2026 Ford Ranger

The Ranger occupies the sensible middle ground in Ford's truck lineup — more truck than the Maverick, less commitment than the F-150. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost handles daily driving and moderate towing without complaint, though it won't make you forget you're hauling a trailer. Where the Ranger gets interesting is the Raptor, which stuffs a 405-horsepower twin-turbo V6 and FOX Live Valve suspension into a midsize frame. It's absurdly fun off-road, but at nearly $60K, you're paying sports car money for a pickup. For 2026, the base XL now gets an available FX4 Off-Road package, which turns the workhorse trim into a surprisingly competent weekend adventure truck. Edmunds tested the Ranger at 6.9/10 and noted that it edges out its Toyota and Chevy rivals for the top spot in the midsize truck class. The ride quality is smoother than you'd expect from a body-on-frame truck, and the 10-speed automatic finds the right gear without drama. If you don't need full-size towing numbers, the Ranger makes a compelling case for right-sizing your truck.