Articles by Byron Mathioudakis

Good news if you're wondering when your new Ranger will arrive. Ford has secured a larger-than-expected allocation for Australia this year, to help address growing demand and low supply.

Beginning from $63,690 before on-road costs and based on the XLT grade, the Sport is only available with the Double Cab pick-up body for now, and adds contrasting blacked-out themes inside and out, as well as two front tow hooks, 18-inch alloys, wireless charging, an Off-Road screen showing 4WD activation and other related settings, a skid plate, LED front fog lamps and all-season tyres.Luxuries include leather upholstery, a powered driver’s seat with eight-way adjustment, wireless charging and two front mats.These all come on top of the XLT's 10.1-inch touchscreen with Ford’s Sync4 multimedia system, digital instrument cluster, USB-A and -C ports, cloth seats, power windows, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, sat-nav, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-sheathed steering wheel and gear knob, intelligent adaptive cruise control with full stop/go functionality and traffic-sign recognition and lane-centring tech.Naturally, like all Rangers, the Sport buyer also secures nine airbags, AEB autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and lane keep assist and rear parking sensors, as well as blind spot warning and cross-traffic alert tech.The Sport is available only as a 4x4.The rear cargo area comes with a black sports bar, rear box illumination, a bedliner with a 12-volt socket, securing points at the front of the load box, box capping with integrated fixing points for added sheetmetal protection, a rear load box step for easy side access and a lighter tailgate, thanks to Ford's 'easy lift assist' system.A built-in trailer wiring set-up is also included, as well as the tow bar itself for Ranger Sport.Mirroring the XLT and Wildtrak, the Sport offers a pair of engine choices.The previous 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel has been dumped for a revised version of the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel (dubbed BiTurbo in Ford-speak). Mated to a completely overhauled 10-speed automatic, it delivers 3kW less power at 154kW at 3750rpm, but the 500Nm torque maximum (between just 1750-2000rpm) remains. The transmission includes up to six driving modes.The 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel that's distantly related to that found in Australia's Ford Territory is the Sport's other engine option.It delivers a healthy 184kW at 3250rpm and 600Nm at 1750-2250rpm.The V6 sends drive through to a new electronic on-demand four-wheel-drive system, with full-time 4WD that varies drive to the front or rear wheels as required. It includes six driving modes: Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul and Slippery for on-road driving, and Mud/Ruts and Sand for use off-road. Each alter engine throttle, transmission, braking, traction and stability controls.There’s also an electronic rear differential lock which can be activated via the SYNC 4A multimedia screen, for improved off-road traction.Note that Ranger 4x4s with either 2.0-litre engine stick with the standard part-time 4x4 set-up that offers 4x2 (rear-drive), 4x4 Low range and 4x4 High range.

The Ranger is actually a story about two types of truck.Imagining a Venn diagram, the left circle is the XL and XLS for fleet orders and the right circle contains Sport, Wildtrak and Raptor for private buyers. And, right in the overlap in between, lives the XLT.Now starting at $700 more than before from $53,990 before on-road costs, the latest XLT is the least-expensive T6.2 Ranger with the series' now-signature C-clamp LED headlights, and can also be identified via its chrome grille bar, pick-up tub bed-liner with illumination, a sports bar and 17-inch alloys.Inside the XLT includes keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, sat-nav, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, fancier interior trimmings, a leather-sheathed steering wheel and gear knob, intelligent adaptive cruise control with full stop/go functionality, traffic-sign recognition and lane-centring tech.Additional safety items include rain-sensing wipers, and a reverse camera kit on Cab chassis models.Of course, the items found in XL and XLS also make it to XLT, such as 10.1-inch touchscreen with Ford’s SYNC 4A multimedia system, digital instrument cluster, USB-A and -C ports, cloth seats and power windows.Naturally, like all Rangers, XLT also scores nine airbags, AEB autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and lane keep assist and rear parking sensors, while all pick-ups have blind spot warning and cross-traffic alert tech.The rear cargo area in pick-up models also come with a black sports bar, rear box illumination and a bedliner with a 12-volt socket. These are above the standard securing points, box capping with integrated fixing points for added bodywork protection, integrated load box step for easy side access and Ford's 'lift assist' tailgate.A built-in trailer wiring set-up is also included, as well as the tow bar itself for XLT.The XLT is available in all body styles, 4x2 and 4x4 grades and with two engine choices.The previous 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel has been dumped for a revised version of the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel (dubbed BiTurbo in Ford-speak). Mated to a completely overhauled 10-speed automatic, it delivers 3kW less power at 154kW at 3750rpm, but the 500Nm torque maximum (between just 1750-2000rpm) remains. The transmission includes up to six driving modes.The XLT is also the entry point in Ranger for the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel that's distantly related to that found in Australia's Ford Territory.Also available in the Sport and Wildtrak, it has few peers with outputs of 184kW at 3250rpm and 600Nm at 1750-2250rpm.The V6 sends drive through to a new electronic on-demand four-wheel-drive system, with full-time 4WD that varies drive to the front or rear wheels as required. The six driving modes are: Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul and Slippery for on-road driving, and Mud/Ruts and Sand for use off-road. Each alter engine throttle, transmission, braking, traction and stability controls.There’s also an electronic rear differential lock which can be activated via the SYNC 4A multimedia screen, for improved off-road traction.Ranger 4x4s with either 2.0-litre engine stick with the standard part-time 4x4 set-up that offers 4x2 (rear-drive), 4x4 Low range and 4x4 High range.

Ford has revealed the efforts it has gone to bring the fuel consumption of the new Ranger down. This is despite the Australian engineers facing an uphill battle on a number of fronts, as the new midsized pick-up has grown heavier, wider and more box-like compared to the outgoing version.

Though aimed at fleet buyers, the XLS from $46,730 before on-road costs does come with a few more civilised items.Above the base XL's nine airbags, AEB autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and lane keep assist, blind spot warning, cross-traffic alert tech, halogen headlights, a front tow hook, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Ford’s Sync4 multimedia system, a digital instrument cluster, manual air-conditioning, USB-A and -C ports and cloth seats, the XLS ushers in fog lights, alloy wheels, side steps, a powered tailgate lock and front parking sensors.Additionally, the interior looks somewhat less austere, boasting carpet. It's a budget choice without feeling too bare.As per the XL, the XLS' rear cargo area in pick-up models feature the additional securing points at the front of the load box, box capping with integrated fixing points for added sheetmetal protection, a rear load box step near the bumper on the side for easy side access and a lighter tailgate, thanks to Ford's 'easy lift assist' system.Note, too, that the XLS is a Double Cab-only proposition, with four doors and five seats, as well as the ute tub in the rear.A built-in trailer wiring set-up is also included, though please keep in mind that the tow bar is optional for XL and XLS.Under the bonnet is a revised version of the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel (dubbed BiTurbo in Ford-speak). Mated to a completely overhauled 10-speed auto, with driving modes.This powertrain delivers 3kW less power at 154kW at 3750rpm, but the 500Nm torque maximum (between just 1750-2000rpm) remains, while shift quality is smoother and calmer.Ranger 4x4s with either 2.0-litre engine stick with the standard part-time 4x4 set-up that offers 4x2 (rear-drive), 4x4 Low range and 4x4 High range.

Kicking off from $35,930 before on-road costs, the base Ranger XL is nearly $7000 more expensive than the previous PX III equivalent, partly because Ford has dropped the manual gearbox for Australia. It’s auto or it’s nothing.But if you compare old versus new, prices are – on average – only around $1100 more expensive like-for-like (not including the Raptor), and that’s acceptable, given how much more kit you now get, in a palpably improved vehicle.A fleet-focused proposition, the Ranger XL is the cheapest, and, so, as a workhorse, is all about minimum frills: hard-wearing cloth, vinyl floor, a manual handbrake, easy-access dash storage – that sort of thing.However, it does include features like the surprisingly old-fashioned halogen headlights, a front tow hook, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Ford’s Sync4 multimedia system, a digital instrument cluster, manual air-conditioning, USB-A and -C ports, cloth seats, power windows and 16-inch steel wheelsNote, too, that all Rangers score nine airbags, AEB autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and lane keep assist and rear parking sensors, while all pick-ups have blind spot warning and cross-traffic alert tech.The XL is available in all body styles, as well as 4x2 and 4x4 grades. Those body styles are: two-seater Cab chassis, four-seater Super Cab chassis or pick-up, and five-seater Double Cab chassis or pick-up.Compared to the previous Ranger, the T6.2 pick-up models introduce additional securing points at the front of the load box, box capping with integrated fixing points for added bodywork protection, an integrated load box step near the bumper for easier side access, and a lighter tailgate thanks to Ford's 'easy lift assist' system.A built-in trailer wiring set-up is also included, though please keep in mind that the tow bar is optional for XL and XLS.Under that bluff bonnet is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder single turbo-diesel, replacing the old 2.2-litre as the base engine. Despite being smaller, it pumps out more power and torque at 125kW at 3500rpm and 405Nm between 1750-2500rpm respectively, and is only offered with a six-speed automatic.Meanwhile, the old 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel has been binned, for a revised version of the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel (dubbed BiTurbo in Ford-speak). Mated to a completely overhauled 10-speed auto, it delivers 3kW less power at 154kW at 3750rpm, but the 500Nm torque maximum (between just 1750-2000rpm) remains, while shift quality is smoother and calmer.Ranger 4x4s with either 2.0-litre engine stick with the standard part-time 4x4 set-up that offers 4x2 (rear-drive), 4x4 Low range and 4x4 High range.

After nearly a year of teasing and prototype sampling, we're finally behind the wheel of the highly anticipated 2023 Ford Ranger. Out on public Australian roads at last, we drive every Dual Cab 4x4 model currently available – XLS, XLT, Sport and Wildtrak, in 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo and hot new V6 turbo-diesel guises – to see if the world's only Australian designed and engineered pick-up can cut it.

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