finder score: 81.25%
| Website | Rating | Notable quotes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars Guide | 81% | "It offers a formidable combination of good looks, excellent steering, braking, ride quality and load-carrying ability, five star safety and a wide choice of different engine, transmission, body and model grade combinations designed to suit every budget and user requirement." | Read more |
| Cars Showroom | 80% | "...deserves its spot in the upper echelons of the pick-up landscape and manages to combine its workhorse-like attributes with genuine everyday usability" | Read more |
| WhichCar | 80% | "The Ford Ranger is a rugged ute with light steering and good safety credentials – which include a reversing camera on all Ranger pick-ups." | Read more |
| Car Advice | 84% | "The Ford Ranger XLT is now the second most popular new vehicle in Australia, behind only the Toyota HiLux. It's easy to see why it's so dominant in the booming 4x4 dual-cab ute market." | Read more |
TThe 2017 Ford Ranger was available to drive away from $31,449. The cheapest model was the 2.2-litre XL RWD Single Cab commercial ute with a manual transmission. On the other end of the scale, Ford retailed the range-topping 3.2-litre Wildtrak 4x4 Double Cab ute with an auto gearbox for $66,948.
Most models came with a six-speed manual as standard, with an optional automatic generally costing $2,310 extra. Some models were manual or automatic only. No-cost standard colours were white and red, with metallic paint costing an extra $550.
Prices are for postcode 2000. Click the price of the model you are interested in to see potential finance repayments and compare car loan products.
Compare used car finance to save potentially hundreds of dollars over the loan agreement on a Ford Ranger.
Privately, XL models like the 2.2-litre single cab chassis Ford Ranger will go for $25,900 to $28,500. With the larger 3.2-litre engine, the vehicle carries a value from $28,500 to $31,300. XL Super Cabs are priced between $31,400 and $34,300, while 2.2-litre double cabs command asking prices between $32,500 and $35,600. 3.2-litre engine XL double cabs are on the books between $32,800 and $35,900.
The higher spec XLTs carry higher used car price tags. Super cabs retain a price between $36,900 and $40,300 and manual double cabs with the higher capacity 3.2-litre Ford engine are valued between $38,300 and $41,700.
Wildtraks retain a good amount of their original retail price, with a value between $44,500 and $48,500. Meanwhile, the top of the line FX4 special editions are listed on the RedBook from $41,200 to $44,900.
| Regular chassis | Ranger pick-up |
|---|---|
| 2.2L XL 4x2 Diesel Manual – $31,449 2.2L XL 4x2 Hi-rider Manual - $35,0542.2L XL 4x2 Hi-rider - $37,320 3.2L XL 4x4 Diesel - $45,766 3.2L XL Plus Diesel Auto - $51,198 | 2.2L XL 4x2 Diesel Manual - $32,994 |
| Ranger chassis | Ranger picl-up |
|---|---|
| 2.2L XL 4x2 Hi-rider Diesel Auto – $39,895 3.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Manual - $48,363 | 3.2L XLT 4x2 Diesel Auto - $52,248 3.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Manual - $49,938 3.2L XLT 4x4 Diesel Manual - $58,233 3.2L XLT 4x4 Diesel Auto - $60,543 |
| Ranger chassis | Ranger pick-up |
|---|---|
| 2.2L XL 4x2 Hi-rider Diesel Auto – $41,955 2.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Manual – $47,838 2.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Auto – $50,148 3.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Manual – $50,463 3.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Auto – $52,773 3.2L XL Plus 4x4 Diesel Auto – $56,973 | 2.2L XL 4x2 Hi-rider Diesel Manual – $41,234 2.2L XL 4x2 Hi-rider Diesel Auto – $43,500 3.2L XLT 4x2 Hi-rider Diesel Manual – $52,038 3.2L XLT 4x2 Hi-rider Diesel Auto – $54,348 2.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Manual – $49,413 2.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Auto – $51,723 3.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Manual – $52,038 3.2L XL 4x4 Diesel Auto – $54,348 3.2L XLT 4x4 Diesel Manual – $60,333 3.2L XLT 4x4 Diesel Auto – $62,643 3.2L XLS 4x4 Diesel Manual – $53,403 3.2L XLS 4x4 Diesel Auto – $55,713 3.2L XL Plus 4x4 Diesel Auto – $58,023 3.2L Wildtrak 4x4 Diesel Manual – $64,638 3.2L Wildtrak 4x4 Diesel Auto – $66,948 3.2L XLS Special Edition 4x4 Diesel Manual – $55,478 3.2L XLS Special Edition 4x4 Diesel Auto – $57,788 3.2L FX4 Special Edition 4x4 Diesel Manual – $63,933 3.2L FX4 Special Edition 4x4 Diesel Auto – $66,358 |
The Ford Ranger is still Australia's second best-selling ute (as of 2019) behind the Toyota Hilux. It's well equipped and offers lots of equipment as standard. Ford offers the Ranger with two different engine options, both well received by journalists. The 2.2-litre ute is gutsy and fuel efficient, while the 3.2-litre ute makes towing and highway cruising more relaxed but less fuel efficient. Compared with its rivals, the Ranger is very well made and fabulously capable off-road.
