The time of the small pickup trucks is upon us once again. If you, like us – and the majority of new truck buyers – are stoked about this small truck resurgence, then it might pain you to hear that Consumer Reports almost loved the 2022 Ford Ranger, but two aspects of the truck held it back from true greatness. 

Is the 2022 Ford Ranger a good pickup truck? 

Overall, Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Ford Ranger a 62/100. This isn’t a bad score, especially for a pickup truck. Consumer Reports can be pretty harsh toward pickup trucks. 

The full-size trucks like the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado struggle to get a decent review on the site. However, the new wave of smaller pickups is starting to break through the wall of mid-50s scores. 

The Ranger is cool, but it does suffer from being a bit lukewarm. Even though it’s a small pickup truck with a 270-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter, it only gets 20 mpg. While this is the best in the segment, it isn’t exactly a mold-breaker. However, the smaller size does translate to a crisper driving feel and better maneuverability. 

The 2.3-liter is only one engine option for the Ranger. Even still, the Ranger has a decent max towing capacity of 7,500 lbs. Consumer Reports also says that the powerplant delivers good power and can run a 0-60-mph sprint in only 7.4 seconds. 

Is the Ford Ranger comfortable? 

Consumer Reports liked most things about the new Ranger. However, there were two major red marks that almost always mar the record of pickup trucks on Consumer Reports, and ride comfort was one of them. 

Because of its tougher springs for towing and payload weights, the little Ranger has a rough and choppy ride. One CR tester described driving the Ranger as “riding on a pogo stick.” CR says it’s still a better ride than the Toyota Tacoma, but not by much. The Honda Ridgeline and even the Chevy Colorado surpass the Ranger in ride comfort. 

How does the 2022 Ford Ranger handle? 

The other of the two major red marks on the Ranger’s testing was for handling. CR says that the Ranger handles like a big clumsy truck despite its small size. The smaller footprint helps with parking and entering, and exiting the truck. However, the steering takes a lot of input and lacks feedback. 

The handling issues were further proved at CR’s test track. Stability control was kicked into overtime to keep everything heading in the same direction. That said, CR makes a point to quell any safety concerns by saying that the Ranger isn’t unsafe; it just suffers from the same hindrances that the big trucks do. 

Is the Ford Ranger worth it? 

Despite these two flaws, CR still recommends the small Ford pickup truck. The small size mixed with decent towing power, a well-appointed cabin, and a starting price of $25,500 makes the Ford Ranger a tough model to argue against. However, had Ford done a little more chassis and suspension tuning, it sounds like the Ranger could have been a real force to contend with.