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What Is It?
In 2019 Ford brought back the popular Ranger midsize pickup truck following an eight-year sabbatical, and now the Ranger moves into its fifth generation with fresh styling, updated features and improved capabilities. More importantly, the highly anticipated 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor rolls out as well.
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Right-Sized Off-Roader
“Ranger Raptor is the high-performance off-road truck so many customers have been begging for. It’s right-sized for tight trails and daily life, can carry lots of gear, and is a blast to drive flat out,” said Carl Widmann, Ford Performance chief engineer. “Ranger Raptor is fast, comfortable, and packed with top-shelf, purposeful technology that’s designed to perform. This is the baddest Ranger we’ve ever made.”
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New Look
Ford offers the 2024 Ranger in a single body style — a 4-door crew cab with a 5-foot bed. Up front, the new version gets updated styling that takes elements from the best-selling full-size F-150 as well as the compact Maverick to give the midsize Ranger a bold new look. While each trim level gets a slightly different design treatment, every Ranger gets the same basic look with the brand’s signature C-Clamp headlights and a wide grille with a large Ford logo in the center.
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Longer Wheelbase
The 2024 Ford Ranger is about the same length as the outgoing version, but the truck is wider and also has a wheelbase about two inches longer, which puts the wheels closer to the corners. These new dimensions give the new Ranger a bolder look and provide better off-road capabilities with an improved approach angle.
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Step Up
Ford added an integrated side step on either side of the 2024 Ranger, located behind the rear tire for an easy way to reach into the bed. The steps are large enough for someone to stand on with both feet, and the step can handle up to 300 pounds.
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Bed Utility
Adding to the Ranger’s utility is its wider bed that now measures four feet between the wheelwells. With this much space, the Ranger can haul a full sheet of plywood flat on the bed floor. The Ranger also gets a 400-watt inverter with a standard household outlet in the bed to power accessories — a convenient feature on the jobsite or while camping.
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Raptor Styling
The Raptor is more than simply the top-level trim of the Ranger lineup — this truck is something special, and its styling helps differentiate it from the standard Rangers. While it gets the same LED headlight treatment, the wide grille features FORD spelled out in large letters, matching the style of Ford’s other Raptor models. A high-strength steel skidplate draws the eye below the grille, and additional plates protect the fuel tank, transfer case, and engine from being damaged during extreme off-road adventures. There are also two hooks front and rear, and cast-aluminum running boards allow easy entry and exit.
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Raptor Off-Road Setup
Like the F-150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor, the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor is set up for proper off-road performance. An advanced 4-wheel-drive system is standard ,with an electronically controlled 2-speed transfer case as well as front and rear locking differentials. Ground clearance of the Raptor is slightly higher than the standard Ranger 4×4 at 10.7 inches. This powerful truck also gets a purpose-built off-road suspension with 2.5-inch FOX live valve shocks and a long-travel rear suspension. Reinforced front frame rails and other upgrades to the chassis help the Ranger Raptor handle off-road conditions at speed.
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Under the Hood
The standard powerplant in the 2024 Ford Ranger (except Raptor) is a 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine that comes from the previous generation, producing 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. New for 2024 is a more powerful engine option — a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 generating 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both are teamed with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
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Raptor Power
Not only does the Raptor stand out with aggressive styling and off-road capability, it also has power to match. Under the hood is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo 405-horsepower EcoBoost V6 that has 430 lb-ft of torque. This powerful engine is the same unit that’s in the Bronco Raptor, although engineers specifically tuned it for the 2024 Ranger.
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Towing
Depending on the configuration, the standard Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds with either engine choice. Unfortunately the Raptor may be more powerful but also heavier, so its towing capacity is a bit less at 5,510 pounds. Ford will offer the Ranger with Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Trailer Reverse Guidance, providing multiple camera views around a trailer to make maneuvering much easier. Ranger also gets an integrated trailer brake — a necessity when towing larger, heavier trailers.
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Inner Space
As part of the redesign for the 2024 model year, the Ranger gets a new interior design centered around a standard 10.1-inch vertical touchscreen display with the option of a larger 12-inch screen. An 8-inch or 12.4-inch driver display adds a high-tech vibe to the Ranger’s cabin.
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Front Seats
The Ranger’s front seats have been redone to provide better support and comfort. The cabin has plenty of space for storing small items within a large center console bin, multiple door pockets for water bottles, and an upper and lower glovebox. The Ranger also has an available wireless phone charger located ahead of the transmission shifter.
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Rear Seats
With almost four more inches of legroom than the outgoing model, the Ranger’s rear seats offer good support with plenty of legroom and headroom. An outlet and dual USB ports provide power to rear-seat occupants. Two storage bins conveniently located under the rear seat keep items out of sight for increased security. The rear seatback can also be folded down to create a flat surface for loading larger items that need to ride in the cab instead of the truck bed.
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Custom Raptor Interior
The Raptor’s interior is just as exciting as its exterior treatment. Up front, sport seats courtesy of Ford Performance that not only look good but provide extra bolstering to help keep the driver and passenger in place during off-road jaunts. Code Orange accents are located throughout the cabin, including the seats, steering wheel and vent surrounds. Paddle shifters are made from cast magnesium alloy.
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Coming Soon
The 2024 Ford Ranger will be available as an XL, XLT, Lariat and Raptor, with production expected to begin this summer at Ford’s assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. Prices for the Ranger start at $34,160, with the new Ranger Raptor priced at $56,960.
