Ford's compact pickup may well hold the record for length of time on the market without a major redesign. That doesn't seem to matter to Ranger loyalists -- in fact, it's selling better than ever. For '07, there are audio upgrades, new wheel designs and smarter airbags, but the basic recipe remains unchanged -- two body styles, three engines (the base, an Energuide winner), two bed lengths, and 4x2 or 4x4. Like its nearly identical Mazda B-Series cousin, the Ranger doesn't have the greatest ride or handling and the interior has aged and is smallish, compared to newer competition that have all gotten bigger. But, it's a proven design and quite affordable, with prices starting well below $20,000.

Proven design, efficient base 4-cylinder engine

Aged design, no 4-door model