Good news on several fronts for ute buyers considering the award-winning, Australian designed-and-engineered Ford Ranger.
First of all, Ranger models now have the maximum five-star safety rating after ANCAP barrier testing. With many corporate fleets now mandating five-star ANCAP scores, this means your next company pickup could be the stylish Ford Ranger (which we think is the best-looker of the current crop of utes).
As well, the range-topping Ford Ranger Wildtrack is now in plentiful supply from Ford’s award-winning Thailand assembly plant. At launch there were some stories of waiting lists (not helped by the floods up there which hampered Honda and Toyota as well) but things are on-track with no problems.
And as part of the latest running changes, the Ford Ranger XLT model now boasts standard satellite navigation.
But perhaps the biggest news of all is the arrival of a new model – the Ford Ranger 4x4 XL Plus.
The 4X4 XL Plus takes Ford Ranger to the levels of toughness demanded by particularly mining companies but also government agencies, primary producers and private customers looking for extra toughness over extra luxury (not that the Ford Ranger 4X4 XL Plus short-changes on the latter).
Priced from $46,280 (Single Cab Chassis), $51,760 (Double Cab Chassis) and $52,760 (Double Cab Pick-up), the Ford Ranger 4X4 XL Plus is powered by Ford’s durable 3.2-litre turbo-diesel engine driving through a six-speed automatic transmission.
Standard are a locking rear differential and 3,500 kgs-rated towbar.
But it’s the rest of the standard features of the Ford Ranger 4X4 XL Plus which highlight its suitability for miners and rural producers in particular.
There’s a secondary battery (with its own isolator). And not just an ordinary secondary battery – it’s an 80 amp hours deep cycle discharge Gel battery. The front battery is a 75 amp hours model and there’s an expanded wiring harness and switch bezel.
Inside are heavy-duty canvas seat covers.
On the outside Ford Ranger 4X4 XL Plus scores 17-inch All-Terrain Continental tyres (265/65 R17), daytime running lights, running boards (for double cab models) and moulded black bumpers.
Ford has developed an optional steel bulbar for the Ranger 4X4 XL Plus which allows the vehicle to retain its five-star ANCAP rating.
Car Showroom was reminded of the Ford Ranger’s capabilities during a full day at the demanding 4WD driver training facility at Werribee, west of Melbourne. Hill descent control and remarkable suspension travel aren’t features unique to the Ford Ranger.
But the extensive engineering and validation work which supports the Ford Ranger is unique. Unique because it was all done here.
So you could mount an argument to say of all the available utes, the Ford Ranger is the one most suited to Australia’s demanding conditions.
