Ford Unveiled a Ranger Hybrid. Will It Come to America?

It would help the Ranger compete with the new Toyota Tacoma — if it arrives stateside.

Published September 19, 2023

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Ford unveiled America’s all-new 2024 Ranger in May. The new truck has three engine options: the returning 2.3-liter I4 and two V6 options. But a fourth could arrive soon. Ford just unveiled a new 2.3-liter plug-in hybrid Ranger for overseas markets arriving to Australia in 2025.

We don’t know the full specs yet. It offers up to 28 miles of EV-only range (on the more generous WLTP standard) and Pro Power Onboard. Ford is targeting more than 7,700 lbs of towing capacity, which may end up being more than the 2024 Ranger. Here’s everything you need to know.

Will Ford bring the hybrid Ranger to America?

That is the question. Ford has not confirmed a hybrid Ranger for the American market yet. But there has been some reporting that America will. The Australian outlet Drive reported that America would be getting the Ranger PHEV and a Bronco PHEV. Automotive News has the Bronco getting a refresh in 2024, which would be the optimal time to drop a hybrid if Ford were so inclined. But the same report does not have a Ranger refresh coming until 2027.

A Ranger PHEV would be America’s first plug-in hybrid pickup

We have plug-in electric pickups like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T. And the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma and Ford Maverick offer conventional hybrid powertrains. But the Ranger would be the first PHEV truck on the market.

There has been some evidence Ford has been working on a PHEV for the Bronco

The Ford Ranger and the Bronco share a platform. So a hybrid developed for one vehicle could be used in the other. There has been speculation since the Bronco launched about a hybrid to compete with the Jeep Wrangler 4xe. The Bronco owner’s manual offered instructions for storing a hybrid battery. And a leak showed a Bronco with an “EV coaching” feature, suggesting a PHEV with an EV range.

Ford did trademark Ranger Thunder

Ford did file trademark applications for F-150 Thunder, Ranger Thunder and Maverick Thunder. Thunder branding for PHEVs could work well with Ford’s Lightning branding for its EV trucks. But there’s no confirmation Ford will use that branding for its PHEV yet.

A Ranger PHEV would bridge the gap to an electric pickup

Ford doesn’t comment on future products. But CEO Jim Farley all but confirmed Ford was working on an electric Bronco (and consequently an electric Ranger) back in 2021. However, an automotive forecast suggested that the electric Ranger and Bronco may not enter production until late 2029.

That forecast does not mention a hybrid Ranger. But a hybrid Ranger on the same platform could be built on the same production line as the current Ranger.