Reader Review: 2022 Ford Ranger XLT Supercrew | Biden News

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When Ford reintroduced its Ranger as a mid-size truck in 2019, the concept made sense to Chris Skelton. “I don’t think a full-size truck is absolutely necessary unless you’re a contractor,” suggests the Airdrie driver. “Certainly not an option I would ever consider, they are just too big.”

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While Skelton isn’t in the market for a midsize truck right now, he says he may be looking to buy one in the not-too-distant future. He recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 2022 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCrew and shared his thoughts on the experience.

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The Ford Ranger comes in SuperCab (6′ bed) and SuperCrew (5′ bed) configurations. Trims include just the base SuperCab XL, the next-level SuperCab or SuperCrew XLT, and the well-equipped Lariat Crew Cab. All are powered by the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is also a standard feature on all models. Skelton’s Ranger XLT in Oxford White includes the Splash Package. For an additional $1,700, this added numerous black accents such as a mesh grille, fender vents, bumpers, and mirror caps. Also included are exterior graphics, 18-inch matte black wheels, and orange contrast stitching on the gray cloth seats and steering wheel. The test truck was also equipped with Ford’s FX4 off-road package. This gives the Ranger a tuned suspension system, electronic rear differential lock and off-road tires. All told, including the optional undercoat spray and trailer towing kit, his test truck would have cost just over $50,000 before taxes to drive out of the lot.

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“I thought it was a nice car,” Skelton says of the exterior design, adding that he appreciated the four large doors for access to the cabin. “I liked the ‘Ranger’ stamp on the tailgate, but I thought it would look even better if it was finished in a contrasting color.”

Born and raised in Nottingham, England, Skelton’s first car was a 1977 Ford Escort Mk2 with a 1.1-litre engine and five-speed manual gearbox. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1991 to 2001, but in 2010 he and his wife Jacqui moved to Airdrie. They commute to work in Calgary and his current daily driver is a 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, and Jackie recently traded in a 2022 Edge from a 2019 Ford Edge.

“Inside, the Ranger is very similar to our ’19 Edge,” says Skelton. “However, it featured a proper handbrake lever and gear lever rather than a button for the brake and a dial to control the gears. It didn’t take me long (Skelton’s 5’11) to get comfortable in the power driver’s seat, and I spent quite a bit of time just pushing buttons and working through the various menus to discover all the features. Everything was easy to see and all the controls were close at hand.”

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The overall fit and finish, both inside and out, is “very good,” says Skelton, adding, “There was no squeaking, rattling or loose panels. The steering wheel was beautiful and massive.”

In a daily driving situation, Skelton finds the 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque the engine produces to be more than adequate. He mostly drove it in “normal” mode, but experimented with the “sport” setting, saying that “the throttle response is quicker, the transmission holds a gear longer, and it felt like everything tightened up…it changed the character of the truck a lot, and it it was a lot of fun, but it affects fuel economy.” (see Skelton’s driver log below for more on fuel economy). “The gearbox runs quietly in the background doing its job and I couldn’t feel its shift point – it’s very smooth.”

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To work out the suspension and steering, Skelton drove the Ranger west from Calgary to Canmore on the twisty turns of Highway 1A. “The steering was precise with plenty of feedback from the well-weighted steering wheel,” he says. “Road noise intruding into the cabin was minimal and the ride was much smoother than I first thought it would be with the massive off-road tires mounted on the car.”

Skelton wasn’t trying to haul large pieces of cargo, but he put his mountain bike on the bed without any drama. More than one bike, however, would require them to stand up and extend the rear over the tailgate.

“I think the Ranger would suit a young family with two parents and two kids,” says Skelton. “It carries hockey gear easily, and you can tow a small trailer (7,498 pounds of towing capacity when properly equipped).”

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Overall, Skelton was most impressed by the Ranger’s ease of use. “It’s just a reasonable size. It was easy to park in the driveway at home or squeeze into a tight space at the supermarket. Cameras and sensors are there and have been useful, but I haven’t used a lot of technology in the truck because of personal preference.”

He concludes: “(The Ranger) is a compelling package of build quality, towing capacity, equipment levels, available options and, most importantly, value for money.”

DRIVER’S JOURNAL

DAY 1

This truck is equipped with the FX4 Off Road Package and the Splash Package. Personally, I would also equip the vehicle with some running boards because, as my wife pointed out, it’s pretty easy to climb up and out of, especially if you’re not the tallest person. Mirrors correspond to the size of the car.

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DAY 2

Sprained my legs on a trip to Kenmore on Hwy 1A. On the way back, I hopped on the Trans Canada to test out the adaptive cruise control. The controls on the left side of the steering wheel were easy to use, I set my speed and distance to the car in front (there are three settings for this) and took my foot off the accelerator. Overall the system worked great, although I did notice a slight delay in powering up to maintain speed on climbs and descents – the system allowed a 5km/h difference before reacting. At these highway speeds, the car was quite successful at a speed of approx. 1700 revolutions per minute, and the displayed fuel economy showed 9 l/100 km.

DAY 3

Just a quick trip to the supermarket to pick up some supplies. It was bright and sunny, so it was necessary to protect the eyes. I’m happy to say that the digital display remains sharp and easy to read even with polarized sunglasses.

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DAY 4

It was still dark when I left for work this morning, which gave me a chance to test out another feature of this car, the auto-dimming rearview mirror. It’s quick and efficient, but it got me thinking about something I’ve often wondered: Why don’t car manufacturers put auto-dimming exterior mirrors in their cars? Parked the car in our employee parking lot and it caught the attention of my colleagues who asked me about my experience and wanted to see inside.

DAY 5

When I got to work, I checked the consumption figures on the on-board computer, and I’m showing an average of 9.2 L/100 km. In Normal Drive, the power and acceleration are sufficient for everyday real-world driving, but I tried Sport over a longer distance. Parked in the driveway, I checked the trip computer to see how this had affected the average, and it showed a slight increase to 9.4L/100km.

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DAY 6

After a day at work under the scorching sun, it’s time to turn on the air conditioning to see how well it does at cooling the cabin. And the answer is: very good indeed. I have a long stretch of northbound travel in my driveway, and late afternoon this time of year the sun is low enough to get behind my sunglasses, but the big sun visors don’t cope and they slide well outside the door frame, which is perfect. With the A/C working hard and the afternoon traffic, the average fuel consumption was still 9.4L/100km.

DAY 7

My last full day with the ranger. The tunes on the ride home were a little louder on the stereo, and while it’s stock rather than the upgraded Bang & Olufsen system, I can’t complain about the sound quality. You can also sync your phone to the car’s system, although I didn’t. However, judging by the ease of use of all the other systems, I would assume it would be a simple process.