2009 Ford Ranger - Review

The Basics:

The 2009 Ford Ranger is the oldest vehicle in its class—by a long shot. It got its last full redesign in 1990, and despite a powertrain update and a few other refinements, the style has mostly carried over in recent years.

Nearly identical to the Mazda B-Series, the 2009 Ranger is still available in four- and six-cylinder forms, in rear- or four-wheel drive, and two-door Regular Cab and four-door SuperCab configurations are offered. The latter version has two small access doors for cargo stowage; no true four-door model is on the list.

Periodic updates have kept the Ranger's front end looking fresh even if the profile is familiar, and it's actually aged better than some compact trucks. Another plus is that the Ranger's interior has better materials than many compact trucks. Seating is, however, a step behind most compact-pickup rivals.

The Ford Ranger can be an entertaining off-road vehicle, if that's the purpose you have in mind. Its six-foot bed is useful for some weekend and professional uses, but the ubiquitous 4x8 sheet of plywood won't fit.

Safety will be an issue for some shoppers; the 2009 Ford Ranger just doesn't have a competitive features list. Side airbags aren't available; neither is electronic stability control, on a vehicle with a three-star rollover rating.

Trim levels of the 2009 Ford Ranger include the XL, XLT, Sport, and an FX4 Off-Road model, which gets standard Rancho shocks, a Class III trailer package, skid plates, sport bucket seats, and an available Torsen limited-slip differential.