Ace of Base: 2019 Ford Ranger XL

Ford has been touting the upcoming Ranger since the Detroit Auto Show last January. Promising a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four and a 10-speed automatic, model and trim specifics about the mid-sizer from Dearborn have been scarce. Until yesterday.

Given that peek behind the Blue Oval curtain, you know today’s Ace of Base selection was easy.

Ford was quick to shout after the Ranger’s configurator first appeared, but this author firmly believes that far too many details were supplied on the briefly available build-and-price tool for it to be a mere test page. Sure, the mention of a Regular Cab configuration may have simply been a placeholder (or a glimpse into fleet availability) but trim and packaging specifics are surely very close to the real thing. Any pricing inaccuracies can probably be measured in tens of dollars.

Let’s work on the assumption that the information we saw yesterday is largely accurate. A base model Ranger XL SuperCab 4×2 starts at $24,300 before the inevitable $1,045 destination fee. For that princely sum, one is treated to 16-inch silver steel wheels that look just absolutely the Ace of Base business, wrapped up in 255/70/16 blackwall tires. The truck’s grille, mirror caps, and bumpers are all flat black, striking a rugged look in any of the five available colors.

Blue Lightning is shown here; four other greyscale hues are on tap. Saber, a new shade infused with Vitamin C, is only selectable if one pops for the $1,135 Equipment Group 101A. Leave it on the shelf.

Inside the base 2019 Ranger, owners will find entry-level stereo equipment bereft of SYNC but bearing a quartet of speakers. Cruise control is absent but surely you can manage to consistently depress an accelerator pedal, amirite? Cloth buckets are standard but masochists can select no-charge vinyl.

Smart shoppers will select the 2nd Row Seat Delete option, dropping the truck’s price by $240 and significantly increasing their Ace of Base cred. It appears the base XL SuperCab is the only trim in which one can bin the rear chairs. Do so and use the newfound lockable space for your gear.

Going unmentioned are the presence of air conditioning and power windows, although economies of scale virtually assure these two items will be present on all Rangers. If next week’s official pricing reveal shows their absence, then I’ll have to revisit today’s selection.

The lone extra-cost option on the base Ranger one should consider is the $420 electronic-locking rear axle. Mercifully available as a stand-alone item not requiring the selection of expensive packages, the ratio remains a stout 3.73 but wards off the indignity of a one-wheel peel.

Look for more details when Ford officially drops more details sometime next week.

[Image: Ford Motor Company]

Not every base model has aced it. The ones which have? They help make the automotive landscape a lot better. Any others you can think of, B&B? Let us know & feel free to eviscerate our selections.

This model is shown with American options, priced in American Dollars. Your dealer may sell for less.