The revived Ford Ranger's turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be able to tow and haul more than the V-6 gasoline offerings from its rivals in the midsize pickup segment when it hits dealerships early next year.
The 2019 Ranger's 2.3-liter EcoBoost can haul up to 1,860 pounds, tow up to 7,500 pounds and generate 270 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque.
The closest competitor, the Chevrolet Colorado, has a towing capacity of 7,000 pounds and a maximum payload of 1,772 pounds with its 3.6-liter V-6. The GMC Canyon can also tow up to 7,000 pounds and haul up to 1,753 pounds.
However, both pickups can tow up to 7,700 pounds with an available 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel engine.
The segment-leading Toyota Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 pounds and can haul up to 1,620 pounds with its 3.5-liter V-6.
The Ranger's lone engine option will come equipped with a 10-speed transmission.
"Think of Ranger as the biggest and most capable backpack for your gear," Rick Bolt, Ford Ranger chief engineer, said in a statement on Friday.
The Ranger was discontinued in the U.S. in 2011 but has continued to sell in a number of overseas markets. The latest U.S. version, to be built at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant, has a mostly steel body, axles made by Dana Inc. -- which supplies the Jeep Wrangler -- and an exterior design similar to its larger F-series counterparts.
The pickup will come in three trim levels: XL, XLT and Lariat. Ford will sell two-door SuperCab and four-door SuperCrew configurations and offer both four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive for each configuration.
An off-road FX4 package will be offered on all 4wd models.
The Ranger will start at $25,395, including shipping. That's roughly the same as the Toyota Tacoma, but more than the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
Fuel economy numbers have not yet been finalized.
