Refinement, styling, engine performance, interior space, and ride comfort - all of these are, to one degree or another, lacking in the 2010 Ford Ranger small pickup. But a bruiser of a chassis, a livable sticker price, and good old-fashioned reliability keep buyers plunking down the cash for this maneuverable mighty-might. This carryover from, essentially, 1992 is available in three trim levels - the base XL, XLT, and Sport - and this little ox can be delivered in either the three-passenger Regular Cab or four/five passenger SuperCab configuration, with the only rear jump seats on the market, as well as available rear-opening “suicide doors.” Additionally, all trims come with a standard 6-foot bed, and the XLT and Sport are each available with either rear-wheel drive or part-time, on-demand four-wheel drive. Rumored to be in its final year of production, this venerable work animal has added stability control and side-mounted airbags to its list of standard safety features, as well as standard air conditioning and a Class III trailer hitch and wiring. Unfortunately, the Ranger’s legendary off-road ability has taken a blow with the decision to drop the FX4 Off-Road Package for the 2010 model year, and payload capacity, never exactly overwhelming, suffers with the consignment of the 7-foot bed to fleet vehicles only. Alas, the Ranger’s most serious competition, the far more refined Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, will be the only ones to benefit from these latter changes.

The base 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder (I4) engine is standard with the XL and XLT rear-wheel-drive (RWD) trims, along with a five-speed manual transmission. This combination delivers a tepid 143 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque and tows only 1,580 pounds of trailer. It does, however, get an acceptable 22/27 mpg. A five-speed automatic transmission is available for all Ranger trims, with a corresponding lowering of fuel efficiency for the I4. A 207-hp, 238-lb-ft/torque 4.0-liter V6 combines with the standard five-speed manual to tow 3,400 pounds, and is optional for the XLT SuperCab, standard on the Sport trims. Those trims equipped with on-demand four-wheel drive (4WD) count on a center locking differential, electronic hi-lo gear selection, and auto-locking hubs to get the proper amount of power to all four wheels when needed.

Spartan may be an apt description of the 2010 Ranger’s appearance, comfort, and convenience amenities. The base XL features standard 15-inch steel wheels, a trailer hitch and wiring, vinyl upholstery, air conditioning, and an AM/FM radio with two speakers. To this paltry list, the XLT adds remote power door locks, power windows and mirrors, tilt-wheel steering, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a single-CD player with four speakers and satellite radio. Finally, the Ranger Sport trim features standard 15-inch alloy wheels, skid plates, step running boards, sport front bucket seats, cloth upholstery, and heavy-duty gas shocks. Options for the XL include a spray-in bedliner and full-size spare in addition to the five-speed automatic transmission. The XLT and Sport trims offer available remote engine start, keyless entry, tinted rear sliding glass window, and a 6-CD changer as stand-alone options, with the available Payload Package #2 offering beefed-up rear springs and shocks.

For 2010 the Ranger adds standard stability and traction control, as well as standard front side-mounted airbags to its short list of standard safety features. Four-wheel ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, multi-stage front airbags, and passenger airbag deactivation are also included in the Ranger XL’s standard safety features. Front fog/driving lights are standard on the XLT and Sport, with daytime running lights as an option.

Owners of the ’09 Ford Ranger, while aware of its anachronistic design, apparently don’t find this to be a deal-breaker. Shudders, rattles, squeaks, and generally poor ride quality are, however, an issue with a number of owners, as is interior storage space and a cramped cabin, while a further glitch is poor gas mileage with the V6 engine. The lack of a standard sprayed-in bedliner also causes some customer grumbling. On the plus side, owners laud this tough and durable little worker for its low sticker price, reliability, four-cylinder economy, and maneuverability. For many owners, the impending demise of the Ranger lineup will signify the end of an era.