In an increasingly urbanized world, the best way to truly get away is to get off the pavement.
That's my one-line summary of the increasing popularity of dedicated off-road trims of pickup trucks. I had the opportunity earlier this summer to spend a week in the 2021 Ford F-250 Tremor and now we move to the other end of the size spectrum (until and unless Ford does a Maverick Tremor) with the 2021 Ford Ranger Supercrew 4X4 Lariat Tremor---which for the remainder of this review, I'm just gonna call the Ranger Tremor.
Nothing changes under the hood when you Tremor-ize your Ranger. The standard engine is the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, which makes a remarkable 270 horsepower and 310 pounds per foot of torque. Its EPA-estimated fuel economy number is something I've never seen in 24 years of reviewing cars---exactly the same number for city and highway. In this case, that's 19 miles per gallon.
One big surprise is that this off-road spec Ranger Tremor rode much more nicely on pavement than did the 2020 Ranger Supercrew Lariat I reviewed in the summer of 2020. I mentioned it in that review, along with my suspicion that it might just have been that particular vehicle. My experience with the Tremor would seem to confirm that.
The base price of the tester was $38,785...that's for a 2021 Ford Ranger Supercrew 4X4. There are steps to get to the Tremor level and we'll outline all that. I'll let you refer to the window sticker at the end of this review for the standard equipment featured at the base price.
So, on to the options. Equipment Group 501A gets you the Lariat trim and a technology package including a ten-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, adaptive cruise control, a forward sensing system and remote start for $2,005.
A combination of LT 265/70R17 tires and a spray-in bedliner are $495.
The Tremor Off-Road Package brings with it a trail control system, skid plates, 17-inch plated aluminum wheels, a heavy-duty off-road suspension with Fox shocks, upfitter switches, an off-road hoop step, electronically-locking differential, and all-weather floorliners and carpet mats for $4,290. $750 buys the Tremor bodyside and hood graphics package.
Our tester also had a trailer tow package ($495) and Ford's Securipad keyless touchpad on the door for $95.
With $1,195 destination and delivery, the as-tested price of the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor is $48,110.
If I were playing with my own money, I'd skip the graphics package. It's a bit cartoonish. Your mileage may vary. Circumstances kept me from taking it off-road, but checking the specs and evaluating it under everyday on-pavement conditions, it seems like a solid competitor to the Toyota Tacoma TRD 4X4 Double Cab that I reviewed on the old TireKicker site back in April of 2020, and priced very similarly.