The Ranger is one of the more expensive utes and some of the lower end trim levels have cheap plastic interiors; however, whether you're looking at purchasing a work ute or a lifestyle dual cab, a Ranger should always be one of your final three candidates.
| Pros | Cons | Notable quote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motoring |
|
| “Ford Ranger is clearly one of the most feature-laden and well-rounded one-tonne utes on the market, and one of the best to drive, both on and off-road.” |
| CarsGuide |
|
| “[The Ranger] offers a formidable combination of good looks, excellent steering, braking, ride quality and load-carrying ability, five-star safety and a wide choice of different engine, transmission, body and model-grade combinations designed to suit every budget and user requirement.” |
| WhichCar |
|
| “The Ford Ranger is a rugged ute with light steering and good safety credentials – which include a reversing camera on all Ranger pick-ups.” |
| CarAdvice |
|
| “From its car-like demeanour in urban surrounds to its modern tech, cabin practicality and safety, refinement, towing and load-carrying prowess, and visual presence, it’s probably the best in the business right now.” |
Ranger buyers can choose between two different turbocharged diesels. The smaller of the two is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder from Ford’s widely used Duratorq line. The 2.2-litre ute generates 118kW and 385Nm, which is pretty much the baseline for utes.
The larger 3.2-litre ute, also from the Duratorq stable, has an additional cylinder and sees power levels rise to 147kW and an impressive 470Nm of torque. As is often the case with Fords, both engines are available in sibling cars. For example, the 3.2-litre engine is also bolted into the Everest SUV, which should guarantee parts are cost-effective and widely available.
How do the diesels drive? Most reviewers preferred the larger, more pokey 3.2-litre version. Descriptions of this engine go as far as using terms like stand-out!
The 2.2-litre ute apparently has noticeable turbo-lag, where there’s a lull in throttle response while the turbocharger winds up. For towing and long highway runs, the 3.2-litre version looks to be the better option since the beefy motor is unchallenged by load lugging.
That said, the 2.2-litre engine installed in the more work-oriented utes is no slouch and journos said it performed admirably.
Reviewers found the revised manual gearbox shifts cleanly and offers a significant improvement over its predecessor’s vague gear changes. Both the automatic and manual have overdrive on the sixth gear, helping to claw back some fuel economy and dropping engine noise at higher speeds. Manual and automatic gearboxes benefit from selectable high-low gear range. For off-road use, the low range limits the speed to less than walking pace, giving drivers more control over tricky obstacles.
