Changing the ingredients that make a product a best-seller can be a risky proposition. On one hand, you have to have something fresh to continue to appeal to the public, but on the other, you can't change it so much that you lose your core customer. That's the issue facing Ford and its best-selling compact pickup, the Ranger.
We've generally been impressed with the Ranger and performed a long-term test of a 1998 XLT 4WD Extended Cab. Since Ford made a number of changes for the 2001 model year, we decided to obtain a 2001 Ford Ranger 2WD Edge to determine if the company continues to get the recipe right.
The Ranger comes in a wide variety of configurations. Buyers have a choice of three distinct trim levels (XL, Edge and XLT). There's also Regular Cab or SuperCab, which is an extended-cab model with either two or four doors. Of course, there's also two- or four-wheel drive, as well as one four-cylinder and two six-cylinder engines.
All Rangers offer new styling for 2001. Changes include a new grille, bumpers and headlamps. A stiffer chassis with a fully boxed frame section that helps increase strength is also new. Welded body-mount brackets help improve fit and finish, allowing reduced panel tolerances, while chassis refinements offer revised front suspension tuning for improved ride quality.
The new Ranger Edge is positioned between the XL and XLT in the lineup and is aimed at a younger buyer with a more active lifestyle. The Edge is available either as a 4x2 or 4x4 with the two-wheel-drive version having the same high stance as the four-wheel-drive for a rugged off-road look. According to Ford, Generations X and Y prefer the higher ground clearance offered on the Edge.
In addition to the higher stance, the Ranger Edge offers several styling cues that further differentiate it from other models in the lineup. These include monochromatic exterior colors along with a new, more aggressive hood and bulging fender flares. Standard foglamps, unique badging and optional 16-inch five-spoke aluminum wheels complete the transformation to a more youthful look. Overall, our editorial staff found the new styling to be, well, stylin'.
Inside, the Ranger Edge receives a washable textured vinyl floor that replaces the carpeting. It might look cool, but we noted that it does become slippery when wet. Seating for the Edge is a washable cloth/vinyl 60/40 split bench seat that provides decent comfort and support. If you order a SuperCab, you get an additional 14.2 inches in overall length and wheelbase.
Another new feature is a six-disc in-dash CD changer that accompanies an 80-watt AM/FM sound system with four premium speakers and Dolby noise reduction. Having an in-dash CD changer allows better use of that precious interior space. Our test vehicle had this option, and it offered good clean sound while trekking across a variety of terrains.
We were also happy to have standard antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), another 2001 upgrade. During our performance testing using the Edge 4x2, it stopped from 60 to zero mph in 138 feet. While the ABS system itself was quiet in operation, it had fair to poor stability, which translates into a not-so-confident feeling when braking aggressively. It also took longer than several of its main competitors to stop, including the Toyota Tacoma at 121 feet and the Nissan Frontier at 131 feet.
More serious was our test truck's lack of verve. The Vulcan 3.0-liter V6 comes standard on the Edge model we drove. It was backed up by the optional five-speed automatic transmission. This engine/transmission combo felt taxed by the Edge's weight and would surely feel lugged down by either more cargo or towing. Its 150 horsepower and 185 foot-pounds of torque are just not enough when mated to the automatic. For proof, look at the way the Ranger huffed its way through the quarter-mile in 18.4 seconds at 75.3 miles per hour.
Perhaps the engine would be better suited to the manual transmission. When comparing transmission gear ratios, the manual is the better choice with its 3.72 first gear versus the 2.47 in the automatic. The rear differential gearing is the same for both, with either a 3.73 or 4.10 final drive available. We did not get a chance to sample the four-cylinder engine, but based on our experience with the 3.0-liter V6, we'd have to say it's probably better suited for someone seeking fuel economy rather than work truck-like performance.
For performance, we had the chance to sample a Mazda B4000, the Ranger's mechanical twin, equipped with the available 4.0-liter SOHC V6 attached to a five-speed manual transmission. This engine boasts 207 horsepower and 238 ft-lbs of torque. You can also order this engine with an adaptive-shift five-speed automatic transmission. With either transmission, you can't go wrong, since the automatic has gear ratios close to that of the manual, making for less loss of performance. This engine felt powerful at all times and even sporty, providing plenty of get-up-and-go. If you are looking for power, the new SOHC V6 is the way to go.
When equipped with the 4.0-liter engine and five-speed manual transmission, the Ford Ranger has a slight edge over its competitors. If interior comfort and refinement are what you are after, then the Ranger is a little lacking when compared to the Toyota Tacoma. But if you're a little light on cash, the Ranger makes a good choice, coming in well-equipped for a little more than $20,000. Overall, Ford did an admirable job of updating what is certainly the oldest basic design in the class. It has an attractive package that should continue to please the Ranger faithful, but also attract future owners to the blue oval dealerships.
