2000 Ford Ranger

By Bob Storck

The best-selling compact pickup in the United States for the 90s, the Ford Ranger, gets a new model to help continue its "king of the hill" position. The XL Trailhead version gives Ranger a tough off road look without the cost or complexity of 4WD. Ford is repaying Mazda who provided them with the Courier in the past by allowing them to badge US built Rangers as B-Trucks.

While it has four-door SuperCab models, the rear hinged back doors are not as useful as the four door models. Ford found that buyers were willing to pay more for this feature, and added a vestigial bed to the Explorer instead.

Full boxing of the side frame rails provides significant torsional rigidity. Ranger's 4x4 model features the pulse vacuum hublock (PVH) 4x4 front axle system. This patented technology allows virtually silent synchronous shift-on-the-fly hub engagement or disengagement of the 4WD, even at highway speeds.

Short- and long-arm (SLA) front suspension and power rack-and-pinion steering improve ride and handling performance, steering response and precision.

Ranger offers a more powerful base I-4 engine with a displacement of 2.5 liters. The 3.0-liter V-6 engine has been revised to improve torque and a 4.0-liter V-6 also is available. Ranger is also available as a flexible fuel vehicle (ethanol/gasoline) and an electric vehicle with a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery option that extends driving range to nearly 100 miles between charges.