doors and not much of the appeal that usually comes with a truck. When the Ranger did come back to North America, it was a model that already halfway through its lifecycle and didn’t include some of the best models like the Raptor. Show Thankfully, Ford has decided to rectify this anomaly. For the 2023 model year, the Ranger is all-new, and we are getting all the best that can come from the Ranger. We’re glad that we finally get to experience the greatest aspects of the Ranger as it has been thoroughly reworked and ready to take on all that lies in its path. We can’t wait for the 2023 Ford Ranger to get here. Here’s why you should be excited too. We Finally Have An All-New Ranger
As noted earlier, when the U.S. finally got the Ranger back in 2019, it wasn’t really a completely new Ranger. It was a mid-cycle refresh of the Ranger that had been sold overseas. This means that when it came here, it was still behind where it could have been. The interior reflected Ford’s old design language, and it wasn’t necessarily sporting the most advanced technology either. For the 2023 model year, a lot of that has changed. The Ranger not only looks more modern, but also has the features to back it up. You can now option the new Ranger to have the large 12.1-inch center screen that we have already seen in vehicles like the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E. For the overall styling, the Ranger has stepped into the new era with an exterior that brings it more in line with other Ford trucks like the F-150. Details surrounding the powertrains used are still scant as there is still some time before the new Ranger is released here. The Ranger Raptor Joins The Family It was a disappointment when we first found out that the previous generation Ranger did not get the Raptor treatment in North America. In some ways, we weren’t missing out on too much because the turbo diesel four-cylinder was underpowered for what we have come to expect from the Raptor lineup. However, it’s still nice to have some representation in the off-road truck segment. Our wishes have been granted at last as the Ranger is finally coming here in Raptor form. In the international guise of the Ranger Raptor is a twin turbocharged V6 that has 392 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The new Ranger Raptor at last has the off-road and performance chops to rise to the top in the segment. Trucks have been big business for Ford since forever and the new Ranger is very important for them. It gives the marque a chance to dethrone some of the biggest players in the segment like the Toyota Tacoma. Ford has shown that they can do a lot with their trucks, and finally it translates to their offerings in one of the hottest truck segments. Price: We expect the price of the 2023 Ford Ranger to start at approximately $28,000. The 2023 Ford Ranger is all new and promises to be a much improved vehicle compared to the previous generation of Ford’s midsize pickup truck. With rivals like the recently redone Nissan Frontier, the rugged Toyota Tacoma, and versatile Chevrolet Colorado, an update was needed to keep the Ranger competitive. Keep in mind, while the previous Ranger has only been sold here since 2019, the model was sold in other markets outside the U.S. dating back to 2011. This was most noticeable inside, where the Ranger’s cabin easily looked a decade behind the times. Positioned between the smaller Maverick pickup and the larger, full-size F-150, the 2023 Ranger has a bluffer front end with a front grille and headlight design that blends elements of each of its corporate siblings. The headlights are C-shaped and wrap around the edges of the grille, while the flanks have more aggressive wheel arches. Considering it’s positioned as a slightly rougher and tougher alternative to the Maverick, the exterior makeover leans more towards the hugely popular F-150. The turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder and 10-speed automatic transmission are almost guaranteed to carry over into the 2023 Ranger. In the previous model, this powertrain delivered 270-horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque — we believe both these figures will tick upward by perhaps 10 horsepower, along with a similar 10-20 lb-ft boost in torque. Rear-wheel drive will be standard, while 4-wheel drive will be optional. The exception is the upcoming Ranger Raptor, which will have 4-wheel drive as standard. It will also be motivated by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 392 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The upcoming 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor, designed for rugged off-road use, will feature unique long-travel suspension with aluminum control arms, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and Fox Live Valve shock absorbers. In addition, it will have a stronger frame, generous skidplate protection, an anti-lag system, four exhaust modes, and several on- and off-road driving modes, including a Rock Crawl mode and a Baja setting for optimized high-speed desert driving. Look for the new Ranger Raptor to appear sometime in 2023. An Extended Cab and roomier Crew Cab will be offered on the bulk of the 2023 Ranger lineup. Gone is the puny 4.2-inch infotainment screen found in the previous base version of the Ranger. Surprisingly, the 8-inch unit gets the heave-ho, too. In its place, the 2023 Ranger has a 10.1-inch screen that dominates the center of its (now vastly more upscale looking) cabin. If that’s not enough acreage for your sticky little fingers, Ford also offers a 12-inch vertically positioned screen that also sees duty in the likes of the F-150 pickup and Explorer SUV. 2023 Ford Ranger SuperCrew PricingLook for the 2023 Ford Ranger to have a base price of around $28,000 for a rear-wheel-drive model in Extended Cab format. At its upper reaches, the 2023 Ranger will crest $40,000 in trims that include every available comfort feature, like leather seating and the larger 12-inch infotainment screen. We expect the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor to be priced at about $45,000. KBB Vehicle Review and Rating MethodologyOur Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability. More About How We Rate Vehicles How much bigger is the new Ford Ranger?Maverick vs Ranger Size Difference. Is the Ford Ranger changing in 2023?Ford's mid-size Ranger pickup truck will be redesigned for the 2023 model year. It adopts bolder front-end styling inspired by the larger F-150.
What can I expect from a 2023 Ford Ranger?We expect the Ranger's 2.3-liter turbocharged I-4 and 10-speed automatic transmission to carry over. The powertrain may get slight increases in output over its current 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, and shift performance or ratios in the 10-speed auto could be updated.
Did the Ford Ranger get bigger?The updated platform, which made its debut in the Bronco, has a slightly bigger footprint, with the the track width increased and the wheelbase stretched. In the case of the wheelbase, the front wheels were pushed forward by about two inches for improved wheel articulation and approach angles.
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