2007 Ford Ranger Pickup

What’s New?
Considerably more standard equipment is offered on the 2007 Ranger than previously. On the safety front, all Rangers now feature dual-stage front air bags with a front-passenger sensor, a passive anti-theft system, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. In terms of entertainment, all CD players are now MP3-compatible, and all head units except the base AM/FM receiver come with an auxiliary input jack. Sirius Satellite Radio is optional on all but base XL models. Finally, two new 16-inch alloy wheel designs, new exterior paint colors, and a longer 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty are added for the 2007 model year.

Overview
The Ford Ranger was originally introduced into the compact pickup truck market in 1983. For a time it was the best-selling truck in its segment, but larger midsize and full-size trucks have overtaken it in terms of popularity. Although the Ranger has undergone some substantial changes over the years, it has never been completely redesigned. It shares its decades-old platform with the Mazda B Series and comes in two cab styles: Regular Cab and SuperCab. SuperCabs come with a 6-foot cargo bed, while Regular Cabs also offer a longer 7-foot bed. Trim levels include XL, STX, XLT, SPORT, FX4 Off-Road, and FX4 Level II. All 2007 Ranger models come with 4-wheel ABS brakes, but standard features vary greatly depending on model and trim. Available options include leather interior, a bed extender, Sirius Satellite Radio, and the 510-watt Tremor Package sound system.

The Ranger offers a choice of three engines—an inline 4-cylinder and two V-6s. The base 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine is a dual-overhead-cam design that produces 143 hp and 154 lb.-ft. of torque. According to Ford, this engine gives the Ranger the highest fuel economy of any pickup truck in the market. The larger overhead-valve 3.0-liter V-6 delivers 148 hp and 180 lb.-ft. of torque, while the top-of-the-line 4.0-liter, single-overhead-cam V-6 produces 207 hp and 238 lb.-ft. of torque. All three engines come standard with a 5-speed manual transmission, however, a 5-speed automatic is available. For 2007, Ford is offering a longer 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. V-6-equipped Rangers also offer dashboard-activated 4-wheel-drive (4WD) with low-range gearing. A 4.10 axle ratio is now available on 4WD models, and skid plates can be added to 4WD XL models.

The Competition
The Ford Ranger competes in the Midsize Pickup segment, which consists of 11 models. Buyers in this segment look for reliability, quality, and performance, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Toyota Tacoma (178,351 units sold), Chevrolet Colorado (93,876), and Ford Ranger (92,420). The Ford Ranger’s 92,420 sales in 2006 represent a decrease of 23.6 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Midsize Pickup segment include the Nissan Frontier, Dodge Dakota, Honda Ridgeline, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, and GMC Canyon.