Ford has a lot riding on the 2019 Ranger and the truck as an ace up its sleeve as the automaker has revealed the model is the “most fuel-efficient gas-powered midsize pickup in America.”
Jumping right into the numbers, the rear-wheel drive Ranger has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined. With four-wheel drive, those numbers fall to 20 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.
To put those numbers into perspective, the rear-wheel drive Chevrolet Colorado with the four-cylinder petrol engine is rated at 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. With four-wheel drive, the model returns 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined.
The Ranger also beats the popular Toyota Tacoma which returns 20 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined when equipped with a four-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive variant is rated at 19 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined.
While the Ranger’s fuel economy ratings aren’t massively better than the competition, it’s important to remember the truck has a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that develops 270 hp (201 kW / 273 PS) and 310 lb-ft (419 Nm) of torque. The Colorado’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder produces 200 hp (149 kW / 202 PS) and 191 lb-ft (259 Nm) of torque, while the Tacoma’s 2.7-liter four-cylinder churns out 159 hp (118 kW / 161 PS) and 180 lb-ft (243 Nm) of torque. This means the Ranger isn’t just more fuel-efficient than its key rivals, but also significantly more powerful than their four-cylinder variants.
The 2019 Ranger will arrive at U.S. dealers next month and pricing starts at $24,300 for the entry-level SuperCab variant. The SuperCrew model begins at $26,520 and can top $44,000 when fully loaded with optional equipment.