We've generally been impressed with the Ranger and performed a long-term test of a 1998 XLT 4WD Extended Cab. Since Ford made a number of changes for the 2001 model year, we decided to obtain a 2001 Ford Ranger 2WD Edge to determine if the company continues to get the recipe right.
The Ranger comes in a wide variety of configurations. Buyers have a choice of three distinct trim levels (XL, Edge and XLT). There's also Regular Cab or SuperCab, which is an extended-cab model with either two or four doors. Of course, there's also two- or four-wheel drive, as well as one four-cylinder and two six-cylinder engines.
All Rangers offer new styling for 2001. Changes include a new grille, bumpers and headlamps. A stiffer chassis with a fully boxed frame section that helps increase strength is also new. Welded body-mount brackets help improve fit and finish, allowing reduced panel tolerances, while chassis refinements offer revised front suspension tuning for improved ride quality.
The new Ranger Edge is positioned between the XL and XLT in the lineup and is aimed at a younger buyer with a more active lifestyle. The Edge is available either as a 4x2 or 4x4 with the two-wheel-drive version having the same high stance as the four-wheel-drive for a rugged off-road look. According to Ford, Generations X and Y prefer the higher ground clearance offered on the Edge.
In addition to the higher stance, the Ranger Edge offers several styling cues that further differentiate it from other models in the lineup. These include monochromatic exterior colors along with a new, more aggressive hood and bulging fender flares. Standard foglamps, unique badging and optional 16-inch five-spoke aluminum wheels complete the transformation to a more youthful look. Overall, our editorial staff found the new styling to be, well, stylin'.
Inside, the Ranger Edge receives a washable textured vinyl floor that replaces the carpeting. It might look cool, but we noted that it does become slippery when wet. Seating for the Edge is a washable cloth/vinyl 60/40 split bench seat that provides decent comfort and support. If you order a SuperCab, you get an additional 14.2 inches in overall length and wheelbase.
Another new feature is a six-disc in-dash CD changer that accompanies an 80-watt AM/FM sound system with four premium speakers and Dolby noise reduction. Having an in-dash CD changer allows better use of that precious interior space. Our test vehicle had this option, and it offered good clean sound while trekking across a variety of terrains.
We were also happy to have standard antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), another 2001 upgrade. During our performance testing using the Edge 4x2, it stopped from 60 to zero mph in 138 feet. While the ABS system itself was quiet in operation, it had fair to poor stability, which translates into a not-so-confident feeling when braking aggressively. It also took longer than several of its main competitors to stop, including the Toyota Tacoma at 121 feet and the Nissan Frontier at 131 feet.
More serious was our test truck's lack of verve. The Vulcan 3.0-liter V6 comes standard on the Edge model we drove. It was backed up by the optional five-speed automatic transmission. This engine/transmission combo felt taxed by the Edge's weight and would surely feel lugged down by either more cargo or towing. Its 150 horsepower and 185 foot-pounds of torque are just not enough when mated to the automatic. For proof, look at the way the Ranger huffed its way through the quarter-mile in 18.4 seconds at 75.3 miles per hour.
Perhaps the engine would be better suited to the manual transmission. When comparing transmission gear ratios, the manual is the better choice with its 3.72 first gear versus the 2.47 in the automatic. The rear differential gearing is the same for both, with either a 3.73 or 4.10 final drive available. We did not get a chance to sample the four-cylinder engine, but based on our experience with the 3.0-liter V6, we'd have to say it's probably better suited for someone seeking fuel economy rather than work truck-like performance.
For performance, we had the chance to sample a Mazda B4000, the Ranger's mechanical twin, equipped with the available 4.0-liter SOHC V6 attached to a five-speed manual transmission. This engine boasts 207 horsepower and 238 ft-lbs of torque. You can also order this engine with an adaptive-shift five-speed automatic transmission. With either transmission, you can't go wrong, since the automatic has gear ratios close to that of the manual, making for less loss of performance. This engine felt powerful at all times and even sporty, providing plenty of get-up-and-go. If you are looking for power, the new SOHC V6 is the way to go.
When equipped with the 4.0-liter engine and five-speed manual transmission, the Ford Ranger has a slight edge over its competitors. If interior comfort and refinement are what you are after, then the Ranger is a little lacking when compared to the Toyota Tacoma. But if you're a little light on cash, the Ranger makes a good choice, coming in well-equipped for a little more than $20,000. Overall, Ford did an admirable job of updating what is certainly the oldest basic design in the class. It has an attractive package that should continue to please the Ranger faithful, but also attract future owners to the blue oval dealerships.
Add A Comment »