Rule of thumb says there is no replacement for displacement. The 2019 Ford Ranger wants to turn that thinking on its head

The old saying goes there is no replacement for displacement. That’s always been the case when it comes to pulling a load: traditionally, the bigger the engine, the better the tow tug. But is technology is starting to displace displacement? The performance of Ford’s new, high-tech 2.0 Bi-Turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, adapting twin-turbocharged technology to deliver 157kW/500Nm, surpasses Ranger’s carryover 3.2-litre five-cylinder workhorse by 10kW and 30Nm. But how well do those on-paper numbers from the clever little twin-turbo oil burner stack up against the larger, old-school single turbo version when it comes to towing?