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2008 Ford Ranger exterior.

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Complete 2008 Ford Ranger New Car Reviews listed below

The 2008 Ford Ranger compact Pickup Truck comes in Regular Cab (MSRP $14,220 - $20,660) and Extended Cab or SuperCab (MSRP $15,695 - $23,965) versions. In North America, the Ranger is Ford's compact pickup truck.¹ The Ranger was the best-selling compact pickup in America from 1987 to 2004.² This model is assembled in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in Edison, New Jersey, and in Louisville, Kentucky. The Ford Ranger is currently in its fourth generation.

The Ford Ranger compact Pickup Truck competes with the Chevrolet Colorado, Dodge Dakota, GMC Canyon, Jeep Wrangler, Mazda B-Series, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma. Both versions come in XL, XLT, and Sport trim levels, with an FX4 Off-Road trim level also available for the SuperCab version. This model is equipped with a standard 6-foot bed, and an optional 7-foot bed on the XL and XLT trim levels.

Available engines in the Ford Ranger compact Pickup Truck are a 143-horsepower, 2.3-liter I4 engine, a 148-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 engine, and a 207-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 engine. This model can pull a maximum of 6,000 pounds when equipped with the 4.0-liter V6 engine. Buyers may choose from a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional five-speed automatic transmission; a rear-wheel drive (RWD) system or a 4-wheel drive (4WD) system. A mechanical center differential, a center locking differential, automatic locking hubs, an electronic hi-lo gear selection, and a part-time 4WD are additional drivetrain features on the 4WD trim levels.

The 2008 Ford Ranger Pickup Truck has a front independent suspension, a front stabilizer bar, a short and long arm front suspension, and a solid live axle rear suspension.

Exterior features for the Ford Ranger compact Pickup Truck are 15 inch steel wheels, a temporary spare tire, partial wheel covers, all season tires, a steel spare wheel, and an underbody-mounted spare tire. It also has variable-intermittent wipers, a side-impact door beam, and a vinyl floor covering.

Ford Ranger instrumentation features are a tachometer, a clock, cargo tie downs, low fuel level warning, and trailer wiring.

Seats and trim features on the Ford Ranger compact Pickup Truck include a 3-person total seating capacity, vinyl upholstery, and 40-60 split bench front seats.

The Ford Ranger basic convenience features include power-dependent steering, manual driver and passenger exterior mirrors, front cupholders, and a 12V front power outlet(.

Ford Ranger compact Pickup Truck entertainment and telematics features are an AM/FM stereo, a mast antenna, and 2 total speakers.

Ford Ranger compact Pickup Truck safety and security features include ventilated front disc/rear drum brakes, a 4-wheel Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), front seatbelt pretensioners, a front center lap belt, and passenger airbag occupant-sensing deactivation. It is also equipped with child seat anchors, an engine immobilizer, tire pressure monitoring, electronic brake-force distribution, and 2 front integrated headrests.

Alternative/additional features on the XLT trim levels are painted finish bumpers, air conditioning, front floor mats, a passenger vanity mirror, an AM/FM in-dash single CD player with CD MP3 Playback stereo, 4 total speakers, and an auxiliary MP3 audio input. Vinyl floor covering is not available on this trim level.

Alternative/additional features on the Sport and FX4 Off-Road trim levels are 15 inch alloy wheels for the Sport trim levels, 16 inch alloy wheels for the FX4 Off-Road trim levels, all terrain tires, step running boards, front fog/driving lights, vinyl floor covering, and air conditioning.

A safety and crash test report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that 2008 Ford Ranger (Regular Cab) compact Pickup Truck received five stars out of five (driver) and four stars out of five (passenger) in frontal crash tests; five stars out of five in front seat side crash tests; and three stars out of five (2-wheel and 4-wheel drive) in rollover tests.

The Extended Cab received five stars out of five (driver) and four stars out of five (passenger) in frontal crash tests; four stars out of five in front seat side crash tests; and three stars out of five (2-wheel and 4-wheel drive) in rollover tests.

A reliability history report from ConsumerReports.org showed how the Ford Ranger compact Pickup Truck held up mechanically. The Ford Ranger 4WD received the following ratings for the year 2006 (redesign year was 1998):

Excellent ratings for engine, climate system, suspension, and audio system; very good ratings for transmission, electrical system, squeaks and rattles, and power equipment; good ratings for paint and trim and body hardware trouble spots; a fair rating for fuel system; and poor ratings for drive system and brakes trouble spots.

The Ford Ranger 2WD received the following ratings for the year 2007 (redesign year was 1998):

Excellent ratings for engine, minor transmission, drive, fuel, electrical, and climate systems, and exhaust trouble spots; very good ratings for major engine, suspension, brakes, paint and trim, body hardware, power equipment, and audio system trouble spots; and a good rating for its audio system trouble spots.

Click here for more information on 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Ford Ranger car prices, auto insurance, auto loans, car dealers, and car leases.

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