Car Reviews

San Diego, CA – For more than 50 years in Canada, the Ford F-Series has held top spot in pickup truck sales and a decade as leader of all vehicle sales. Ford may have a full lineup of sedans (at least for now), CUVs and SUVs, but no option below its bread-and-butter F-150 since the mid-size Ford Ranger's North American discontinuation after 2011.

For 2019, that all changes with the resurrection of the Ford Ranger that re-enters the fray full of a new and refreshed crop of compact pickups including the segment-leading Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, as well as an upcoming Jeep Gladiator.

The all-new 2019 Ranger utilizes plenty of attributes from its top-selling F-Series sibling. Its appearance alone resembles that of a smaller F-150 with all the bells and whistles in the form of aluminum, modern technology, and a decent amount of towing and payload for the weekend warrior type. Heavy on-the-job towing and transporting will need an F-150, but for many consumers, a little of this and a little of that is all that's needed, and that's where the Ranger thrives.

Ford simplifies buying process

Buying a pickup can be an arduous process between trim, engine and bed choices. For the Ranger, it's rather simplified through three trim levels (XL, XLT, Lariat), two cab styles (SuperCab and SuperCrew) and only one engine (2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder) and drivetrain (four-wheel drive) option. It's all the same in the U.S., except for the more entry-level, but rarely-purchased 4x2 offering.
 
The two-door SuperCab is the only option for the XL trim with a six-foot bed; while the top-of-the-line Lariat only comes in the foor-door SuperCrew featuring a five-foot bed. The middle-tier XLT can be purchased in either configuration. Once the basic trim and cab preferences have been made, different appearance packages are offered per trim such as Sport, Chrome and an FX4 off-roader to spruce your truck up.

As aforementioned, powering every Ranger is a turbocharged, 2.3-litre EcoBoost inline-four engine with auto start/stop technology rated at 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It's matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission that sports a fuel efficient rating of 11.8 L/100 km in the city and 9.8 L/100 km on the highway.

It doesn't boast torque numbers like other V6s in the market, and Ford's perfectly fine with that, as the Ranger caters to a different type of consumer not solely concerned by torque and towing numbers. Rather, it concerns itself with being more lightweight, quieter and easy-to-drive, as well as being filled with innovative safety technology previously not seen as applicable to the truck buyer.

Fun to toss around

Ford set us off-the-beaten path in a mud, hills and water playground outside of San Diego to get a feel for what the Ranger is capable of. There were payload and towing exercises as well – it can tow to a maximum of 7,500 lb. (3,400 kg) and 1,650 lb (748 kg) of payload depending on cab choice – but the true test would be in how well it did in playing hard.

Given the lower torque figure, the Ranger surprised in quickly getting off-the-line and swinging around some corners. An off-road course was set up not as a slow crawl, but one that be taken at a more vigorous pace with the FX4 off-road package featuring an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, a Terrain Management system with Trail Control, front tow hooks, skid plate protection, additional clearance, and larger all-terrain tires with more tread.

Four-wheel-drive and a mud/ruts drive mode would keep traction in check, as the Ranger powered down on slick, muddy terrain in an effortless fashion. For hills and valleys, Trail Control was executed at over 6 km/h (a feature also found in the Raptor) where no brake or throttle input was needed. Simply take control of the steering wheel and let the advanced technology do the rest. The Ranger glided down hills and across a few bumps without any rackety sounds typically found in pickups. The whole process was calm and relaxed, a state of mind that's appreciated when off-roading.

What separates the Raptor from its competition even further is the utilization of Trail Control in either 2-Hi, 4-Lo, or 4-Hi, compared to the Tacoma that can only be done in 4-Lo. It's also more modernized through being digitally precise on its speeds that can be increased in increments of 0.5 km/h. The Tacoma, on the other hand, only has a gauge of low-to-high without exact speed figures. When tested, it only seemed to top out at a slow 2-3 km/h, along with plenty of noise.

Smooth drive on regular roads

The best complement you can give a pickup, especially a mid-size, is that it drives like an SUV. For the typical non-truck driver, that's exactly what this Ranger does; something that should appeal to its potentially new truck customer base. On top of that, it comes with exceptional fuel economy that was tested during mostly highway driving to a tune of 9.9 L/100 km.

Much like the off-roading exercises, the Ranger moves with gusto on regular roads that can be enhanced even further through sport mode on its gear shift. The 10-speed transmission shifts seamlessly in either direction, except for under harsh braking. Pumping of the brakes were needed on a few occasions, bringing the Ranger to a more choppy halt.

Steering is precise with some body roll that can be expected from any pickup. As lengthy as the Ranger is, its size isn't felt on turns and surprisingly, not even on three-point-turns. That same small truck feel was evident while parking, an area that could be a deterrent for many non-traditional truck buyers.

