2001 Ford Ranger Review and Specs

Summary

What Edmunds.com says

Despite its substantial age, the 2001 Ford Ranger is still one of the wiser choices in the compact truck market.

Pros

Four-door extended cab, besides Mazda B-Series twin it's the only compact pickup with five-speed automatic, functional interior, impressive towing capacity.

Cons

Room in back of extended-cab area isn't enough for adults, lousy seat comfort, questionable reliability of five-speed automatic, still no V8.

What's New for 2001

Most notable for the 2001 Ford Ranger is the availability of the Explorer's 207-horsepower, 4.0-liter SOHC V6. In other engine news, the flexible-fuel feature on the 3.0-liter V6 has been dropped and there will also be a new base 2.3-liter four-cylinder coming soon after the model-year introduction. ABS is now standard on all models. A new Edge trim level has a monochromatic appearance, which includes color-keyed bumpers and wheel lip moldings. Exterior changes are numerous. All models get a new grille, bumpers, and headlamps, while the XLT 4x4 and Edge get a new hood and wheel lip moldings. Four colors are new as well as an optional in-dash, six-disc CD changer.

Consumer Ratings & Reviews

Great Truck

Written by: mgf on 06/26/2008

Detailed Ratings

Overall Rating


Performance:	10	Fun-to-Drive:	10	Build Quality:	10
Comfort:	8	Interior Design:	9	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	7	Exterior Design:	9

Vehicle

2001 Ford Ranger 4dr SuperCab Edge Plus 4WD Styleside SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I purchased this truck new in 2001 - over 108000 miles later - I have treated the truck well - and it treated me well in return. This is a solid well built vehicle that I would recommend to anyone. I am impressed and a believer in the American car. If you think American car quality is sub-par - drive the 2001 Ford Ranger

Favorite Features

Shift on the fly 4WD

Suggested Improvements

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Average, simple truck

Written by: jeremy m on 06/12/2008


Performance:	4	Fun-to-Drive:	4	Build Quality:	4
Comfort:	5	Interior Design:	5	Reliability:	8
Fuel Economy:	3	Exterior Design:	7

2001 Ford Ranger 2dr SuperCab XLT 2WD Styleside SB (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

I got his truck from my dad back in '05 when it already had about 50k miles. He used it to tow his boat out to the docks and he works at a paper mill, so he got a Ford Ranger. Rugged, tough- a get-the-job-done kinda truck. Well I own a Dodge Stratus now, so this truck wasn't the best for me. The "check engine" light came on around 60k (apparently the EGR valve wasn't doing its job- a minor malfunction and it lights up the "check engine" light?) and there was a national recall on the cruise control. Brakes were numb, engine sluggish, suspension was rough. Not really what I was looking for. Got me from point A to point B though. Good for people who like simple.

Body was nice, engine roared at high RPMs sounded nice(lots of noise, not much speed), simple instument panel- it was good, basic truck to start out with

Suspension too tight, brakes felt weak, cheap plastic interior, accelerator lagged when you tried to floor it to pass, and even after the 3 seconds it takes to dowshift, the weak engine didn't get you anywhere.

01 Ranger

Written by: Juszkiewicz on 06/08/2008


Performance:	6	Fun-to-Drive:	4	Build Quality:	9
Comfort:	9	Interior Design:	8	Reliability:	9
Fuel Economy:	6	Exterior Design:	10

2001 Ford Ranger 4 Dr XL 4WD Extended Cab SB

Purchased used as a daily driver for a migrant hi-tech worker. Reliable as rain in Seattle winter. Pushing 78-80K by end of 2008. No unscheduled repairs, 17.3 mpg overall in mixed driving in Chiago area including many winter days in 4x4 High Mode. Highway mileage > 21 MPG. Comfortable cab, roomy for 2 with extened cab for vacation drives. Definitely purchase another. Recommend to others. Not a sophisticated vehicle by any means but reliabale and robust.

4x4, view from cab, reliability, relativley smotth ride for small truck

Crew cab should be made available in US.

Ford Ranger Pickup 2001

Written by: Xavier on 05/23/2008


Performance:	7	Fun-to-Drive:	7	Build Quality:	10
Comfort:	7	Interior Design:	10	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	7	Exterior Design:	10

2001 Ford Ranger 2dr SuperCab Edge 2WD Styleside SB (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

I bought my Ranger new in July 01 and have enjoyed putting 125k on it. some of the repairs I incured were a broken valve stem, transmition work 2X, broken drive shaft parts 2X, front ball goint, 2 batterys. As of now I have replaced the lights in the dash and repainted the grille to its original dark black color. I don't know what to do with my seet, Over time the arm rest broke and the fabric is cracking and terring, dispite the problems the engine runs very smooth and the AC is bitter cold on hot Texas summer days. I am so happy with the styling, I never get tyerd of looking at it. The paint is shiny amd their are no cracks in the rubber or plastic.

Style and AC

Use better quality fabric and tuffen up the arm rest.

Last of a breed

Written by: Don on 04/11/2008


Performance:	7	Fun-to-Drive:	5	Build Quality:	8
Comfort:	8	Interior Design:	7	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	6	Exterior Design:	8

2001 Ford Ranger 4dr SuperCab XLT 4WD Flareside SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)

I bought this truck used when my beloved 86 F150 finally died. I bought the Ranger as I only have a 6ft garage door on the new house and the new full size trucks just dont fit. I love this truck. No it's not flashy like the current trucks out there, but it slugs it out with em all. Fuel mileage imprived by 1-2 mpg when I installed a KN filter. The stepside bed doesnt hold much,but when I need to haul crap I borrow my brothers chevy (afterall isnt that what chevies are for?) It still looks current I dont like the grille setup on the new Rangers. I put Micheleins on it and the wet handling went up a 100%. This truck is gonna stay in the fleet for a long time. A shame Ford is dropping it.

Clean Ford truck styling. Still a owner friendly to workon truck. Has aged with grace after 3 decades. Can work when needed and still be a cool out to dinner ride.

Toolate for improvements as Ford is retiring it. Too bad they never offered the 4 door version you see in Mexico here, it mighthave saved the niceest compact truck this country ever had. When this one finally goes I dont know what will replace it.

2001 Ford Ranger Consumer Ratings & Reviews