A Win In The Ranger Column

[AzScorpion]

While Ford truck sales for 2026 were down only the Ranger had sales that were up by 19.2% and the XL model was up 45.5%. That's not really all that surprising (XL sales) because with the price of vehicles today everyone's looking for a bargain. The Maverick, Ranger, and Bronco Sport were up by 8.4%, so it’s not only the Ranger’s base trim that’s seen increased demand.

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/deals-a...les/ford-truck-sales-down-2026-160000180.html

Overall sales of the Ford Ranger hit 17,775 units in the first quarter of 2026, up by 19.2% and making it the only Ford pickup to increase year-on-year sales. What jumps out most are sales of the entry-level Ranger XL, which increased by 45.5% over this period. For months now, Ford has seen an increase in demand for cheaper base trims, and the Ranger XL is one of them.


The midsize Ranger XL starts at $33,350 for the 4x2 model, which is less than you’ll pay for a compact Maverick Lobo or Lariat. It’s also around $6,000 cheaper than the most affordable full-size F-150, and choosing the Ranger generally means lower gas bills than for the F-150. Combined Q1 sales of the base Maverick, Ranger, and Bronco Sport were up by 8.4%, so it’s not only the Ranger’s base trim that’s seen increased demand.

At the other end of the Ranger lineup, the high-performance Ranger Raptor saw Q1 sales increase by 36.1%. Ford did not break down exactly how many units per trim were sold—the lineup includes the mid-range XLT and Lariat variants.

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[Dereku]

Sad reason for smaller vehicles to be selling better. Cars are so expensive anymore. Plus they keep getting gigantic. If someone told me 30 years ago the new M5 will weight as much as a 95 f250 I would have laughed them out the door… but alas.

 

[AzScorpion]

Sad reason for smaller vehicles to be selling better. Cars are so expensive anymore. Plus they keep getting gigantic. If someone told me 30 years ago the new M5 will weight as much as a 95 f250 I would have laughed them out the door… but alas.

My Ranger is the same size as my '09 F150 Regular cab 6.5' bed. Now look at how big the F150 is and it's hard to get them in a lot of garages. They're nice if you need it for work, tow a huge boat or camper or have a large family but no way I'd want one now.

 

[TxOTRRanger]

My Ranger is the same size as my '09 F150 Regular cab 6.5' bed. Now look at how big the F150 is and it's hard to get them in a lot of garages. They're nice if you need it for work, tow a huge boat or camper or have a large family but no way I'd want one now.

I have to agree with you. Ya'll have seen the pictures of my truck and Dads F150, they are close in size, but I like the point and shoot capability of my Ranger in parking lots.

 

[ppfd]

Ive found I can accomplish 98% of what I need to do in a plain Jane 4wd ”mid size “ truck.
Specd out a new XLT Ranger 4wd, locker, black out package, standard motor, sliding rear window , bed power.

GF and I bought 10 acres to build on. So pulling a 25 horse small tractor on occasion would be all the heavy lifting the truck would need to do.

I kicked around a zr2, just for the cool factor. Then I realized mpgs, tow capacity are much more important. I, like most rarely off road.

Looked at a Tacoma:
less horsepower
less torque
less tow capacity
less fuel mileage
All this in a new generation truck!
More money as well.

if I go ranger again, hopefully 4 scan would allow me to install all the off road modes like in the 5 g?

 

[Cabose-1]

I would love an f150, but unless you get the max tow package, the full size vehicles have a little more capabilities of the mid size. My sons 2024 tundra has a 8300 tow with a 2400 payload, and a gvwr of 7600. Yes its 4x4, and the 6ft bed. But thats not much more than the ranger and at 25 grand more. My son will never use it to its abilities, only to tow around the tt the ranger has been schlepping around. So max tow or heavy duty is the way to go for a farm truck. My ranger has been a work mule here in south texas and has not maxed its capacity yet. I dont 4 wheel drive either. Only at the deer lease. During deer season. Or at the uncles property, its all off road if that counts.
2024 xlt, 4x2, advance tow package, elocker.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I dare say the Ranger has gotten too big.

It's one of the reasons I was interested in the Maverick.

I bought the FX4 off road trim (highest off road trim available at the time) in preperation for off road adventures.

Now its off road adventures are primarily to sit at home while I take the Jeep or the Bronco on off road adventures.

So it's taller, louder, and thirstier than it really needs to be for my use.

I can't help but feel that I'm convincing myself to trade it for something, but then I drove it last night and it is a really great truck.

