1995 Ford Ranger Review (continued)
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Driving Impressions

If power is what you need from your 1995 compact pickup, the sales-leader Ranger unfortunately may not be for you. We’re not saying it’s weak, mind you, but with 160 hp from the extra-cost 4.0-liter V6, you’d still be 40 hp short of what Chevrolet offers in its 4.3-liter, 200-hp top engine and 60 hp short of the Dodge Dakota, the only compact truck to offer a 5.2-liter V8, rated at 220 hp.

Engine power aside, our 4.0-liter Ranger XLT was a snap to drive and maneuver. The Ranger still uses a Twin I-Beam front suspension with coil springs and conventional truck-style leaf springs at the rear. The combination provides good - if not great - ride and handling even when the truck is unloaded.

The driving position behind the new dashboard is commanding and provides excellent visibility. The new instrument package is several leaps better than the old panel layout, which in its day was very good. Fit-and-finish quality are top drawer. We noticed that the 4.0-liter engine could, at high rpm, be loud to the point of almost shuddering. But in normal driving it was fine, with plenty of grunt for most hauling chores.