2001 Ford Ranger: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

America's top-selling compact pickup offers a regular cab or an extended SuperCab with two rear fold-down jump seats and optional back-hinged rear doors. Regular cabs use a 6- or 7-ft. cargo bed, SuperCab a 6-ft. A 135-hp 2.3 4-cyl replaces a 119-hp 2.5 as the base engine. A 3.0 V6 continues, but the 4.0 V6 is now an overhead-cam design with 47 hp more than the previous 4.0. All use manual or automatic transmission; the automatic is the only 5-speed offered in a compact pickup. Ranger has rear-wheel drive or 4WD that must be disengaged on dry pavement but includes low-range gearing. Four-wheel ABS is standard. Ranger-based Mazda B-Series pickups have slightly different styling and available equipment.

COMPETITION

Among compact pickups two vehicles really stand out: The Dodge Dakota and the Ford Ranger (and clone Mazda B-Series). Dakota is the only one to offer a V8 engine and near-full-size cargo and towing capacity. Ranger is the most refined and probably the best daily use vehicle.

This year we are limiting our Recommended choices to the Toyota Tacoma. It's every bit as good as the Ranger in daily use, just a tad more expensive.