The Ford Ranger will be discontinued after 2011, however Ford has still decided to add new safety features to the 2010 version of the Ranger, such as electronic stability control, as well as side airbags.

This stability control system is identical to the one that’s featured in the new F-150, and it will put the Ranger in the same company of other small trucks that have stability control, like the GMC Canyon, Chevy Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, and Hummer H3T.  The main difference is that the Ranger also has a system for roll-prevention.

If a rollover were to occur, the Ranger is able to brake wheels individually and cut the engine throttle in order to keep the vehicle grounded.  The added side airbags will help prevent chest and head injuries to passengers in the front, which will probably improve the rating for side-impact crashes.

The current Ranger gets a four-star crash-test rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a marginal rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The 2010 Ford Ranger will be available for sale this summer.  Unfortunately, information on pricing and new car warranties is not yet available.