The mid-size truck market has been incredibly hot with competition and the 2024 Ford Ranger Lariat is ready to battle! I was a big fan of the previous generation and got to drive it at the end of its life cycle. Thankfully the majority of the things that I thought needed changing, were addressed with this new model

Starting on the outside, the Hot Pepper Red Metallic color offered a great shade of red-orange that’ll subtly get your attention. I was loving the updated front with a wider looked compared to its more pointed previous gen. The headlights offered corner light to help curb visibility. Although the 18” wheel offering seemed a little on the plain side, the aftermarket will help cure the Ranger of the bland design. With the off-road suspension, be ready to opt for the bed side step to be able to reach for your cargo.

The running boards made getting into the Ford Ranger fairly easy. I did encounter an issue with this press model having a non functional driver handle keyless entry. At first I thought it was not offered but discovered it was an issue when it worked when I grabbed the passenger handle. Once I was in, the seat design was a little on the conservative side. I guess I was hoping for more considering the louder exterior color. Once I sat on them, I was perfectly fine with them being plain since they were incredibly comfortable and easily adjustable with its 3 available memory settings. My biggest complaint of the previous gen was its infotainment system and luckily Ford upgraded it for this new model. The big 12” display had wireless Apple CarPlay and a simple yet powerful user interface.

Under the hood, this one was equipped with the optional mid-level engine offering. The 2.7L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine delivered 315 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. The power delivery was incredibly linear and predictable. The amount of grip was addicting and felt like the front wheels were going to lift! You could also slightly break traction but the traction control was spectacular to make sure it wouldn’t do anything drastic but keep you safe. I was honestly thinking if I would need the Raptor level power. Although that’s a more off-roading capable trim, I was liking that the Lariat with the towing package offers a 7,500 lb capacity compared to the 5,510 of the Raptor.

Overall, the 2024 Ford Ranger Lariat is a strong competitor in the mid-size truck segment and it has topped my list in the segment. The strong trim offerings, specs, and overall package has me frequently visiting the online Ford Ranger configurator.