Mid-model-life face lifts are routine in the car business. You know, after the initial showroom novelty has worn off, the company goes back and makes some alterations. Maybe they add a body-color grille, put on some new wheels, and slap on an interior treatment -- anything that doesn't much alter the overall mechanical architecture.

Ford's freshening of the 2001 Ranger is one of the farthest-ranging exercises of the type. Most notable is the scrapping of the wimpy Splash name and replacing it with Edge. On this model, a pronounced power bulge on the hood -- necessary anyway for an optional 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 engine made available for 2001 (last year's 4.0-liter V-6 used pushrods) -- is teamed with a black honeycomb grille and body-color front bumper with incorporated push pads and driving lights. 

The result is a new snarling face aimed at younger truck buyers. Ride height on Edge Rangers is the same higher 4x4 configuration regardless if the Ranger is a 2WD or 4x4. The Edge also gets a molded bed rail; an easily cleaned vinyl floor interior; a 60-watt, four-speaker, CD-player stereo system; and 15-inch wheels and 235/75R-15 tires. Also, the familiar 3.0-liter V-6 pushrod engine with five-speed manual transmission comes as standard equipment.

Edge Rangers slot between the base model XL -- powered in standard form by a 2.5-liter in-line four -- and the high-trim-level XLT series. 

Edge adds to XL:

3.0-liter V6 engine.

Air conditioning, cloth/vinyl slit bench seat, rear jump seats (SuperCab), AM/FM/CD player.

Color-keyed bumpers, fog lights, wheel lip moldings (Styleside), bed rail covers.

Front tow hooks, Class III Trailer Tow Pkg., raised ride height, 235/75R15 all-terrain white-letter tires, 4WD models add: 4-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer case, sliding rear window.

Edge Plus adds to Edge:

5-speed automatic transmission (SuperCab).

Tilt steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM w/in-dash 6-disc CD player.

Alloy wheels, 4WD models add: 4-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer case, 5-speed automatic transmission, step bars (Flareside), 245/75R16 all-terrain white-letter tires.

4WD Edge Plus 4.0-liter adds to Edge Plus regular cab/2WD Edge Plus SuperCab:

4.0-liter V6 engine, 5-speed manual transmission, 4-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer case.

Power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry.

Sliding rear window, step bars.

245/75R16 all-terrain white-letter tires.

Edge Suspension Kits:

Q - So why is it when you are shopping for 2WD suspension kits, they list kits for a 2WD and a 2WD edge? What's the difference?

A - The 1998-2009 Ford Ranger 2WD uses a coil spring A-arm front suspension. The 2001-2005 Ford Ranger 2WD Edge has a torsion bar A-arm front suspension. Remember, the 2WD edge has the same ride height as a 4x4 Ranger which is higher than a normal 2WD Ranger. The 2WD Edge uses a similar torsion bar a-arm front suspension as the 1998-2009 Ford Ranger 4x4's.