Ford trucks are built on a reputation of toughness, and the Ranger is no exception. Despite its smaller size in comparison with the popular F-150, the 2021 Ford Ranger has brawn and personality of its own. Buyers who want a truck with towing and hauling capability but don't want a behemoth in the garage can have it all with a 2021 Ranger. This is a truck that you can take on a weekend getaway with a camper or boat, tackle trails with an off-road variant, and use for everyday work and play. Ford also makes sure the interior has the convenience and technology to make those trips to your favorite places a comfortable and entertaining ride.
The 2021 Ranger comes standard with a powerful 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine capable of towing up to 7,500 pounds and hauling up to 1,860 pounds in the bed when properly equipped. Standard ground clearance is high at 8.4 inches, and 4x4 models are even better at 8.9 inches. For those who are seeking an off-road vehicle, the Ranger has a lot to offer. Approach and departure angles are dependent on the variant you choose, but the Ranger can handily take on steep inclines and straddle ruts with ease. Using the Terrain Management System and Trail Control will make trails of all kinds an open road, and you can make room for friends in the roomy back seat of the Supercrew Ranger.
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Ford offers the 2021 Ranger in three trim levels that come in two sizes: the extended SuperCab with a six-foot bed and the four-door SuperCrew with a five-foot bed. The XT trim is the entry-level option and comes standard with numerous technology features like AdvancTrac and curve control for added stability and FordPass Connect for remote access through your smartphone. With the XT trim, rear-wheel drive is standard, with the option to upgrade to four-wheel drive. Exterior features like halogen headlights, cargo tie-downs in the bed, and a capless fuel filler are all standard, while on the interior, cloth seats, rear under-seat storage, Bluetooth, WiFi, and pre-collision assist are all included. Options to add several technology and convenience features are available.
The mid-level XLT trim offers a plentiful number of safety and technology features as standard, as well as more conveniences like dual-zone automatic climate control, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system. Upgraded conveniences like automatic high beams will dim when sensors detect oncoming traffic, and the blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alert and trailer coverage will make trailering not only easier but safer.
With the BLIS, you won't have to worry about driving in heavy traffic or miss a vehicle in your blind spot when towing a trailer of any size. The sensors will let the driver know if it's safe to change lanes. On the exterior, the addition of tow hooks, a cargo light in the bed, fog lights, and a power-locking tailgate makes work and play easier no matter what time of day or night. Optional features like running boards, a bash plate, voice-activated navigation, and Adaptive Cruise Control can further upgrade this trim.
At the top level is the Lariat trim, which offers the most standard features for the Ranger. Buyers will have a few choices of leather seating, matched with a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Intelligent access with a push-button start will make entry to your Ranger easier, and inside, you will be greeted by the glow of ambient lighting. Conveniences like an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual productivity screens, and reverse sensors to assist in backing up safely are all standard. Options like the Bang and Olufsen audio system with ten speakers, rain-sensing wipers, and a universal garage door opener will make this very affordable Ranger trim the most convenient, safe, and entertaining choice.
For off-road enthusiasts, Ford delivers two options for the Ranger to be ready for trails, back roads, and even mild rock crawling. The Tremor Off-Road Package is an option for the XLT and Lariat trim levels when choosing the Supercrew models. This package includes FOX 2.0 monotube dampers with rear piggyback reservoirs, which improve ride quality both on the trail and on the road. The modified off-road suspension raises the ground clearance to 9.7 inches to better protect the underbelly of the truck, and improved approach and breakover angles will mean safer driving in rough terrain.
Front and rear tow hooks can help you get someone else out of a scrape or allow your Ranger to be tugged free if you get stuck on the trail. And with six new upfitter switches, Ford opens up the means for buyers to integrate valuable accessories like a winch, lightbars, or more that you may need on the road or at work. Trail Control comes with the Tremor package, and it behaves like cruise control for off-road crawling. Turn it on, and it holds your speed steady so you can pay more attention to your surroundings as you take on challenging terrain.
When Trail Control is used in tandem with the Terrain Management System, you will find the Ranger can handle the hard work. The system has four drive modes that optimize the vehicle's performance to handle a wide array of difficult terrains. Ford adds appearance to the mix of attributes for the Tremor package with a grille that sports red nostril inserts and hoop-step running boards, with the option to add graphics if desired.
Ford opens up the possibilities with the FX4 Off-Road Package to make it available across all trims as long as the option of four-wheel drive is selected along with it. This off-road package has many of the features of the Tremor Package in a slightly milder form. With tuned off-road monotube shocks, your Ranger can handle uneven terrain of every kind. All-terrain tires with aggressive tread are standard, and the FX4 Package also includes the four-setting Terrain Management System and Trail Control that is offered with the Tremor Package. A traction-enhancing electronic locking rear differential will allow for slow crawling over rocks and on steep inclines, while a gauge in the driver display will show pitch and roll feedback with information on the steering angle.
Underneath the Ranger, the FX4 Package adds skid plates to protect the power steering, transfer case, and fuel tank, plus the front end will boast an exposed steel bash plate. A heavy-duty front skid plate rounds out the protective cover for safe off-road driving no matter where you plan to go. This off-road package allows buyers to add off-road equipment to any size Ranger in any trim, where the Tremor Off-Road package is limited to specific trims and one configuration.
One advantage to the Tremor package is the improved approach, departure, and breakover angles, though adding 4x4 to allow the FX4 Package will also improve the angles for off-road use. However, with either of these options, you will know that you can count on your 2021 Ranger to take you anywhere you need to go. When it comes to this rugged midsize truck, you can tell that “Built Ford Tough” is more than just a slogan.