The name Ford Ranger, to many seems to be the same as the name Ford Motor Company, yet the name Ford ranger only refers to a car model by Ford Motor Company and in many people’s minds today, the bakkie reminds them of old western movies, such as the famous Walker Texus Ranger, where this vehicle left an indelible mark around on the movie platform around the globe as a resilient and legendary car, taking on the image formulated around the actor Chuck Norris commonly referred to as Walker in many circles. Dating back to 1983 when the first model was released, the model has contented favorably in the bakkie range and has stood its own ground and has won many hearts and as such has had a fair share of genuine followers.

The name Ford Ranger is used to refer to two lineages of pickup trucks and over the period 1994 and 2010, the bakkie has developed into the bakkie now referred to as the Mazda B-Series. The Mazda B-Series, known as the international version, was designed and engineered in Japan between the period 1998 and 2006. The second generation version running between the periods 2006 to 2011 was also designed by Mazda, being rebadged versions of the Mazda BT-50. Third generation models from 2011 were designed and engineered by Ford Australia, with Mazda set to introduce a derivative version as the Mazda BT-50.

The Ford Ranger has not received much change, and it may be due to the success this model has been on the market over the years and Ford resolved not to depart much from the formula that made the bakkie what it is today. The only variation to date is the deletion of the 3.0-liter V6 engine, the Ford Ranger line soldiers on essentially unchanged. The Ford Ranger is that sure bakkie that will grant you generous economic value, with the ability to tackle the off road with ease and easily adaptable for weekend outings. One thing that Ford has been known for over the years has been the size of its bakkies. The Ranger is such one model that is reasonably sizeable and has the capacity to haul a good mass of luggage.

The Ranger offers the option of an extended cab with inward-facing jump seats. It receives stiff competition from trucks like the Dodge Dakota, Nissan Frontier and Toyota. The 2009 Ford Ranger is available in regular-cab and extended-cab, which is called SuperCab body styles. Both are available in XL, XLT and Sport trim levels, while the SuperCab can also be had in the FX4 Off-Road trim. A 6-foot bed is standard on all cab styles and trims, but a 7-foot bed is optional on the regular-cab XL and XLT. The XL is equipped with 15-inch steel wheels, a 60/40 front bench seat and an AM/FM stereo. The XLT adds chrome exterior trim, air-conditioning, a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio jack. These items are optional on the XL. The Sport is similarly equipped but adds unique styling elements, such as a color-keyed grille surround and bumpers, a Class III trailer hitch, satellite radio and different wheels. The FX4 Off-Road adds two-tone paint, 16-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tyres, heavy-duty shocks, a limited-slip rear axle, skid plates, full power accessories, keyless entry, bucket seats with a center console, a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel and cruise control.

To ensure that it meets all the varied expectations and preferences of its consumer market, Ford strived to offer the Ranger with generous options such as the bucket seats, leather upholstery, inward-facing fold-down jump seats, full power accessories, cruise control, keyless entry, a tilt steering wheel and upgraded stereos.

The 2009 Ranger lineup offers a choice of inline-4 or V6 power. The base engine is a 2.3-liter inline-4 with 143 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. The available 4.0-liter V6 is rated for 207 hp. Transmission choices include a standard five-speed manual and an optional five-speed automatic, and most models offer a choice of two- or four-wheel drive.

The Ranger comes standard with four-wheel antilock brakes, while features such as stability control and side curtain airbags are not available. In crash testing, the Ranger earned four out of five stars for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts. Super-Cabs received four stars for front-passenger side-impact protection, while regular cabs earned a full five stars. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal offset crash testing, the Ranger earned an "Acceptable" rating, the second highest on a scale of four. Its ergonomics are quite straightforward, with easy-to-use controls. Front-seat comfort is acceptable unless you're of tall stature. Super-Cabs can be equipped with an extra pair of access doors and small, inward-facing rear jump seats. These seats are suitable only for children on short trips. For work purposes, the optional 7-foot bed is the longest available in the compact-truck market. When equipped with the 4.0-liter V6, the 2009 Ford Ranger offers solid acceleration. It is quite capable off-road, especially when equipped with the FX4 package. Ride and handling characteristics on pavement are tolerable. The Ford’s competitors include the Dodge, GM, Nissan and Toyota.

In its own right, it shrugs off competition easily, being a product of Ford Motor Company. It prides on the long standing record of Ford and the technical refined art by Ford.