Fuel type
- Diesel
Cylinders
- 2.2L Inline 4
- 3.2L Inline 5
Fuel tank capacity
- 80 litres
Max. torque
- 2.2L 385Nm @ 1,600rpm - 2,500rpm
- 3.2L 470Nm @ 1,750rpm - 2,500rpm
Fuel consumption (best model 4x2 Low-Rider XL Single Chassis Cab) – combined
- 6.5L/100km
Max. power
- 2.2L: 118kW @ 3,200rpm
- 3.2L: 147kW @ 3,000rpm
Combined CO2 emissions (best model 4x2 Low-Rider XL Single Chassis Cab)
- 169 g/km
Acceleration
- N/A
Emissions standard
- Euro 6
Top speed
- N/A
Security
- Engine immobiliser
Transmission
- 6-speed manual or
- 6-speed automatic
Towing capacity (braked/unbraked)
- 3500kg/750kg
Fuel type
- Diesel
Cylinders
- 2.2L Inline 4
- 3.2L Inline 5
Fuel tank capacity
- 80 litres
Max. torque
- 2.2L 385Nm @ 1,600rpm - 2,500rpm
- 3.2L 470Nm @ 1,750rpm - 2,500rpm
Fuel consumption (best model 4x2 Low-Rider XL Single Chassis Cab) – combined
- 6.5L/100km
Max. power
- 2.2L: 118kW @ 3,200rpm
- 3.2L: 147kW @ 3,000rpm
Combined CO2 emissions (best model 4x2 Low-Rider XL Single Chassis Cab)
- 169 g/km
Acceleration
- N/A
Emissions standard
- Euro 6
Top speed
- N/A
Security
- Engine immobiliser
Transmission
- 6-speed manual or
- 6-speed automatic
Towing capacity (braked/unbraked)
- 3500kg/750kg
Of the two engines, the 2.2-litre TDCI Duratorq engine uses the least amount of fuel. The most fuel-efficient model is a RWD single-cab ute with a manual transmission that burns a sparing 6.6 litres per 100km combined. Ford Australia hasn’t provided urban or highway figures in any of their marketing materials.
As you’d expect, the 3.2-litre diesel, with its 1.0-litre extra displacement consumes additional fuel. At best, with this engine, a manual RWD Ranger delivers 8.1 litres per 100km. At worst, a 4x4 manual ute will work through 8.4 litres per 100km.
With the 2.2-litre engine, swapping the manual box for an automatic can lower the fuel economy as much as 1 litre per 100km. Fuel economy with the 3.2-litre engine, which has more power and torque, drops by just 0.1 litres per 100km when swapping from a manual to an auto box.
Note that these figures are calculated in an ADR 81/02 laboratory test under controlled conditions. Real-world, actual fuel economy will always be considerably less – as some reviewers observed. This isn’t just a Ranger thing either, drivers of all makes and models experience this. A few testers found the Ranger uses 2 to 3 litres per 100km more than the factory numbers suggested when they drove the ute around town. When towing, the fuel use can hit 17.4 litres per 100km thanks to the extra weight.
Ford’s engineers have installed an 80-litre fuel tank, one of the biggest out there, so the Ranger can truly live up to its name with the ability to cover a potential 900 kilometres between fill-ups.
For a ute, the Australian-developed Ranger rides very well. In fact, some journos said the Ranger is one of the best in its class. Despite having heavy-duty rear-leaf suspension, the blue-oval ute manages to deliver a solid and generally comfortable ride. Testers said it felt solid with no front-to-back jostling. Even when loaded up with a half-ton payload, the Ford Ranger remained composed and refined over bumps and undulations.
Utes of old often had heavy, cumbersome steering, but the Ranger has electro-assisted power steering that has low resistance and offers a positive feeling lock to lock. The steering was well received by testers, though the lack of column-reach adjustment came up more than once.
The Ranger is excellent off-road too. Just looking through the off-road specs, you’ll find several class-leading figures. For example, a 4x4 Ranger can travel through water up to 800mm deep. In some cases, rival utes like the Hilux and Colorado sit 200mm behind. If the creek’s any deeper, you’d better use a boat. The colossal wading depth points to excellent engineering and construction. Ground clearance, to avoid underbody-damaging protrusions and ramp/breakover angles, is similarly impressive. Proving the Ranger’s off-road intent, an electronic locking rear diff is available, improving grip and traction – a feature that is noticeably missing from some competitors’ offerings.
Overall, the Australian engineers did a grand job and have built a ute that is smooth and forgiving, laden or unladen, on a variety of terrain.
According to motoring journalists, workhorse truck interiors are cheap feeling with lots of plastic components. For those using the utes for what they’re designed to do, this shouldn't prove a problem.
As you move through the different trim levels, the interior is lifted from a basic-spec utility truck to a lifestyle vehicle. The XLT and Wildtrak models add things like heated leather seats, driver-safety assists and large 18-inch alloy wheels.
Assessing the interior, reviewers said the seats are comfortable on even the XL Rangers, with plenty of leg and headroom in the front. Rear passengers who are a little taller might want more legroom.
Vehicle controls are well positioned and ergonomically designed, with steering-wheel controls for all trim levels. Ford’s SYNC/3 is almost universally liked and thought to be highly intuitive and seamlessly integrated with smartphones. Clearly, someone at Ford HQ is listening to critics as all models include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a commonly absent inclusion in other manufacturers’ cars that journalists pick up on.
The top of the range Wildtrak comes equipped with a 230V mains plug, an unusual but welcome inclusion that will suit site managers and workers who need to recharge a laptop or equipment while on the go.
The interior also features an assortment of storage holes and there’s courtesy lighting thoughtfully provided in the tub.
| XL | XL PLUS | XLS | XLT | Wildtrak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-speed manual gearbox | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 6-speed automatic transmission * | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| eLocking rear differential | Some 4x2 models, 4x4 models | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Reversing camera | Pick-up models | Pick-up models | Pick-up models | Pick-up models | Pick-up models |
| Rear-window demister | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Underbody steel skid plate | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Underbody protection for transfer box, sump, fuel tank | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Standard rear-leaf suspension | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front disc/rear drum brakes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 6-way manually adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Inner and outer tie-downs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Projector lens headlight | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Chrome exterior trim | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✗ |
| 4-speaker sound system | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 6-speaker sound system | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 4.2-inch infotainment screen | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 8-inch touchscreen | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Built-in satellite navigation | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 230v plug inverter | Some | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dual battery | ✗ | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bluetooth with voice control | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cruise control | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hill-descent control | 4x4 as standard | 4x4 as standard | 4x4 as standard | 4x4 as standard | 4x4 as standard |
| Keyless entry | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 16” steel wheels | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 16” alloy wheels | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 17” alloy wheels | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✗ |
| 17” steel wheels | Some | Some | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 18” alloy wheels | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ |
| Vinyl flooring | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ |
| Carpet flooring | ✗ | ✗ | Some | Some | ✔ |
*Six-speed automatic is an option on some models, with a handful of models offered as auto-only.
When researching a used, second-hand Ford Ranger, look out for examples built between 1 March 2016 and 13 July 2018. Ford issued a recall for Rangers manufactured during this period, requiring models to have the front brake line inspected by a dealer. Likely, the dealer will replace the flexible brake hose because if the part was installed with a twist, it can fail after travelling over terrain that pushes the suspension to the max.
Another issue affecting models from 7 March 2018 to 13 April 2018 required an inspection of the front brake calliper, which could crack due to an alloy used that was not up to specification.
A VIN number list was published in December 2017 for vehicles that could accumulate potential fire and smoke-producing vegetation build-up around the exhaust. Ford's solution was to fit a heat shield, so you should check this has been done. In June 2018, Ford issued a recall on certain Ranger models made between 16 March and 6 April 2018. These vehicles could, under certain circumstances, have a cracked steering shaft weld, causing a loss of steering. There was also a side airbag inflator recall published in September 2017.
These appear to be the most common issues people had with their new Rangers
Motoring journalists generally liked the Ranger, complementing its refined ride, modern technology and equipment features as well as the exterior styling. With dozens of different body/engine/trim and gearbox options, the Ranger line-up is very flexible, so there should be a ute for everyone. Commercial buyers will enjoy the 3.5-tonne towing capacity and weekend warriors will benefit from its off-road prowess.
The Ranger does have above-average purchase, running and servicing costs, but it makes up for the expense in so many other ways.
Pictures: Ford.com.au
The Ford Focus ST is perhaps one of the best known hot hatches and with the latest model they have made a German-built vehicle accessible to more people.
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If you're looking for a new or used ute, the Ford Ranger should be a definite inclusion on anyone's list.
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