2024 Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor: Fuel Efficiency and Performance Overview
With the increasing costs of living, saving money on your next vehicle purchase can be a priority. Choosing a pickup that offers good fuel efficiency can significantly reduce long-term ownership costs. In this article, we will examine the fuel economy of the 2024 Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor and compare it to the fuel efficiency of the Bronco SUV and Bronco Raptor.
Smaller, but Still A Truck
A pickup truck undeniably comes with certain disadvantages compared to sedans or SUVs, such as increased drag from its larger grille and bed, leading to lower fuel efficiency. However, having a truck bed allows for increased cargo capacity. The 2024 Ranger will not offer a manual transmission; nevertheless, modern automatic systems provide enhanced power transmission efficiency.
Notably, the 2024 Ford Ranger, with its 2.3-liter turbocharged I-4 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, achieves 21 MPG in the city, 25 MPG on the highway, and a combined rating of 22 MPG for its rear-wheel drive option. The EPA notes that the average MPG for vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2024 is 28 MPG, placing the Ranger below average when compared to other vehicles, particularly those with a truck bed.
Driving More Than The Rear Wheels
The fuel efficiency slightly improves when opting for all-wheel drive, as the 4WD version only loses 1 MPG in both city and highway driving, maintaining a combined rating of 22 MPG. The EPA states that both 2WD and 4WD EcoBoost Rangers can travel up to 414 miles on a full 18.8-gallon tank of regular fuel. Upgrading to the 2.7-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine with standard 4WD results in a decrease to 19/23/20 MPG. This small drop is a fair trade-off for the added power and torque.
For those seeking the ultimate off-road experience, the Raptor model is the choice. With its 3.0-liter twin turbo V-6 and 10-speed 4WD drivetrain, the Raptor delivers 16 MPG in the city, 18 MPG on the highway, and 17 MPG combined. Although the Raptor’s 20.3-gallon fuel tank allows for only about 345 miles on a full tank, it provides exhilarating performance.
How Does It Compare?
The 2024 Ranger’s fuel economy is noteworthy, especially when compared to its sibling, the 2024 Maverick. The Maverick, equipped with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, offers 23 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on the highway, and a combined rating of 26 MPG. However, switching to rear-wheel drive results in a decline to 22/29/25 MPG, while the Tremor package drops it further to 22/24/21 MPG. The marginal differences indicate buyers should assess their cargo needs when choosing between these two models.
Staying Competitive
The 2024 Ford Bronco, another offering within the Ford family, doesn’t improve upon the Ranger’s fuel efficiency despite sharing similar engines. The Black Diamond variant, with the same 2.3-liter turbocharged I-4 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, achieves only 18 MPG across city, highway, and combined categories. Alternatively, the 2.7-liter twin turbo V-6 version offers slightly lower efficiency than the Ranger.
Exploring Rivals Beyond Ford
Among other competitors, the Chevrolet Colorado, recognized as MotorTrend’s 2024 Truck of the Year, presents similar yet slightly lower fuel efficiency numbers. The Colorado’s 2.7-liter turbocharged I-4 engine and eight-speed automatic yield 20 MPG in the city, 24 MPG on the highway, and 22 MPG combined. Additionally, adding mud-terrain tires on the Colorado Trail Boss adversely affects its fuel efficiency, making it less competitive against the Rangers.
The Jeep Gladiator, offering a single 3.6-liter V-6 engine, garners 17 MPG in the city, 22 MPG highway, and 19 MPG combined. This places the Gladiator at a disadvantage when compared to the Ranger in fuel efficiency and bed space.
The Japanese Contenders
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma performs decently, achieving 21 MPG city, 26 MPG highway, and 23 MPG combined in its RWD form with a 2.4-liter turbocharged I-4 engine. However, it struggles to match both the Ranger and its competition. On the other hand, the Nissan Frontier falls short in comparison, falling behind the Ranger’s fuel efficiency in both RWD and 4WD forms.
The Takeaway
In conclusion, the 2024 Ford Ranger excels over many of its rivals within the domestic and import midsize pickup markets. Notably, it outperforms the smaller Ford Maverick in non-hybrid configurations, prompting buyers to carefully evaluate their requirements concerning bed space and passenger room.
The comparison demonstrates the striking efficiency of the Ranger as compared to the Bronco, revealing that buyers seeking truck capabilities while preserving fuel economy may opt for the Ranger. As we approach peak efficiency in pickup designs, the market looks toward hybrid models for innovative solutions to improving mileage without sacrificing performance.
