2009 Ford Ranger Review

The folks in charge of the 2009 Ford Ranger know that one of the vehicle's draws is its longevity; this is the oldest vehicle in its class. It debuted in 1990, and despite an update to the powertrain and slight refinements, the vehicle has yet to be completely redesigned. With that in mind, most reviewers don't bother to discuss the Ranger's styling in much (if any) detail.

The 2009 Ford Ranger's basic shape has been around since the 1990s, and reviews read by TheCarConnection.com report only slight updates over the years. Cars.com notes that "the Ranger's front bumper has been redesigned to cut through the air more efficiently," and "new larger fog lights improve visibility." Automedia says the look is "a tad tougher and bolder." And in certain trim levels, the Ranger does a good job of faking tougher credentials. ConsumerGuide says the "basic design is more than a decade old and shows it," while MyRide.com opines that this "truck desperately needs an update." At Ford, 2009 gets the Ranger a slight update: As Cars.com says, "The Ranger Sport conveys the assertive look and ride height of a four-wheel-drive Ranger at a lower price."

There are even fewer compliments for the 2009 Ford Ranger's interior. Edmunds snipes: "The Ranger's interior was last overhauled during the Clinton administration -- and the first term at that." The reviewer goes on to note that "due to its aged design, it falls short in many other areas, making just about any other small or midsize pickup a better choice."

The 2009 Ford Ranger has a plethora of engine options. Unfortunately, TheCarConnection.com finds that its power never measures up, and handling fails to impress.

Car and Driver says the "flexy chassis and tepid powerplants reduce fun-to-drive index to almost zero" in the 2009 Ford Ranger. There are three engines—but no one seems particularly impressed with any of them. The base engine makes 143 horsepower from a 2.3-liter four-cylinder; stronger versions use a 148-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 or a 207-hp, 4.0-liter V-6.

ConsumerGuide has a slightly different opinion, stating, "acceleration is adequate with the 3.0-liter V-6, but we prefer Rangers with the 4.0 for its extra power." Also notable, ConsumerGuide believes 2009 Ford Rangers "handle competently, with good steering feel and directional stability." They aren't the only reviewers who feel this way. Cars.com lists "maneuverability" and "driving ease" as two of the predominant "likes" about the performance of this truck. ConsumerGuide indicates that the ride quality is "decent for trucks," reporting that Rangers "jiggle on rough roads but absorb big bumps pretty well."

Ranger pickups have up to 6,000 pounds of towing capacity; ConsumerGuide calls them "proven workhorses." As with most trucks reviewed by TheCarConnection.com, there are other options available on the Ford Ranger, including rear- or four-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive can be turned on even while the truck is moving and operates by a simple switch on the Ford.

In the Ranger, Ford's workmanlike performance can be a virtue, and its steering is not bad, but those buyers looking for a cheap economy car would be better served with a real economy car—not a pickup priced like one. Still, TheCarConnection.com's editors have driven many Rangers in the past and owned one as well. The 4.0-liter V-6 is the easiest version to live with, in terms of power and engine noise; conversely, there's almost no reason to recommend the 3.0-liter V-6, since it's not much more powerful than the four-cylinder and gets considerably worse fuel economy.

Editors at TheCarConnection.com find that the 2009 Ford Ranger lags behind rivals in terms of space. Many drivers will be abjectly disappointed.

In the Ranger, Ford has the only true compact truck left on the market, since the Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier moved into a larger size class. With the Ranger, Ford offers SuperCab models with two rear-hinged doors and Regular Cab versions with very little space between the seats and the rear glass. ConsumerGuide criticizes the rear seat in SuperCab Rangers as "skimpy, cramped, and thus best used for toddlers or cargo," and adds that "entry and exit borders on awkward." Edmunds concurs, claiming the truck's "inward facing jump seats are a quaint reminder of days gone by, but are terrible as a seating option." Although ConsumerGuide says the truck has "good headroom and legroom up front," they also state that "three adults are a tight squeeze" for the front. The basic front seats are in truth not bad: Edmunds finds the front seat to be "acceptable unless you're of tall stature."

All versions of the Ranger sport a six-foot bed that's useful for some weekend and professional needs, but the ubiquitous 4x8 sheet of plywood won't fit.

In the Ranger, Ford installs better materials than are found in many compact trucks. It may not be roomy, but Cars.com lists "build quality" as one of its favorite things about the truck. ConsumerGuide even states, "all models we've tested have been solidly built."

The 2009 Ford Ranger doesn't provide a clean sweep of top-notch safety gear, but TheCarConnection.com finds it earns mostly acceptable crash-test scores.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2009 Ford Ranger "acceptable" and "poor" ratings for frontal and rear impacts, respectively, in its assessments.
Side impact tests resulted in a "marginal" rating. According to Edmunds, in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash-test ratings, the 2009 Ford Ranger "earned four out of five stars for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts."

Anti-lock brakes are standard on the 2009 Ford Ranger, but the Ranger shows its advancing age in its lack of side and curtain airbags. Electronic stability control—an especially important feature on rollover-prone pickups—isn't offered either.

Experts at TheCarConnection.com are by and large pleased with the features offered on the 2009 Ford Ranger. Most drivers won't be disappointed.

Trim levels include the XL, XLT, Sport, and an FX4 Off-Road model. Edmunds lists one of the main options as the bed size of the Ranger; Ford offers a six-foot bed "on all cab styles and trims, but a seven-foot bed is optional on the regular-cab XL and XLT." The standard material on the seats is cloth, but leather is available. An additional option is the 60/40 split bench seat in front or bucket seats. Satellite radio is available on all 2009 Ford Ranger pickups.

In this Off-Road edition, Ford has an entertaining vehicle, if that's the purpose you have in mind. The 2009 Off-Road Edition Ford Ranger gets standard Rancho shocks, a Class III trailer package, skid plates, sport bucket seats, and an available Torsen limited-slip differential. Edmunds calls the vehicle "competent off-road."

When comparing it to other trucks in the same class, it's no wonder Car and Driver calls it "attractively priced." The 2009 Ford Ranger is priced lower than most competitors. Starting at less than $17,000 for the 2009 Ford Ranger Sport regular cab, it is more affordable than most pickups.