It’s been a long time since a pick-up truck wore the crown of most American-made, but this year the 2020 Ford Ranger won the annual Cars.com analysis.

This is a solid pick-up and the surprise honor just adds to its list of reasons to take another look at the Ford Ranger. It should help further the shift toward SUVs and trucks that are already taking place in the U. S. 

What is the American-Made Index?

Each year, Cars.com puts together a list of the most American-made vehicles in the country. Many times, this title doesn’t go with a company that is traditionally thought of as American.

For example, last year it went to the 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The Cars.com analysis is about whether a vehicle is really sourced here in the U.S., considering each factor that goes into building a vehicle. These include final assembly location, drivetrain sourcing, the origin of parts as reported for the American Automobile Labeling Act, and the number of Americans employed at the factory. 

The 2020 Ford Ranger wasn’t the only truck on the list. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline fell to number 6, the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado came in at number 10, and the GMC Canyon showed up at number 11. Meanwhile, the 2020 Toyota Tacoma is far down the list at number 84.

A few categories were left out of the rankings, such as heavy-duty vehicles weighing more than 8,500 pounds, fleet only vehicles, discontinued models, and cars not yet on sale. Check out the full list at Cars.com here. 

The 2020 Ford Ranger is the most American-made vehicle

How did the 2020 Ford Ranger jump to the top of the list this year? One of the main reasons was the 50% increase in U.S. content on the 2020 Ford Ranger, mainly due to a change in the sourcing of the engine. The 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine used to be mostly Mexico content, and this year it has mostly U.S. content. This is the standard engine on every Ford Ranger. 

The truck continues to be built in Wayne, Michigan, and its transmission has always been American made. These factors, in addition to more and more parts being sourced from the U.S. and Canada, pushed it into 2020s top spot.

More about the 2020 Ford Ranger

The 2020 Ford Ranger is packed with advanced features. These include an advanced Terrain Management System with four selectable drive modes, an electronic locking rear differential, and off-road cruise control. Other serious off-road features are the Ranger’s best-in-class break-over angle. Adding the FX4 off-road package adds even more features. 

All 2020 Ford Rangers come with Ford Co-Pilot 360, which gives you all the latest driver-assist technologies. Navigate with confidence using lane-keeping assist, blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert that covers both your truck and trailer, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking. 

The Ranger is a tough pickup that had its durability tested by days of shaking in the lab. They eliminated squeaks and rattles and tested for the durability of all parts.

The engine has the highest torque rating in its class at 310 lb-ft, and it’s mated to a 10-speed, SelectShift transmission. The combo gives you efficient performance and smooth shifting. The 2020 Ford Ranger also turned out to be the fastest midsize truck in one speed test. 

The phrase “buy American” has a very different meaning than it did in the past. Today, all sorts of factors go into being American-made. This year, the 2020 Ford Ranger has proven the traditional pickup truck has a lot to offer on many different levels.