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The 2023 Ford Ranger is the latest iteration of the popular midsize pickup truck from the Blue Oval. The Ranger is competitive, but is it the best new midsize truck for the money? Here’s why there are better options on the market.
The 2023 Ford Ranger doesn’t have the best ride
The 2023 Ford Ranger is a typical midsize pickup. It can tow and has decent cargo capacity, but its ride quality leaves a lot to be desired for many drivers. Edmunds says the new Ranger has a “disruptive ride” on some types of pavement. The Ford Ranger is neither refined nor rugged. The midsize pickup exists somewhere between refined and rugged.
The Toyota Tacoma is a popular midsize pickup truck that is often praised for its off-roading capabilities. It may handle better off-road than a Ford Ranger, but it doesn’t make a better daily driver. The Honda Ridgeline is the polar opposite of the Toyota Tacoma. It’s a refined midsize pickup known for its smooth ride quality.
So whether you’re looking for off-road capability or a smooth ride, there are better options on the market than the 2023 Ford Ranger. Having a decent ride quality is important to many truck buyers, especially for those looking to use a new pickup as a daily driver. The Honda Ridgeline is one of the few trucks in its class with a unibody design, so it rides smoother than competitors.
Ford Ranger’s infotainment system could be better
Infotainment systems have become the focal point of cabins thanks to technological advances such as touchscreens, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and new features selected via the screen. As a result, some automakers are paying attention to developing exciting easy-to-use infotainment systems.
Brands compete to create the most engaging, advanced systems and some fall short compared to competitors. The Blue Oval may make great workhorses, but infotainment systems aren’t necessarily a strong suit for some of the automaker’s most popular nameplates.
The infotainment system of the 2023 Ford Ranger is not the simplest in its segment. Since this system is a vehicle part that thousands of drivers will interact with every day, the Ranger loses some cool points for its difficulty to use. Ford has clearly improved its infotainment systems in newer nameplates like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning.
That said, the new Ford Maverick small pickup truck nameplate also comes with an infotainment system that seems lackluster, even for an affordable truck.
There are midsize trucks that are longer than the Ford Ranger
The 2023 Ford Ranger should be able to last 200,000 miles. That works out to about 14 years of ownership based on average annual driving range. The average new vehicle is only maintained for about 8.4 years, so the Ranger is more reliable for most drivers.
That said, there are other midsize pickup trucks on the market that are known for their longevity. The Toyota Tacoma is capable of lasting 17 to 21 years when properly maintained. In fact, one Tacoma owner has done over 1,000,000 miles.
Getting a 2023 Toyota Tacoma doesn’t guarantee long ownership, but Toyota’s midsize pickup truck has a long history of reliability. This is one of the few midsize pickup trucks that can appreciate over time because of the value it provides. The 2023 Ford Ranger is a competitive midsize pickup truck, but it’s not the best in its vehicle segment.
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