It's still too big though.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I dare say the Ranger has gotten too big.

It's one of the reasons I was interested in the Maverick.

I bought the FX4 off road trim (highest off road trim available at the time) in preperation for off road adventures.

Now its off road adventures are primarily to sit at home while I take the Jeep or the Bronco on off road adventures.

So it's taller, louder, and thirstier than it really needs to be for my use.

I can't help but feel that I'm convincing myself to trade it for something, but then I drove it last night and it is a really great truck.

It's still too big though.

I think if there was a SuperCab Maverick with a 6’ bed, it would be similar in size to the 4g Ranger I traded for my 5g.

Louder. That reminds me. My neighbour went out of town this morning and asked me to bring his recycling bins in after the truck came to empty them. I think I just heard it go by but that might have been the Ranger from up the street.

 

[AzScorpion]

I dare say the Ranger has gotten too big.

It's one of the reasons I was interested in the Maverick.

I bought the FX4 off road trim (highest off road trim available at the time) in preperation for off road adventures.

Now its off road adventures are primarily to sit at home while I take the Jeep or the Bronco on off road adventures.

So it's taller, louder, and thirstier than it really needs to be for my use.

I can't help but feel that I'm convincing myself to trade it for something, but then I drove it last night and it is a really great truck.

It's still too big though.

For me the Ranger is the perfect size and I wouldn't have any use for a smaller truck. I see quite a few Mavericks here and they're really nice but that bed is (IMHO) totally useless. Unless you're only putting groceries or small furniture you're getting at a garage sale in it I just don't see it being a practical vehicle for my use anyways. The hybrid option is enticing and I'm starting to feel that's why Ford isn't giving us the PHEV Ranger because (maybe) it'll pull sales from the Maverick. The Ranger just seems like the Red Headed Stepchild where Ford brought it back but has no real intention of pushing sales and just letting it do its thing and seeing where it goes. Can you imagine how good sales would be if they advertised it? But everyone has different needs so it's good to have options.

It's kind of like all these SUVs now they're just a glorified station wagons from the 70's & 80's. Every manufacturer has them and they all look pretty much the same and sometimes you can't tell a BMW from a Hyundai. We were at a stop light the other day and there were 4 in a row and I told Annie they all look like a computer mouse. lol

 

[Montana Ranger]

It's kind of like all these SUVs now they're just a glorified station wagons from the 70's & 80's.

SUVs became the station wagon after the CAFE standards effectively outlawed the station wagon in the '80s. Ginormous pickups have now become the new station wagon after SUVs became "crossovers".

I liked the Ranger because I didn't want or need a ginormous pickup. They're a pain to drive around town.

 

[baloo2650]

Went with the Ranger for that reason too. I had a 2012 gm sierra and the newer 1500’s got way bigger in the last few years. I miss having 4’ between the wheel wells in the bed but it’s not that big of an issue.

 

[JohnnyO]

While Ford truck sales for 2026 were down only the Ranger had sales that were up by 19.2% and the XL model was up 45.5%. That's not really all that surprising (XL sales) because with the price of vehicles today everyone's looking for a bargain. The Maverick, Ranger, and Bronco Sport were up by 8.4%, so it’s not only the Ranger’s base trim that’s seen increased demand.

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/deals-a...les/ford-truck-sales-down-2026-160000180.html

Good. I see a lot of Mavericks and was getting worried that Ford would drop the Ranger.

 

[brroberts]

I like my scab Ranger except for the 6’ bed. It’s not even a full 6’. If I could get it with an 8’ bed, and 48 1/2” between the wheel wells, it would be a great truck. Just big enough to do that, and nothing more. I’d even go standard cab to get an 8’ bed.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

The Ranger has done everything I've needed and more. Sure, I've needed to haul a book case with the tail gate down. (Relax guys - I flagged it ) But the 5 foot bed hasn't stopped me from doing anything to date. And I know there's a joke about everyone wanting to borrow your truck (or me and my truck in my case!) but I enjoy being useful to my friends and family.

All this to say the Ranger is a perfect size for me - I don't need "more truck."

 

[Dereku]

The Ranger has done everything I've needed and more. Sure, I've needed to haul a book case with the tail gate down. (Relax guys - I flagged it ) But the 5 foot bed hasn't stopped me from doing anything to date. And I know there's a joke about everyone wanting to borrow your truck (or me and my truck in my case!) but I enjoy being useful to my friends and family.

All this to say the Ranger is a perfect size for me - I don't need "more truck."

As I always say, its not the size its how you use it.

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