Ford reported first-quarter U.S. vehicle sales a few days ago, and across all body styles in the manufacturer’s lineup, trucks saw the steepest year-on-year decline at 11.3%. This was primarily due to the big-selling F-Series, which saw sales drop by 16%, but the Maverick and heavy trucks also dropped in sales. The Ford Ranger was the outlier, though, and one particular variant of this pickup defied the automaker’s overall decline in truck sales to start 2026. It also happens to be one of the most affordable Ford pickups you can buy.
Ford Ranger XL Sales Are Booming
2026 Ford Ranger XL Ford
Overall sales of the Ford Ranger hit 17,775 units in the first quarter of 2026, up by 19.2% and making it the only Ford pickup to increase year-on-year sales. What jumps out most are sales of the entry-level Ranger XL, which increased by 45.5% over this period. For months now, Ford has seen an increase in demand for cheaper base trims, and the Ranger XL is one of them.
The midsize Ranger XL starts at $33,350 for the 4×2 model, which is less than you’ll pay for a compact Maverick Lobo or Lariat. It’s also around $6,000 cheaper than the most affordable full-size F-150, and choosing the Ranger generally means lower gas bills than for the F-150. Combined Q1 sales of the base Maverick, Ranger, and Bronco Sport were up by 8.4%, so it’s not only the Ranger’s base trim that’s seen increased demand.
At the other end of the Ranger lineup, the high-performance Ranger Raptor saw Q1 sales increase by 36.1%. Ford did not break down exactly how many units per trim were sold—the lineup includes the mid-range XLT and Lariat variants.
Related: Ford Seeing Huge Demand for Cheap Base Trims
Is The Ranger XL A Good Deal?
Ford
For less than some Mavericks, the midsize Ranger offers better capability. Its standard 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbo EcoBoost engine produces 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds. With this engine, the payload is 1,767 lbs in 4×2 guise.
The XL is identifiable by its 17-inch black-painted steel wheels, but this is the only obvious sign that it’s a base model and it’s still a handsome pickup truck. If the look is a bit too utilitarian for you, 17-inch alloys are available for an additional $295.
The XL also comes with a 10-inch center display, an eight-inch cluster display, manual single-zone air conditioning, a six-speaker sound system, and LED reflector headlights. The black vinyl flooring and Ebony fabric upholstery should be easy to keep clean, too. In 4×4 guise, the XL can be upgraded with the FX4 Off-Road Package, which includes an electronic-locking rear differential, a steel bash plate, and off-road tuned shocks.
The Ranger XL undercuts the cheapest Toyota Tacoma Double Cab by a few hundred dollars, and it’s more powerful than that model, too.
Final Thoughts
Ford
In Europe and many other markets, the Ford Ranger has been a strong seller for the brand. That’s not the case in the United States, where the Toyota Tacoma has dominated the midsize category, and most Ford fans here prefer the larger F-150. But, as vehicle affordability becomes more of a concern, we could see more full-size truck fans switching to midsize models. The Ranger XL is a non-nonsense pickup with enough capability for most, and its recent surge in sales is proof of that.