Interior is a bit hit-and-miss

Inside, there's a great deal of technology including Waze integration with Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity, and a host of advanced safety technology. Unfortunately, many of those don't come standard and are found from the XLT trim and up.

As advanced and smooth as the Ranger's technology and four-cylinder engine are, its interior space doesn't seem to reflect its whole. It all feels very pedestrian and like many other Ford SUVs and sedans, and that's not the feeling one should get in a brand new product. There needs to be some advancements made, whether that's in the touchscreen, materials, or overall look, which seem to not add much to the pickup's excitement. Luckily, its comfortable seating may make you forget about owning that unique look with an 8-way power driver and passenger seating in the front row with added heating on XLT trim.

Coming in early 2019

The growing mid-size truck segment is seeing a surge of sales and new customers, and the highly-anticipated Ranger should fare well and grab plenty of attention through its cutting-edge looks, modernized technology comforts and aids, smooth ride, and exceptional towing and payload.

The 2019 Ford Ranger will be on sale in early 2019. It comes at a starting price of $30,969 for the XL SuperCab, topping out before any appearance packages at $42,289 for the Lariat SuperCrew.

It was a big week for engine announcements at Nissan and Infiniti. The Japanese brand wanted to jump the gun ahead of the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and revealed what would be under the hood of not only the Nissan Titan, but the Infiniti Q50 as well.

Let's start with the Nissan group and their long-awaited new Titan that previously only had the 5.0-litre Cummins turbo diesel V8 (310 hp and 555 lb.-ft. of torque). The Cummins will now be paired with a 5.6-litre gasoline V8 producing 390 hp and 401 lb.-ft. of torque that's matched to a seven-speed automatic transmission, a change from the diesel that gets the six-speed. This new engine is a significant improvement on the last generations 5.6-litre V8 due in large part to direct injection and a higher compression ratio. This new engine option becomes available in the spring.

The Nissan Titan sales start this month, and we expect to see pricing for this new engine come out shortly. Just keep in mind, that there will also be a third powertrain option, that has yet to be revealed.

As for Infiniti, they're getting set to bring in three new engine options for their best-selling vehicle, the Q50 sedan.

The biggest change would be the arrival of a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 that will have 300 horses and set the highest standard horsepower in its class to go along with 295 lb.-ft. of torque.

Additionally, consumers will have the choice of a base 208-hp 2.0-litre turbo four or the frisky Red Sport edition that shoots up to 400 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. All three options come standard with rear-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The 3.5-litre hybrid version V6 with a 50-kWh electric motor will be the one mainstay, and offer a fourth choice for consumers.

According to Infiniti, the Q50 will possess a new Direct Adaptive Steering system, which can adjust instantly. On top of that, it will receive a new Dynamic Digital Suspension that can allow the driver to choose between firm, comfort, or sport mode.

The Q50 and QX60 crossover will have a much improved exterior and interior, but we will have to wait for Detroit to see their new looks, along with the all-new 2017 Q60 sport coupe reveal.

Ford has raised the bar for pickup trucks with the addition of the new upscale F-150 Limited, expected to go on sale later this year.

The Limited trim will be slotted above the current top-of-the-line Platinum to cater to what Ford is calling the “growing, untapped needs of luxury customers looking for exclusivity.” With the trend of consumers going for the more high-end Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trims, and the non-existence of luxury automakers in the pickup truck segment, this addition only seems natural and can showcase what Ford is capable of.

“The F-150 Limited sets a new bar for what discerning customers should expect in a high-end truck,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “We’re adding segment-exclusive technology, and features that improve productivity, convenience and capability with distinctive style.”

It sits on unique 22-inch polished aluminum wheels, and will feature satin-chrome door handles and chrome exhaust tip, as well as a unique grille with a satin-finished chrome badge on the tailgate. If you're looking for even more pop, a raised dimensional LIMITED script is stationed on the hood.

The upscale touches continue in the interior with seats that are made out of Mojave leather that are complemented by fiddleback eucalyptus wood and aluminum accents throughout. The instrument cluster and floor mats are unique to the Limited trim to go along with a laser-engraved VIN plate on the centre console.

The luxuries don't end there, as the front passengers are treated to massaging front seats that has never been featured in any Ford product before. Advanced technologies will include a 360-degree camera system, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert, Lane-keeping assist and Sync3 with AppLink.

As an option, Ford is offering a segment-first Pro Trailer Backup Assist that will help to back a trailer or boat in your driveway. All you would need to do is turn a knob in the direction you want, while the F-150 controls all of the steering inputs.

The only engine offered will be a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 that produces 365 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque that's mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The pickup truck segment is ever-changing with a demand for versatility, handling, cargo, towing and fuel efficiency all-in-one, and now it looks like luxury has been added to the growing list. This F-150 Limited does seem like the most advanced and luxuries truck ever. The question is, will everyone else follow suit?