The 1998 Ford Ranger is one of the best selling compact pickup trucks in history. Beyond that, the entire line of Rangers from their inception in 1984 has been the number one compact truck ever. Ford has proven that it knows how to make small trucks and SUVs, and hasn't felt the need to entirely overhaul the Ranger through decades of manufacture. Models made for the '98 model year have been revamped in a few ways including an increased extended cab, a new 4 wheel drive system, and larger room for passengers in the rear.
Overall the body style remains the same as when it redesigned in the early 1990's. There are minimal curves in the front, while the rear of the truck remains rather square in shape. Most models are available with either a 6 or 7 foot cargo bed with an optional liner. For a compact truck Ford has been able to make their 1998 Ford Ranger's cargo bed rather deep, allowing for owners to haul decent sized loads. The regular cab has been extended as well with an outside increase in length of 3 inches, and an interior increase in the rear of 1 inch with the rest being afforded to the driver and front passenger.
Trim packages offered for '98 are the XL, XLT, Fx4, and Sport. For a basic medium duty work truck the XL model is a fair competitor, but only offers owners minimal features. The basic model comes with either a regular or extended cab. Interior features of an XL include practically no power accessories, possibly AC, and an AM/FM stereo system. XLT trim levels are the middle of the road package offering power accessories like windows and locks. Other optional features for XLTs include CD/Cassette players, AC, and either 4 or 2 wheel drive.
Fx4 models are highly respected off road vehicles. They are made with better suspension parts and a raised body for better clearance in off road situations. The off road package comes with a nice interior with a plethora of interior options, better cloth fabrics, and different body colors and paint designs. Sport models have been engineered for better street performance and handle more similar to a sedan than a truck.
The 1998 Ford Ranger comes with a standard 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine. Other engines available include a 3.0 liter V6 and a 4.0 liter V6. There are either 5 speed manual transmissions or 4 speed automatics equipped on these pickups. The larger V6 comes standard on both the Fx4 and Sport models. Ford also upgraded the four wheel drive system so that the hub caps automatically lock for drivers, allowing them to stay in their trucks while switching between 2 and 4 wheel drive.
