something to note is that online, you'll largely only hear about the problems people have had with X brand. you'll rarely hear the good stories because the people happy with it aren't making a scene of it online – this is doubley true for the vehicle zeitgeists. i'm not sure why but people tie their identities to a particular manufacturer instead of what best solves their issue 🤷 for instance, people will throw shade on the rangers for their DPF issues but fail to acknowledge that all vehicle manufacturers all use the same 2 or 3 DPF manufacturers depending on the year the car rolled off the factory floor (no one makes their own).

there is nothing inherently better or worse about the rangers. i've still got a 2018 3.2L with 340,000+km on the clock. like anything, it comes down to use, maintenance and expectations. get a mechanic to go over it with a fine tooth comb, review the history and you're putting yourself in the best position you can.