2025 Ford Ranger

An all-new Ranger arrived last year, and 2025 sees few changes. It doesn’t really need any, as this midsize truck’s improvements in power, ride quality, and the interior made an already capable truck even better. Everything that has been done to this pickup makes it even more competitive in the highly contentious midsize truck segment, where every truck choice is excellent, and all the players have been totally redesigned within the last three years.

This pickup from Ford offers excellent towing capacity, solid payload capacity, and terrific ride quality. It comes solely as a crew cab short bed, but that is the most popular bed/cab mix for any truck and the heart of the market. The Ford Ranger is available with two engines and four trim levels, and enough variety to please those who want a solid work truck, an upscale ride, or a desert-racing specialist.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this collection of midsize trucks, including the Ford Ranger.

There’s a new Black Appearance package available for the XLT and Lariat. It includes black Ford ovals in the grille and on the tailgate, black rear bumper, black grille accents, and unique carpeted floor mats. Also, for the FX4 model, running boards become optional. New colors Marsh Gray, Desert Sand, and Ruby Red replace Iconic Silver, Cactus Gray, and Hot Pepper Red.

The 4-wheel-drive XLT is a very popular Ford Ranger trim level, providing a great combination of features and value for the money.

Within the segment, the Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma begin in the low $30,000s. The Jeep Gladiator, GMC Canyon, and Honda Ridgeline start in the high $30,000s or low $40,000s.

Looking elsewhere in the Ford lineup, the compact Ford Maverick truck begins in the mid-$20,000s, while the full-size F-150 starts in the high $30,000s.

Before buying a new Ranger midsize truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Ranger resale values tend to be above average for the class — usually better than the Colorado but trailing the Tacoma. Remember, a higher resale value means more money to put down on your next vehicle.

There are three primary trim levels of the 2025 Ranger: XL, XLT, and Lariat. They all come standard with Ford’s 270-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. A 315-hp turbocharged V6 is optional in the XLT and Lariat. The standard and optional mainstream engines are more powerful than almost everything else in this class, and the Ranger Raptor’s engine has the most power of any midsize truck. The Raptor, which competes with the Colorado ZR2 and Tacoma TRD Pro, is powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 405 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque.

The Ranger feels stable and planted, thanks to a wider track and longer wheelbase. The ride is compliant without feeling floaty. That stance, combined with the comfortable seats, makes this truck a pleasure on long freeway drives. The 10-speed automatic transmission works well, shifting frequently but seamlessly to make the most use of the engine’s power. While the base engine offers a decent amount of power, the 315-hp V6 is surprisingly quick. Steering is on the vague side, but that’s a minor quibble.

Fuel Economy

The Ranger’s 22 mpg combined rating in both rear- and 4-wheel-drive models is comparable to the rest of the midsize truck segment. The V6 turbo with 4-wheel drive gets 20 mpg and the Raptor 17 mpg. The Tacoma Hybrid is the only truck in this class available as a hybrid; it nets 24 combined mpg.

The vertically oriented touchscreen adds pop to the cabin, while the overall look of the interior is understated yet attractive. There are still physical buttons and dials below the screen, which we appreciate. A 10.1-inch screen is standard, and a 12-inch touchscreen is available. The gauge cluster is fully digital, and is 8.1 inches as standard, with a 12.4-inch display on higher trim levels. The transmission shifter takes a second to get used to, as the release button is at the top of the shifter instead of on the left side. The Ranger’s interior feels roomy in both rows for a midsize truck. Under the rear seats, there are storage spaces for small items. A power sliding rear window is available.

If you like the combination of a crew cab and short bed, we have great news: that’s the only way the 2025 Ranger comes. The C-shaped LED headlight surrounds, and bold grille make the front end of the Ranger look similar to that of the F-150. The Ranger has four full-size doors and a 5-foot bed. Fortunately, the bed is really useful, as it’s wide enough to accommodate 4-foot drywall sheets between the wheel wells. It has a 12-volt outlet and a bottle opener and features like tie-down hooks, a power locking tailgate, and an integrated bed step are available.

The Ranger Raptor sits taller than the rest of the lineup, with “FORD” stamped into the grille insert. Chunky off-road tires on available beadlock-capable wheels, plus its lifted off-road suspension, give the Raptor a tough, intimidating stance.

Ranger Raptor
Powered by a 405-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, the Ranger Raptor is essentially a junior Ford F-150 Raptor. This off-road speed machine uses 2.5-inch Fox racing shocks, a Watts link rear suspension, and locking front and rear axles. This truck also adds a Baja drive mode for high-speed runs in the desert.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist
Backing up a truck and trailer is tricky, as you have to turn the steering wheel the opposite way. With this optional feature, you turn a rotary control to set the trailer’s direction, and the system automatically takes care of the Ranger’s steering wheel. There are also camera setups to check out the trailer’s surroundings.

Tailgate Features
The Ranger’s tailgate is damped, so it opens softly. In addition, Ford designed it to act as a workbench, with built-in clamp pockets and an integrated ruler.

Zone Lighting
This optional feature comes in handy when camping away from a developed campground where moonlight isn’t quite enough. Owners control it through the infotainment touchscreen or the FordPass app.

Off-Road Screen
With this available feature, you can see what the truck’s pitch and roll angles are while you’re on the trail.

Sync 4A Technology
This latest version of Ford’s user-friendly infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. It also includes Wi-Fi, navigation, wireless charging, satellite radio, over-the-air updates, two USB ports, a 360-degree camera system, and a B&O audio upgrade.

The base engine for the 2025 Ranger is a turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder unit that puts out 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard in all three regular trims. The XLT and Lariat are available with an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 that produces 315 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. These engines run on regular gas and are more powerful than the comparable Tacoma and Colorado engines. The Ranger Raptor uses a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. It generates 405 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque and requires premium gasoline.

All three engines use a 10-speed automatic transmission. The XL, XLT, and Lariat models come with rear-wheel drive (RWD), and a 4-wheel-drive system is available. The Raptor has 4-wheel drive as standard.

Towing and Payload Capacities

The maximum towing capacity for the 2025 Ranger is 7,500 pounds. Payload is 1,805 pounds with rear-wheel drive or 1,711 pounds when 4-wheel drive is in the mix. These capacities put the Ranger near the top of the midsize truck segment, although the Chevrolet Colorado can tow 7,700 pounds.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Ford has a new-vehicle warranty of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. This protection includes 24/7 roadside assistance. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This coverage is common within the midsize truck segment.

Safety

No third-party agency has safety-rated the 2025 Ranger, but it comes standard with pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist.