• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • Acura’s New Integra Type S Launching with 320 Hp
  • First Look: Ferrari Roma Spider
  • What do Americans Think of EV Ownership Today?
  • Challenger Fain Edges Closer to UAW Presidency
  • Week Ahead: All About the Cars — Except for the UAW Part
  • The Rearview Mirror: Birth of a Sports Car Legend
  • Federal Infrastructure Law Funds Safe Streets 4 All
  • Hagerty Takes Expensive Hit from Hurricane, But Posts Profit
  • New Headaches for VinFast as Three Senior Sales Execs Leave EV Startup
  • Mazda Appoints Moro New CEO
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • First Drive: 2023 Nissan Ariya e-4orce AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Jeep Compass Limited
    • A Week With: 2023 Cadillac Escalade V-Series
    • A Week With: 2023 Volvo XC40 AWD Ultimate
    • First Drive: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek
    • First Drive: 2023 Lexus RZ 450e
    • A Week With: 2023 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Manual
    • First Impression: 2024 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
    • A Week With: 2023 Chevrolet Blazer RS AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Toyota Sienna XSE AWD
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > reviews > A Week With: 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor SuperCrew

        A Week With: 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor SuperCrew

        Designed to look and perform like an off-roader, it certainly fits the bill.

        Michael Strong
        Michael Strong , Managing Editor
        May 07, 2021
        2021 Ford Ranger Tremor side
        The new Ranger Tremor certainly looks the part, especially sitting on 32-inch tires.

        When it comes to trucks, the folks at Ford Motor Co. know a good thing when they see it — probably why they sell so many each year. 

        One of the things they do well is produce variants of their pickups. When the company re-introduced the Ranger for 2019, they brought it back as a midsize model, the original being a compact truck. Ford created it as a midsize to, obviously, compete with the hot-selling Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Admittedly, I’m stretching the “variant” idea here, but it’s where it started in my mind. 

        Since then, the Ranger’s gotten a number of specialized appearance packages, mirroring what its big brother — the F-150 — including the STX package for the 2021 model year. Prior to that there was the FX2 and FX4 models to round out the run.

        Overview

        2021 Ford Ranger Tremor rear
        The Tremor comes in a few colors, including this very smart-looking Carbonized Gray.

        But now we get to the good stuff — the Tremor. Actually, in my case, the test vehicle was a 2021 Ford Ranger SuperCrew 4×4 Lariat Tremor, henceforth to be known simply as the Tremor. When you approach the Ranger Tremor for the first time, it’s clear that this is a different animal from the others. It sits a bit higher. It takes up a bit more room in the driveway. 

        Clearly, this is by design because it’s supposed to mimic its Big Brother on some level. Fortunately, I’ve also driven the F-150 Tremor so I’ve got some basis for comparison. There’s no question, the Ranger Tremor’s a fine truck and the $4,290 you pay for that off-road package is worth it — when your off-roading.

        Exterior

        2021 Ford Ranger Tremor cockpit
        The driver’s cockpit in the Tremor is simple and clean despite a slew of technology.

        I’ll be honest, I think it’s hard to find an “ugly” truck, although the grille on the previous model year Chevy Silverado heavy-duty almost got me to change my tune. The test truck came in carbonized gray with black and red accents. Veeerrrry nice. Sitting on 32-inch tires and 17-inch black wheels resulting in nearly 10 inches of ground clearance, it definitely looks like something I’m gonna scratch the sides of while driving down a two-track … or less.

        In short: it looks the part. Except. I’ve never been a fan of the nose of these trucks. They’re just so … blah. If the F-150 is Marcia, then the Ranger is definitely Jan when it comes to the front end of these trucks. Again, not ugly, but not Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.

        Interior

        The cabin of the Ranger Tremor is a good place to be, although if you’re under 5-foot, 10-inches tall, you’re going to work to get into it. Also, if you’re a bigger person (yup, I am) it’s also a bit of work. Not much can be done about that, just a warning.

        2021 Ford Ranger Tremor front seats
        The leather-trimmed seats in the Tremor are comfortable and look great.

        Again, once inside, the cabin is very pleasant. Everything is as it should be. Easy to see. Easy to reach. Easy to understand. It features an 8-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard with a couple of knobs, which were simple to manipulate while not having to take one’s eyes off the road. There are controls for that in the steering wheel too. It’s nice to have options.

