Ford's current-generation Ranger is in its third model year, and the 2026 truck carries on with only minor updates, including new paint colors and a newly available power moonroof. In the U.S. it comes as a four-door SuperCrew, with a 10-speed automatic and three turbocharged engines across four trims: XL, XLT, Lariat and the off-road-focused Raptor.
What sets the Ranger apart is simple arithmetic. Ford rates the XL, XLT and Lariat to tow up to 7,500 pounds, 1,000 more than the Toyota Tacoma's maximum and 2,500 more than the Honda Ridgeline's. Payload is competitive too, at up to 1,767 pounds.
Price and trims
Pricing starts at $33,350 for a rear-drive XL with the 2.3-liter four-cylinder, according to Cars.com's January 2026 breakdown, which matches the range Kelley Blue Book lists today once the $1,895 destination charge is added. Four-wheel drive is a $3,500 option on XL, XLT and Lariat, and the 2.7-liter V6 adds $2,295 on XLT and Lariat. The Raptor comes only with 4WD and its own 3.0-liter V6.
2026 Ford Ranger prices
| Trim | Engine | Drive | Base MSRP | Max towing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XL | 2.3L turbo I4 | 4x2 or 4x4 | $33,350 | 7,500 lb |
| XLT | 2.3L turbo I4 or 2.7L V6 | 4x2 or 4x4 | $35,875 | 7,500 lb |
| Lariat | 2.3L turbo I4 or 2.7L V6 | 4x2 or 4x4 | $43,755 | 7,500 lb |
| Raptor | 3.0L twin-turbo V6 | 4x4 | $57,070 | 5,510 lb |
Base MSRPs exclude the $1,895 destination charge (Cars.com, January 2026). 4WD adds $3,500 on XL, XLT and Lariat; the 2.7L V6 adds $2,295 on XLT and Lariat. Towing per Ford.
Those prices stack up well against the Ranger's closest rival. Toyota's Oct. 2, 2026 price list puts the cheapest four-door Tacoma, a 4x2 SR Double Cab, at $33,905, or $555 more than a Ranger XL 4x2, and a 4x4 SR Double Cab at $37,105, versus $36,850 for a Ranger XL 4x4. Destination narrows the gap slightly, because Ford charges $1,895 to Toyota's $1,745. Either way, the Ranger's standard engine makes 270 hp and 310 lb-ft, against the base Tacoma's 278 hp and 317 lb-ft, so the two are closely matched at the bottom of their lineups.
Our pick is an XLT with 4WD and the 2.7-liter V6, which works out to $41,670 before destination using those published option prices. That combination buys the V6's 400 lb-ft of torque and the full 7,500-pound tow rating while staying well below Lariat money.
Engines, towing and fuel economy
The standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost four makes 270 hp and 310 lb-ft. The optional twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 makes 315 hp and 400 lb-ft, figures confirmed in Car and Driver's test data. The Raptor's 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 is rated at 405 hp and 430 lb-ft. Ford rates the Raptor to tow 5,510 pounds.
Payload varies more than towing. Ford lists 1,767 pounds for a 2.3-liter 4x2 and 1,763 for a 2.3-liter 4x4, dropping to 1,513 pounds for the 2.7-liter 4x4 and 1,373 pounds for the Raptor. The 5-foot bed measures 59.6 inches long with 43.5 cubic feet of volume. Ground clearance is 9.3 inches on standard models and 10.7 inches on the Raptor. Ford's Pro Power Onboard system offers 400 watts of power in the cab and bed.
Fuel economy is where the Ranger gives ground. The EPA rates the 2.3-liter at 21/25/23 mpg in rear-drive form and 19/24/21 with 4WD. The 2.7-liter 4x4 is rated 18/23/20, and the Raptor 16/18/17. A gas 4WD Tacoma automatic matches the 2.3-liter 4x4 at 21 mpg combined, and Toyota offers a hybrid that Ford does not.
Cabin and technology
Every Ranger runs Ford's SYNC 4A software. The XL gets a 10-inch center touchscreen and an 8-inch digital cluster, while Lariat and Raptor step up to a 12-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch cluster. All versions seat five. Ford's Co-Pilot360 driver-assist features are spread across the lineup: IIHS lists lane departure warning as standard and blind-spot detection, lane departure prevention and rear automatic braking as optional, so check the window sticker before assuming a given truck has them.
Safety ratings
NHTSA gives the 2026 Ranger SuperCrew four stars overall, with five stars for both frontal and side crash protection and three stars for rollover resistance, a calculated rollover risk of 22.8 percent for 4WD models and 27.9 percent for rear-drive. The IIHS rates it Good in the small overlap front test, Acceptable in the updated side test and Marginal in the updated moderate overlap test, where the rear passenger's head and neck measures were rated Marginal. Headlights range from Acceptable on the Raptor to Marginal on XL and XLT, and the LATCH child-seat hardware is rated Poor for ease of use. The IIHS page lists no front crash prevention ratings for the 2026 Ranger, and it is not a Top Safety Pick.
Next to the Tacoma, the Ranger does better in NHTSA's frontal rating and worse in NHTSA's rollover rating and the IIHS updated side test. Families who install child seats often should note the LATCH rating.
How we rated it: this review is based on Ford's published specifications, Cars.com and Kelley Blue Book pricing data, Car and Driver's published test specifications, EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov, and NHTSA and IIHS results available in October 2026. Drive Edition has not road-tested this vehicle.