The Ford Ranger is back and bringing Ford back into the mid size truck market where it has been missing for a few years. I am personally not a fan of the smaller trucks because after all in Texas we like everything big. But I am seeing the appeal and market for a smaller truck for people who want the functionality of the open bed truck with a smaller cab. I got to test drive the XLT and the Lariat versions of the Ford Ranger and wanted to share my thoughts on which you might want to buy.
2019 Ford Ranger XLT or Lariat?
As with any vehicle we are all going to want something different. Some want a bare bones vehicle that will just get us to back and forth plus be able to haul some gear in the bed. Others want a fully decked out vehicle that will house all the creature comforts plus added upgrades to make the vehicle experience be the best. I was able to test out the 2019 Ford Ranger SuperCrew 4×4 Lariat and the SuperCrew 4×4 XLT. The Lariat has more of the upgraded features including leather with heated bucket seats, Lariat tires, upgraded technology package, off-road package, and more.
Both are equipped with the new FORDPASS™ CONNECT 4G WI-FI. This takes owning a truck and it being a workhorse on the ranch, hauling gear, and bring able to stay connected to a whole new level. Yes this is an added feature that requires a subscription plan for data, but if you are someone who travels with their truck then this is a great addition. FORDPASS™ CONNECT allows you to interact with your vehicle and it be like a traveling home office. It allows you to be able to remote start and lock your vehicle from the phone app.
The XLT is on the lower end of the features spectrum with cloth seats, but it still boasts plenty of features that you would want in your truck including trailer packages.
I wasn’t overly impressed with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine with 10 speed transmission. It lacked the power that I would want and seemed to struggle at times to get quickly to highway speeds. You would think that with a smaller truck and less weight that it could have some power behind the smaller engine. I guess we often get spoiled by V6 and V8 engines and crave a faster acceleration.
The box on the 2019 Ford Ranger is 5′. Decent size and can still haul most of the gear that you need. The toughbed spray-in bedliner is rugged and can handle some scraps and bumps without looking beat up.
It’s nice to see Ford come back into the mid-size truck market and they made a looker especially with the Lightning Blue color on both of the models that I drove. You have to ask yourself what all are you looking for in a truck to see which trim level you should get. As driven the XLT was listed at $42,005 and the Lariat was listed at $44,960.
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