Is the 2025 Ford Ranger Lariat Worth It? My Candid Review
Last month, I had the opportunity to test drive the 2025 Ford Ranger Lariat 4×4 for an entire week. During that time with this truck, I had a plan to attend the Desert Trails Off-Road Expo, which, you may know, is a two-day event held in the middle of the Mojave Desert where automotive journalists test new off-road vehicles on serious desert terrains and highways.
In the beginning, I thought of leaving the Ford Ranger at home and taking the Toyota RAV4, as I knew of its amazing drive over the bumpy stretches between Palm Springs and Ridgecrest. This entire trip was around 6 hours. Meanwhile, it came into my mind that this is the best route to find the strengths and weaknesses of this Ranger. So, I packed up the truck and headed for the desert.
Right before turning the engine on of this $47,265 off-road truck, I honestly expected that it was going to be a rough and tough ride. I expected stiff seats, sore arms, a hurting back, and a bad fuel average. While the mileage was not its strongest point, I was seriously impressed by how much better this Ford Ranger is in comparison to other Ford trucks I used before.
For the price and the number of features packed into the truck, it’s hard to beat for sure. It tows up to 6,000 lbs, or more if you opt for the upgraded version. The ground clearance is 10.6 inches high, which is enough for tough trucks. Also, it has off-roading-supported tires, and the interior is full of modern, useful features. What surprised me most was its practicality; one can easily use it for a daily commute. Yes, the new Ford Ranger is affordable, but it no longer feels like a basic truck.
It takes about 90 minutes to get to the Mojave National Preserve from Palm Springs. There was a strong forecast of the rainstorm ahead, but I had enough time to get used to the Ford Ranger. The 2025 model is quite handsome, and its exterior design has also grown up. It now felt more rugged, and above all, more expensive. My father has always been a fan of Ford. For him, a truck is all about performance; he never cared about things like heated seats or big screens. But this Ford Ranger was full of modern features, an attractive interior, and a muscular exterior.
The new Ford Ranger is much more than an engine and four wheels. The interior of the truck has really improved since the last time I sat in Ranger. This truck doesn’t look cheap, and its paint doesn’t seem like it will fade if you leave it in the sun for a long time. One of the first things I spotted was the big 12.4-inch screen on the dashboard. It was nicely implemented into the dashboard and helped me get a clearer outward visibility from the driving seat.
Also, the leather seats were extremely comfortable, and even the rear seats had enough legroom as well as a good view out the windows. The digital display and high-resolution starting animations on the driver screen and the central, top-notch screen really showed how Ford was focusing on modern technologies. Well, what I liked the most was the inclusion of simple buttons and knobs for the AC controls, which made everything quite easy to use.
To be honest, this was the first time it didn’t give me the feel of a work truck. It felt like a vehicle that could be used every single day.
