Overview
If a full-size F-150 is larger and more capable than you need, the 2022 Ford Ranger is the mid-size Ford-brand pickup truck that should suit your lifestyle without draining your bank account. Instead of its bigger brother’s V-6 and V-8 powertrains, the Ranger makes do with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder and a 10-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive is standard but all-wheel drive is available across the lineup. Towing and payload capacities are stout and are competitive with other mid-size pickups such as the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon. If you’re looking for off-road capability, the Tremor model is your best bet for now, but we’re still hoping Ford will come through with a Ranger Raptor model that will bring more performance to the equation.
What’s New for 2022?
The cheeky Splash trim returns to the Ranger lineup for 2022 and it’ll be available as a $1495 package on XLT and Lariat models. The Splash package shows off its Nineties flair with orange and black body-side graphics, unique 18-inch matte-black wheels, orange grille trim, and gloss-black exterior accents. Inside, the Splash wears orange contrast stitching on the seats and special pin-striped trim. A Splash Limited Edition will also be available and will come in a variety of colors, but Ford will roll these out one by one and only offer a few hundred at a time before moving onto a new theme. A new Splash Limited Edition truck will launch every few months with a different color, with the Splash Snow Edition kicking off.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Pop the hood of the 2022 Ford Ranger, and you’ll be greeted by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. There’s enough muscle there to make the Ranger XLT we tested reasonably swift, and the output is silky. Things get even more impressive with the lighter Ranger XL, which surprised us with its speed and agility when we put it through its paces at the track. With all Ranger trucks, a 10-speed automatic rules the roost, and it provides shifts that are smooth and quick. Rear-drive models offer 8.4 inches of ground clearance, while four-wheel-drive versions offer 8.9 inches. The Ranger is available with a Management System that tweaks things like engine responsiveness and transmission gearing to optimize the truck’s performance on various types. Four selectable drive modes are offered: Normal, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, and Sand.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Rangers are available as either an extended cab (SuperCab) or a crew cab (SuperCrew) model. The roomier SuperCrew seats up to five and comes with four full-size doors, while the SuperCab provides seating for four occupants and has two smaller half-doors. As in some other Ford products, the Ranger cabin’s design and materials are inconsistent—mostly dull and littered with cheap plastics, but also fitted with small bits of trim that look and feel surprisingly upscale. Both the SuperCab and SuperCrew cabins are comfortable, however, and their controls are user-friendly.