By Paul Gover.
The Ford Ranger is arguably the most important newcomer of 2022.
It’s the road-up re-work of the headline act at Ford Australia – as well as proof that the design and engineering team at Broadmeadows can still do great stuff.
Although it’s built in Thailand, because that’s the cheapest choice, it is completely Aussie and ideally suited to a country that now sees utes as 21st century family cars.
So the Ranger is a born-again Falcon, in a way …
Thankfully, the way today is much more car-like than before and the Ranger is any easy pick as the best ute in showrooms.
It’s not cheap, from $35,930 even as a two-wheel drive workhorse, and it will have to face an all-new Volkswagen Amarok soon that promises to provide serious opposition.
But slide into the mid-grade Ranger XLT – at $62,290 – ands it’s easy to see the appeal.
There is a giant infotainment screen in the centre of the dash, the controls are light and easy to use, the sound system is punchy, the seats have good shape and classy coverings, and even the rear-seat passengers have a touch more knee space thanks to sculpting the back of the front buckets.
Even the door handles have an impressively quality feel, and show a new approach to their action – something everyone should try in a showroom.
Now, over to the negatives.
The ute tray is still too small and too high to load easily – although the designers have added smart steps alongside the rear bumper – and it’s tough to park.
Then again, it is a truck. Which helps to explain front-end styling that Ford says is inspired by its American F150 pick-up but looks more like a Kenworth to me.
Getting in an out, even with a grab handle, also feels like climbing into a Kenworth.
The XLT comes with a 3-litre V6 turbodiesel engine, a 10-speed auto and a driver-select four-wheel drive system.
Most people would never pick the engine as a diesel, because it is super-quiet and refined, but it easily returned 8.5 litres/100km consumption on a long highway run.
The engine can take a while to pick up the pace, but it’s got plenty of overtaking grunt and would not be worried by towing.
One of the best things about the new Ranger is the suspension and steering, which is clearly best-in-class.
It drives like a car, not a truck, with none of the bouncing and jiggling and darting that makes most utes so annoying. They need a load to soften the suspension, but the Ranger is fine even with nothing in the tray.
The Ford Australia crew has also planted a number of ‘easter eggs’ – including lights and a power point in the tray – for owners and shoppers to discover.
It’s this attention to detail, as much as the overall design and packaging work, that makes the 2022 Ford Ranger so good.
It’s won me over, and that’s a big call for someone who finds most utes as enjoyable as a wheelbarrow.
Everything is here, everything is good, and now Ford could easily have the ute to challenge the Toyota HiLux for sales supremacy in Australia.
FORD RANGER
Position: four-door ute
Price: $62,290
Engine: 3-litre V6 turbodiesel
Power: 184kW/500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Plus: the ute that drives most like a car
Minus: the price, and some niggling ute stuff
THE TICK: It’s worthy
Score: 9/10
