2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Interior, Redesign, MPG – When it comes to mattresses, we all have our preferences. Some of us like a soft and supple place to slumber, while others – yours truly included – would rather something a little firmer. In a world where midsize trucks are like mattresses, those in favour of the former will find exactly what they’re looking for in the 2026 Ford Ranger – a truck with which I was unable to resolve my differences after a week behind the wheel.
2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior and Interior
Compared to other entries in the class, the Ranger’s interior confines are as generous as they are enjoyable. Where the Chevy Colorado – and its fraternal twin, the GMC Canyon – feel far more narrow inside, the Ranger’s space reminds me of the 2002 Ford F-150 I once owned: more than enough width to avoid feeling like you’re sitting too close to the person in the passenger seat. Likewise, where the Toyota Tacoma feels a little claustrophobic, the Ranger boasts plenty of headroom. The seats themselves are comfy and supportive, too, with no complaints after hours of driving. 2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Interior
2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Specs
Since the truck I tested was the loaded Lariat model, it was as decked out as anyone could want their midsize truck to be. No, the opulence offered in larger pickups like the F-150 hasn’t yet trickled down here, but that means the Ranger still feels like a truck instead of a luxury vehicle. 2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Interior
There’s leather upholstery, heated front seats, a whole host of USB ports, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. There’s also adaptive cruise control – the Ranger is one of only two midsize trucks to offer adaptive cruise – and lane-keep assist, the latter of which works well, gently nudging the truck away from lane markings instead of ping-ponging it to the opposing painted lines. There’s also a Wi-Fi hotspot, LED lights, and rain-sensing wipers.
Engine and Performance
Ford’s kept it simple when it comes to the Ranger’s drivetrain: there’s only one offered. Every example sold in Canada comes fitted with part-time four-wheel drive and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The oily bits aren’t exactly perfect – plus, I’d probably want a V6 option if I planned to tow with any frequency – but they’re mostly free of issue in everyday driving. 2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Interior
The 2.3L engine is the same one offered in the base Ford Mustang, but output’s been dialled back to a still healthy 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the broad torque plateau common to turbocharged motors, the 2.3L’s rises in a similar fashion to a naturally aspirated engine before gradually tapering off after its 3,000 rpm peak. It’s not exactly eager, but there’s enough output to inspire confidence in most scenarios.
If there was any fault in the mechanical equation it would lie with the transmission, with the occasional clunky gear change and a failure at times for it to respond to requests for extra passing momentum. Upshifts and downshifts low in the count – mainly between first and second, and second and third – are sometimes met with a dull thud as the 10-speed does its work; it never impedes forward momentum, but it’s certainly noticeable and not exactly pleasant.
2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Fuel Economy
Assuming it’s not left in sport mode – and the higher engine speeds that accompany it – the Ranger is capable of returning reasonable fuel consumption for a midsize truck. Officially rated at a combined 10.9 L/100 km, I was able to do slightly better (10.7 L/100 km) over the course of nearly 900 km of testing. While the majority of that mileage was racked up on the highway, I also spent an afternoon off-roading, an activity that’s no friend of fuel economy. 2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Interior
2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Safety Features
Additionally, Ford has loaded the Ranger with a ton of cutting-edge safety measures. In addition to being one of the few trucks with adaptive cruise control, it is the only one of its kind that include blind-spot monitoring, automated emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, and lane-keep assist. Trailers can also be covered by the blind-spot system, which also keeps an eye out for rear cross traffic. To do this, simply use the gauge cluster’s digital display to access the system, program the trailer length (up to four trailer profiles can be stored), and then use the sensor range to monitor anything that is fastened to the hitch. 2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Interior
2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Price and Release Date
Too often when I’m testing a midsize truck, questions about their cost are often met with a retort along the lines of, “I could buy an F-150 for that kind of money.” And it’s true – but completely besides the point. Because sure, it’s more than possible to find a similarly equipped F-150 for the $42,619 starting price of the loaded Ranger I drove. But where the F-150 is bloated and wholly unnecessary for the vast majority of shoppers, the midsize Ranger is pretty much the perfect size.
Although the price is still competitive with trucks like the Colorado and Tacoma, some incentives would go a long way toward softening the blow. The asking price of my tester skyrocketed to $52,639 before tax due to more than $8,000 in optional equipment, the majority of which I could live without. The $3,000 package that includes those rain-sensing wipers, an upgraded stereo, and remote start, as well as the blackout package that adds an additional $2,495 to the price tag, the $1,400 FX4 package, and the $600 required to add towing equipment to this Lariat would require a little more thought. 2026 Ford Ranger Hybrid Interior