With the debut of its fifth generation, the 2024 Ford Ranger boasts a number of improvements over the outgoing 2023 model. First off, Ford has upsized the midsize pickup, giving the Ranger a two-inch boost to both its wheelbase and track, two upgrades that can make all the difference when it comes to comfort and towing prowess. Detroit’s Big Blue Oval will also grace us with a Raptor-ized version of the Ranger for 2024, transforming the reliable pickup into a no-holds-barred off-road beast with the introduction of a 3.0L turbocharged V6 engine, electronic two-speed transfer case, reinforced boxed frame, Fox live-valve shocks, locking differentials, and more. The Ranger’s interior also sees a substantial makeover, with a new wireless charging pad, a larger infotainment screen, digital instrument display, and a 4G LTE modem that enables seamless over-the-air software updates.
While these improvements to the body and tech offerings, not to mention the thrilling new Raptor model, go a long way in updating the Ranger for the modern era, it’s the pickup’s new engine lineup that has us the most excited about the all-new Ranger. Let’s pop the hood and take a closer look at what the 2024 model is working with.
Standard: 2.3L EcoBoost Inline-4
We’ll start with the Ranger’s standard engine offering for 2024, a 2.3L EcoBoost inline-4 carried over from the 2023 model. While this displacement and cylinder count might seem underwhelming for the pickup segment, it utilizes Ford’s EcoBoost direct-injection turbocharger technology. First introduced in 2009, these EcoBoost engines offer both unsurpassed power and fuel economy, allowing vehicles like the 2024 Ranger to hold their own when compared to larger, thirstier engines. So how does it work? The turbocharger forces air into the engine, improving its overall power output without upsizing the engine itself. Direct injection works by delivering fuel directly into each engine cylinder instead of the air intake manifold. Combine these two features, and you have the 2.3L EcoBoost, an engine that manages to produce some 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque while still boasting a respectable 21 MPG in the city, 26 highway, and 23 combined. Those are some impressive figures for a 2.3L engine, making the Ranger a good deal more powerful than its displacement and midsize designation might suggest. Those fuel economy numbers take a slight hit when drivers opt for the 4WD model, coming in at 20 MPG city, 24 highway, and 22 combined, but it’s more than a fair exchange when you consider the pickup’s towing prowess. When paired with the standard 2.3L engine, the 2024 Ranger claims a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds along with a 1,905-pound payload capacity. Those are some particularly impressive figures in the midsize segment, making the 2024 Ford Ranger a real standout when it comes to features that truck buyers value. That level of power, along with a sporty ten-speed automatic transmission, makes the Ranger exceptionally fun to drive, giving owners a chance to experience the best of both worlds between the pickup’s workhorse attributes and penchant for speed. Sure, most drivers aren’t drawn to the pickup category with speed in mind, but it’s always nice to know that in a pinch, you could be rocketing from zero to 60 mph in as little as 6.5 seconds when behind the wheel of a 2024 Ford Ranger.
New: 2.7L EcoBoost V6
Next to the desert-racing, dune-bashing behemoth that is the Ranger Raptor, the most exciting upgrade when it comes to the 2024 Ranger might be the new 2.7L V6 EcoBoost engine. Available on the Ranger’s XLT and Lariat trims, the 2.7L engine two turbochargers that provide a notable upgrade in power over the single-turbo, 2.3L design, giving drivers a nice boost to 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque to play with. The towing capacity remains the same at 7,500 pounds. While Ford has yet to release specific figures for the 2.7L engine, we can fill in some of the blanks thanks to the same setup being found under the hood of the Ford Bronco. (In fact, the addition of the 2.7L, plus the 3.0L found on the new Ranger Raptor, means that the Ranger now shares all three of the Bronco’s engines.) In Bronco form, the 2.7L EcoBoost can speed the SUV from zero to 60 mph in 6 seconds, a figure we expect to be replicated in the 2024 Ranger. The larger displacement does mean a knock to overall fuel economy, with the 2.7L engine dropping the Ranger’s numbers to around 16 to 18 MPG city and 18 to 23 highway, depending on the setup. All in all, it seems like a pretty fair tradeoff for all the added power, with the larger engine significantly increasing the Ranger’s excitement factor.
We should note that there’s going to be a bit of a delay when it comes to the 2.7L EcoBoost engine. When Ford unveiled the Ranger in early 2023, the automaker warned consumers that the 2.7L engine won’t be available for order until the fall, so drivers will have to wait a little longer to get a taste of the new, more powerful engine. If the early reviews are any indication, it should be well worth the wait.
Best: 3.0L EcoBoost V6
The newest addition to the Ranger lineup earns its Raptor badge thanks to a host of heavy-duty off-road equipment, not to mention an all-new 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine. Producing 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, it’s the same engine that can be found under the hood of the Bronco Raptor, giving drivers all the power they need to tackle even the most challenging off-road obstacles. Ford’s EcoBoost technology is on full display with the Bronco Raptor, which uses two turbochargers to squeeze as much power out of the 3.0L engine as possible. In order to maximize this power, the Ranger Raptor has a neat trick up its sleeve in the form of an anti-lag system, which allows the turbocharger to keep spinning for up to three seconds after the gas pedal is disengaged. This prevents the dreaded lag common to so many turbos, allowing drivers to summon that all-important boost as soon as they step on the gas.
Like the 2.7L option, the 3.0L engine on the Ranger Raptor has a 0-60 MPH time of 6.0 seconds. It does come up a little short when it comes to towing capacity, with a maximum rating of 5,510 pounds despite all available towing packages being standard equipment on the Raptor. Fuel economy will also take a hit, though it’s tough to pin down a number at present as Ford and the EPA have yet to release estimates for the 2024 model. Again, we can take some educated guesses from the Bronco Raptor, which comes in at around 15 MPG city and 16 highway. This might be a bit of a drawback for some drivers, but once you factor in the full-time 4WD system and full set of rugged off-road equipment that comes standard with the Ranger Raptor, it’s a little easier to stomach the tradeoff.
The Ranger Raptor is packed with three-inch BFGoodrich KO3 all-terrain tires, front and rear lockers, Fox LiveValve racing shocks, heavy-duty skid plates, and more. Trail Control allows drivers to focus on difficult, technical off-road trails by enabling a one-pedal driving mode, which goes a long way toward minimizing distractions behind the wheel. Six integrated upfitter switches in the cabin give drivers the ability to customize their Ranger Raptor with a full complement of aftermarket off-road tech, like air compressors, winches, lights, and cameras, to name a few. Fancy equipment aside, the Ranger Raptor’s 3.0L EcoBoost engine is really the cornerstone of its off-road reputation, giving midsize pickup drivers the chance to leave their mark on the great outdoors.
Ford hasn’t pulled any punches when it comes to the 2024 Ford Ranger, ushering in a new generation with a generous redesign that makes the pickup one of the most capable models to ever wear the Ranger name. In addition to the new 2.7L EcoBoost engine and thrilling Ranger Raptor model, the Big Blue Oval has also overhauled the truck’s suspension, revisiting the rear shocks and mounts to improve control and given the Ranger an all-important boost in terms of ground clearance, approach and departure angles. These changes should help the Ford Ranger to keep pace in the increasingly competitive midsize pickup segment, where off-road features and powerful, yet efficient engine options are more important than ever. Given Ford’s history of innovation and ability to spot emerging trends, it’s little surprise that the 2024 Ranger is such a well-rounded pickup. The model was already one of our favorites in the segment, but thanks to the new engine and Raptor model, it’s now going to be almost impossible to beat.