        The seats are a leather-trimmed with fabric inserts and a stark white stitching that look amazing and offer plenty of comfort. That said, if you’re a bigger person, you may feel a bit cramped. Not uncomfortable, but there’s not a lot of wiggle room once you’re in place. The rear seats offer less space, but not unreasonably so. I don’t think I’d want to travel across the country back there, but sitting back there for a few hours wouldn’t be a problem.

        Powertrain

        The Ranger Tremor is powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-4 putting out 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.

        The Ranger Tremor’s powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-4 that puts out 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It does all this through a 10-speed automatic transmission with 4-wheel drive available whenever needed. 

        It’s a good engine and it’s not quite the gas monger one might expect. We’re told it gets 19 mpg … all cases: city, highway, combined. I averaged 17.8 mpg during my time in it. I’m required to test all aspects of a vehicle, especially acceleration. Sometimes, I conduct those test a few times. Other times, I do it more often. This was a “more often” week. So yeah, I thought it offered plenty of acceleration in city and highway driving. I made certain of it.

        Safety and Technology

        For what you pay for this truck — I’ll get to that later — it should be laden with all kinds of advanced driver assistance technologies. And it is. It features all of the current greatest hits: cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency brake (it works), plus convenience tech like adaptive cruise control, forward sensing, reverse sensing and rear-view camera. 

        The Ranger Tremor sits on 32-inch tires on 17-inch wheels.

        This model comes with the Sync3 system. It’s still clunky when compared with Apple CarPlay, which it adapts to marvelously. I’m still uncertain why Sync isn’t further along in its voice recognition setup at least. Ford was an early adopter when it came to this type of technology, but when I ask it to play a certain song or make a phone call, there’s still a bit of a protocol it seems to make me want to go through that I don’t need to with CarPlay.

        Also, the wireless phone charger drives me mad. I put my phone on the pad. It charges for a minute, then it throws up a screen telling me it’s not on the pad exactly right. I nudge it a little and the pop up goes away. Fifteen seconds later, it comes back. I nudge. It goes. It returns. Every Ford vehicle with a wireless charging pad does this to me. I’m sure I’m the problem, but it almost makes me want to form a support group. 

        Driving Impressions

        Ford describes this model as the most off-road capable Ranger ever. I don’t doubt it. Just look at some of the components listed in the package, it’s a veritable who’s who (or what’s what?) of name brands associated with driving over rocks, through rivers and up steep inclines. That said, I can say navigated every highway off-ramp with aplomb. Which is to say, I drove it like 99% of the people who will buy it.

        It’s a little bouncy, but it’s a truck. It’s supposed to be a little bouncy. It’s a little tight on the inside, but most vehicles I get into these days are … that’s a “me” thing more than a “them” thing. It rides well for an elevated midsize truck and the powerplant is excellent. The 10-speed functioned flawlessly during my time behind the wheel with no moments of trying to find the right gear — simply smooth all the way through. 

        It’s an excellent off-roader by most accounts, but if you want something you can drive to work (if you do that anymore) daily and then go have fun on the trails, this can do exactly that.

        Wrap Up

        It’s a very good truck. Good acceleration. Good stopping power. Clearly good off-road. It tows 7,500 pounds even. So what stops me from saying, “Get this thing!”? It’s nearly $50K!! I can get a full-size F-150 for that amount of money with most of the equipment on this one … oh, and I can tow a lot more. 

        A midsize truck, like the Ranger, is an excellent alternative to a full-size model until a certain point — a certain price point. This truck crosses that point, and with a $4,290 optional package, it does it proudly. 

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published
        2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss rear favorite

        First Drive: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado

        Feb. 21, 2023
        2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 red best

        A Week With: 2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2

        Feb. 15, 2023
        2023 F-150 Raptor R Antimatter Blue nose REL

        A Week With: 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R 4×4 Super Crew

        Jan. 27, 2023

        What Are You Looking For?

        See More
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Reviews and Resources When You Are Looking For a New Car
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Reviews and Resources When You Are Looking For a New Car
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: