As midsize trucks go, the current Ford Ranger isn’t really lacking for oomph. It has some good, usable power by way of its turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Still, that figure doesn’t make it the most powerful truck in its class (that would be the 2020 Nissan Frontier), but now Ford has a solution for that if you want a bit more grunt. If you venture over to the Ford Performance Parts catalog, you’ll now see an ECU recalibration for the 2019-2020 Ranger available.
The $825 kit includes a drop-in K&N high-flow air filter, as well as a tool to flash a new engine and transmission tune. The end result, Ford says, is a 45 horsepower bump at 4,500 rpm. You’ll also get 60 lb-ft more torque at 2,500 RPM, according to the catalog page. Going this route also nets a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty when installed by a dealer or ASE-certified technician, and it’s 50-state emissions compliant. Per Ford, the kit should give the Ranger “improved drive-ability and throttle response throughout the RPM range.”
Since Ford has since refused to bring a Ranger Raptor to the U.S., this tune paired with the FX4 package, or indeed some properly installed accessories could just be the next best thing. We would expect a slight hit to the Ranger’s fuel economy (it’s rated for 20 City / 24 Highway / 22 Combined mpg on 4WD models), but that comes with the territory when you get into performance tuning.
Check out a baseline for just how quick the Ranger is in our drag race with the Jeep Gladiator and Honda Ridgeline below:
