Review: The New Ford Ranger Tremor Puts the Tacoma, Colorado, and Gladiator On Notice

This suspension is very good.

2021 ford ranger tremor 4x4 lariat crew review

The new 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor is finally here. This 4×4 truck’s new suspension and off-road capability puts the Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, Jeep Gladiator, and others on notice. The Ranger Tremor is much more than just an appearance package. The truck has a factory suspension lift with FOX shocks that offers more wheel travel than other 4-wheel-drive Rangers. It’s rolling on larger General Grabber all-terrain tires. It may just be one of the best-riding new trucks in the midsize segment.

The Tremor package builds on top of the existing FX4 package. It means the truck is equipped with a rear locking differential, 4LO, and Ford’s Trail Control (slow speed off-road cruise control system). The power comes from the same powertrain as before. It’s a 2.3-liter turbocharged I4 with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque that is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This is the only engine/transmission option at this time. Although, those who want a bit more power can opt for a Ford Performance tuner module that adds around 40 horsepower, according to Ford.

All of this equipment makes the truck more capable off-road, and we have a detailed comparison coming to the TFLoffroad channel on Feb 15, 2021. It also makes the street ride very comfortable and controlled. This is often the case with specialty off-road trucks. The softer springs and specially tuned shocks offer a more smooth ride on and off the pavement. It’s also the case with this new Ranger Tremor, but you do not sacrifice the truck’s towing or payload capability. The truck is still rated to tow 7,500 lbs, and the fully optioned Lariat model you see in this review has a payload rating of 1,431 lbs.

The Tremor package itself costs just under $4,300. It’s available only on Ranger crew cab 4×4 models in XLT and Lariat trims. More of a base XLT Tremor price starts in the lower $40,000 ranger. The fully-optioned Lariat model you see here pushes the price further up just above $48,000.

While this is a very significant price for a midsize truck, consider that a fully-optioned Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro retails at or over $50,000. A fully-loaded Jeep Gladiator Rubicon or Mojave can list in the upper $50,000 or lower $60,000 range. The other off-road capable midsize truck that is offered at about the same price range as the Ranger Tremor is the Chevy Colorado ZR2.

The new Ford Ranger Tremor is a very serious new contender. The competition has been put on notice.

Check out our latest snowy review of the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor on TFLtruck Youtube channel.