Ford Ranger Bold Moves
Ford's Ranger has remained one of America's best-selling compact pickups. It has also been honored five times for the highest level of loyalty in that segment.
While others have grown larger, heavier and more expensive, Ranger has stayed truly compact and affordable. In fact, there are few true “compact” trucks in this market any more. Compared to the equivalent 6-cylinder 4WD crew cab Chevy Colorado, Dodge Dakota, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma, Ranger is five to 16 inches shorter, 100-250 lbs. lighter—and also less expensive. Yet it has comparable front leg and headroom and can tow up to 6,000 lbs. when properly equipped. EPA economy ranges from a best-in-class 24 city, 29 highway, 26 combined for the base 4-cylinder 4x2 to 16/19/17 for the 4.0-liter V-6 4x4.
There are three bold new colors for 2007—Screaming Yellow Clearcoat, Vista Blue Clearcoat Metallic and Pueblo Gold Clearcoat—and two new wheel options are available on TREMOR, XLT 4x4, SPORT 4x2 and 4x4, and FX4 Off-Road. Ford's Personal Safety System®, tire pressure monitoring system and SecuriLock™ passive anti-theft system are standard features on all Ranger models for 2007.
Powertrains
Three engine choices are available. The 2.3-liter DOHC 16 valve I4 generates a respectable 143 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque; the mid-range 3.0-liter V-6 offers 148 hp and a much stronger 180 lb-ft, while the 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 cranks out 207 hp and 238 lb-ft of torque. All are coupled to either a standard 5-speed manual with overdrive or optional 5-speed automatic overdrive transmission.
Trim Levels
The 2007 Ranger is available in a staggering variety of models and trims: Regular Cab and 2- and 4-door SuperCabs in XL, STX, XLT, SPORT, FX4 Off-Road and FX4 Level II variations. A comprehensive selection of options and packages allow buyers to outfit a Ranger to fit their individual needs. For example, there's an optional 7-foot box for XL and XLT Regular Cab Styleside models and optional rugged skid plates for the 4x4 XLT and SPORT.
The base Ranger XL has 15-inch steel wheels, black front and rear bumpers, black bar-style grille and grille surround, interval wipers, rally gauge cluster, AM/FM stereo with clock, black vinyl flooring and 60/40 vinyl split bench seat (cloth on SuperCab). The XLT is a substantial step above that with chrome nostril bar grille, styled side mirrors, 15-inc seven-spoke steel wheels (16-inch cast aluminum on 4x4 models), air conditioning, interior carpeting and floor mats and a standard CD player Our test SPORT model boasted a body-color grille surround, bumpers, door handles and wheel-lip moldings, textured vinyl flooring, white-faced rally gauges, CD player with MP3 capability, air conditioning, a cloth-covered 60/40 split-bench seat, four available wheel variations, fog lamps and (on 4x4s) tow hooks. The off-road-intent FX4 adds a limited-slip rear axle, dark shadow grey wheel-lip moldings, skid plates, step bars (4x4), 16-inch aluminum wheels, all-terrain tires, rear jump seats (4 door), leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel with cruise control and Power Equipment Group, which includes power windows, mirrors and door locks with remote keyless entry.
If that's not rugged, tough and loaded enough, FX4 Level II adds a Torsen limited-slip rear axle, stainless steel front tow hooks, rear tow hook, 15-inch Alcoa forged aluminum wheels with 31x10.5-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain “KO” T/A tires, skid plates front, mid and rear, Bilstein shocks, unique two-tone bucket seats, center console and a chrome shifter with the manual trans.
Options
Ranger's long list of available options includes aluminum wheels, sport bucket seats, leather trimmed seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 4WD, Class III towing, payload package #2, limited slip rear axle, Bright trim group, power equipment group, privacy glass, 7-foot box, bed extender, bed liner and sliding rear window.
For serious sound aficionados, a “hot wheels and cool tunes” TREMOR package offers a combination of 16-inch machined aluminum wheels, a Pioneer 510-watt audiophile sound system with 6-disc "in-dash" CD changer and MP3 capability, multi-channel amplifier, 10-inch bass subwoofer and four 6x8-inch coaxial speakers in each corner. An optional Pioneer 290-watt MP3 sound-system, which teams a multi-6-disc media in-dash changer head unit with MP3 capability, an enclosed 6.5-inch subwoofer with amplifier, 5.25-inch polypropylene front mid-range speakers with 3/4-inch tweeters and 6x8-inch dual cone rear “full range” speakers is available on STX, XLT, SPORT and FX4 Super Cab models with automatic transmission.
Comfort and Safety
Inside Ranger's quiet and comfortable cabin, the seats have sculpted backs and bolsters for comfort and support. Major safety features include 4-wheel ABS braking, dual-stage airbags and front passenger sensing system, safety belts with front pretensioners, side intrusion door beams and LATCH child seat anchors on the right-front passenger seat.
Product Confidence
Every Ford vehicle includes a 100,000-mile tune-up interval, standard 3 yr/36,000 bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. New for 2007 model year is an extended powertrain limited warranty of 5 yr/60,000 miles and 24 hr Roadside assistance for the same duration from date of purchase.
What makes the Ford Ranger a success is what makes it unique: its size, affordability, and the fact that it's pure truck—obviously a winning combination for so many American truck buyers.
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