Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.
Sacramento, California -- I've always been a fan of midsize pickup trucks.
Sure, the big brutes out there can handle heavy duty at work sites, on ranch lands or if you need to transport that industrial-size clothes dryer from store to home.
But give me the charms of the midsize model. It's easy to maneuver on city streets and dicey freeways. There's less chance of me snapping off a light pole in tight parking lots. And a reasonable-size bed enables one to carry large cargo but not feel like you need a special commercial hauler's license.
My recent tester was the 2021 Ford Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4X4 with a five-foot box and a 126-inch wheelbase. But wait, there's more. Mine was equipped with the Tremor Off-Road Package.
So, aside from its midsize perks, the tester looked ready to take on the wildest wilderness. And look good doing it.
The tester had black and red striping on the hood and the sides. And in case anyone missed the point, the "Tremor" label was displayed prominently on either side of the back end of the truck, which wore "Cactus Gray" paint underneath the striping.
To be honest, the striping made it look like a racing machine, and a couple of passing motorists shouted out, "Hey, nice-looking truck, man."
A quick glance at the tires showed me that racing the truck was not part of the equation ... unless the race was held, say, over the top of the Sierra Nevada. My ride was shod with 17-inch all-terrain beauties, which looked capable of mowing down a grove of trees.
Other Tremor off-road extras included skid plates, a trail-control system, an off-road suspension, an electronically-controlled locking differential and a trailer towing package. The Tremor trucks also have a wider stance and better ground clearance than their Ranger siblings.
Everything on the tester added up to a bottom line of $48,110 -- a bit hefty, but a fair fare given all the perks.
Inside, the tester was loaded with standard goodies, but I was most impressed with the interior roominess. Volunteer passengers also noticed this and stretched out accordingly.
For an off-road warrior, the on-pavement ride was smooth and peppy. Power came from from a 2.3-liter Ecoboost, four-cylinder engine rated at 270 horsepower.
Fuel mileage was a bit tepid at 19 miles per gallon in both city and highway motoring.
All things considered, the Ranger competes nicely with other midsize trucks made by other manufacturers. For off-roaders, the Tremor edition might be enough to seal the deal.
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