The 2021 Ford Ranger is a new compact pickup truck that can tow up to 7,500-pounds. It boasts a pretty affordable price tag regardless of which Ford Ranger trim you choose too. Let’s find out which Ford Ranger trim is the best fit for you. 

Is the Ford Ranger a good truck?

According to Car and Driver, the 2021 Ford Ranger remains a great value among its segment. That being said, it’s worth keeping in mind that Consumer Reports didn’t give the Ford Ranger the best overall ratings. It gave this year’s model a 46 overall score, ultimately ranking it fourth among its segment. Consumer Reports also gave the 2021 Ford Ranger a two out of five predicted reliability rating. Fortunately, the Ranger did land a four out of five predicted owner satisfaction rating, so it’s not all bad. 

How much does the 2021 Ford Ranger cost?

Here’s the thing, the 2021 Ford Ranger is an affordable pickup. In fact, it’s among the most affordable in its segment. This year’s model boasts a base price of $24,820, which is pretty reasonable for a new compact pickup. Upgrade to the Ford Ranger XLT, and you’ll still only be spending $28,870 on this year’s model. As for the range-topping Ford Ranger Lariat trim? That will cost you $32,910, which is reasonable for a new compact pickup truck.

What’s the difference between the 2021 Ford Ranger XL trim and XLT trim?

It’s important to note that the Ford Ranger XL trim is the base model. As such, you shouldn’t expect it to come decked out in features. It does, however, come driven by the Ranger’s standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine. Also standard is a ten-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. As for interior amenities? You can expect this Ford Ranger trim to offer up standard interior features such as cloth seating, FordPass Connect with 4G LTE Wi-Fi, and a 2.3″ productivity screen.

If the 2021 Ford Ranger XL trim doesn’t quite do it for you, the good news is that the Ranger XLT trim benefits from a few added features. According to Ford, the XLT trim is standard with premium cloth seating. It also adds interior features such as dual-zone automatic climate control, a 4.2″ color productivity screen, and an 8″ LCD capacitive Touchscreen with available SYNC 3. According to Car and Driver, this particular trim is its most favored when also outfitted with the SuperCrew crew-cab body style and four-wheel drive.

Is upgrading to the 2021 Ford Ranger Lariat trim worth the extra spend?

There’s no beating around the bush here. If you want an affordable new compact pickup truck and aren’t looking to break the bank, the Ford Ranger Lariat trim makes for an enticing choice. Priced at $32,910, the Ford Ranger Lariat trim benefits from interior amenities like leather-trimmed bucket front seats with power adjustments and a rear leather-trimmed dual fold bench seat with under-seat storage. 

The Ford Ranger Lariat trim comes with some tech-savvy features too. Standard are dual 4.2″ productivity screens and an 8″ LCD capacitive touchscreen with available SYNC 3. Also available are sought-after features like a B&O sound system by Bang & Olufsen and voice-activated navigation with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link. 

Deciding on the right Ford Ranger trim for you

The 2021 Ford Ranger is the kind of pickup that aims to please. To determine which Ford Ranger trim is the right fit for you, we recommend stopping by your local dealership to check out available options. While reading online is certainly helpful, there’s nothing quite like checking out a new compact pickup truck in person.