Described as the most fuel-efficient pickup in America, the 2009 Ford Ranger is pretty much unchanged after some re-working in 2008. Ford has, however, made the wise decision to drop its clunky and unpopular 3.0-liter V6, to the delight of many owners of the '08 Ranger. This leaves the small pickup with the basic all-aluminum 2.3-liter inline four (I4) and the 4.0-liter V6, the same six-cylinder engine used in Ford’s estimable Mustang. The 2.3-liter I4 puts out 143 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque and gets an EPA-estimated 19/24 mpg, while the SOHC 4.0-liter powerplant churns out 207 hp and 239 lb-ft of torque with an EPA-estimated 16/21 in rear-wheel-drive trims and 14/18 in four-wheel-drive configurations. A five-speed manual overdrive transmission is standard with both engines on the ’09 Ranger, and buyers can also opt for a five-speed automatic overdrive transmission.

All Ranger trims except the FX4 Off Road are available in either RWD or 4WD; the FX4 is available only in 4WD. Additionally, all are available with a 7-foot bed in place of the standard 6-footer. Three wheelbases - 112 inches, 118 inches, and 126 inches - and two cab configurations - the three-passenger Regular Cab and the four- or five-passenger SuperCab - are available for three of Ranger’s four trim levels. All four of the 2009 Ranger trims - XL, XLT, Sport, and FX4 Off Road - can carry 1,260 pounds of payload, and towing capacity ranges from 1,580 to 6,000 pounds, depending on engine size and equipment.

The base Ranger XL for 2009, with a 2.3-liter V6 and five-speed manual transmission, also comes with heavy-duty shocks and front stabilizer bars, 15-inch painted steel wheels, a tire pressure monitoring system that was optional in ’08, solar tinted glass, a trailer tow hitch, and an AM/FM stereo. XLTs are delivered with a chromed H-bar, CD/MP3 player with four speakers, air-conditioning, and foglights.

The Ranger Sport for 2009 features 15-inch cast aluminum wheels, a black horizontal STX-style grille, a Class III trailer hitch, Sirius satellite radio, and step bars, while the top-line FX4 Off Road arrives in showrooms equipped with the 4.0-liter engine as the standard powerplant, as well as a 4.10-ratio, limited-slip rear differential, skid plates, Rancho H.D. gas shocks, 16-inch aluminum wheels with all-terrain OWL tires, cloth front bucket seats, power windows, doors, and mirrors, and premium cloth bucket seats.

Options for the ’09 Ford Ranger include the 4.0-liter V6, five-speed automatic transmission (neither available with the RWD regular cab XL), a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and speed controls, power accessories, upgraded chrome and leather, a six-disc CD/MP3 player with 290 watts of power, eight speakers, and a subwoofer, remote start, bucket seats, Sirius satellite radio, a sliding rear window, and cruise control.

For 2009, the Ranger offers such standard safety features as four-wheel disc ABS, dual-stage front airbags with a front passenger sensing/deactivation system, a center front lap belt, and the SecuriLock anti-theft system. The NHTSA awarded the ’09 Ranger four and five stars in front and side impact tests and a three-star rollover rating.

Some owners of the very similar 2008 Ranger find the five-speed automatic transmission balky, and many complain about a lack of maneuvering room when entering and exiting the rear seats of the two-door SuperCab trims. Most, however, find the 4.0-liter V6 more than adequate for this small pickup, and others love the mileage they’re getting with the I4. A majority of owners in ‘08 considered the Ford Ranger an excellent value for the money.