Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger is a stylish and muscular midsize pickup truck from Ford and part of the Truck Wars that has been launched in the Philippines. this car has its wide stature and great traction, it is one of the most sought after pickup trucks in the country today, which is the best selling car of Ford Philippines today. It bears Ford’s latest design language on utility vehicles that’s also seen on the Everest. The most prominent feature being the C-clamp headlamp and front grille treatment that really commands attention wherever it goes. Together with an increase in the Ranger’s overall track and wheelbase, it looks even wider, and capable of doing more heavy duty activities. The Ford Ranger is available in 4x2 and 4x4 and comes in the following variants, XL, XLS, XLT, Sport and Wildtrak. There are also two powertrain options to choose from. There’s a 2.0-liter Single-Turbo EcoBlue diesel engine or the 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo EcoBlue diesel engine. Transmission options include a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic, and 10-speed automatic, depending on the variant. The Ford Ranger competes with the likes of the Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Hilux, Chevrolet Colorado, and Mitsubishi Strada in the pickup segment.

History

The Ford Ranger is a pickup truck type vehicle made by the Ford Motor Company. Initially, this name was used on the Edsel Ranger, then reused in 1982. Since 1998 Ford has also sold other versions of the Ranger which are sold internationally. In 1983, this Ford Ranger introduced the first Ranger pickup. It was available with four engine options ranging from 73 to 115 horsepower. The truck will get a major refresh for 1989 with updated styling, frame upgrades, and interior upgrades. The current-generation Ford Ranger was launched on September 21, 2018 in the Philippines, refreshing the local lineup of Ford Ranger and adding the first-ever Ranger Raptor.

Launch

Initially, the Ford Ranger was launched during the second quarter of 2022 in Australia where it was developed. This was followed by another launch in Thailand where it is produced. In the Philippines, the 2023 Ford Ranger was officially launched on July 28, 2022. It is available in five trim levels and eight distinct variants. The price range varies between ₱1.198,000 for the base XL model and ₱1.875,000 for the top spec Bi-Turbo Ranger Wildtrak 4x4 variant.

Variant and Price

In 2022, the 2023 Ford Ranger price in the Philippines starts at ₱1.198,000. The lowest price is the Ford Ranger 2.2 XLS 4x2 MT, ranging all the way up to the Ford Ranger 2.0L Bi-Turbo Wildtrak 4x4 AT priced at ₱1.875,000.

The new exterior of the 2023 Ford Ranger projects a functional yet ultra-modern look. Adopting Ford’s latest design language on utility vehicles, the Ranger sports a reworked front fascia with a bolder grille and new C-clamp headlights, which are either reflectors, multi-reflector LEDs, or matrix LEDs, depending on the variant.

The exterior restyle also required bumping up the Ranger’s track and wheelbase by 50mm. In addition to being wider, it really gives the pickup a commanding presence. Even the truck bed has been redesigned to become more useful and convenience. The rear box steps integrated behind the rear wheels is a useful feature, allowing easy access to the bed area. There’s even a new plastic molded bed liner to keep any cargo safe. The Ranger Sport and WIldtrak variants get an easy-lift tailgate for added convenience. Color choices include, Arctic white, Absolute black, Aluminum metallic, Meteor grey, Blue lightning, Sedona orange and the Ranger Wildtrak exclusive Luxe yellow.

Dimensions

The dimensions of the 2023 Ford Ranger is 5,370mm Length, 1,918mm Width, and 1,884mm Height. It has 3,270mm wheelbase and 235mm ground clearance.

Wheels

The Ford Ranger is available with wheel sizes ranging from 16- to 18-inches.

The redesigned interior of the Ford Ranger not only offers more passenger space, but also sports a premium look and feel. This is evident on the materials used for the interior including all the buttons and switches. The highly supportive front and rear seats are wrapped in either fabric or leather/synthetic leather  depending on the variant. The top spec Ranger Wildtrak variant gets an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, while the other variants get a 6-way or 4-way manual-adjustable front seat.

Safety Features

Here’s another aspect that Ford vehicles are known for and the new Ranger is no exception. Standard safety features on the Ranger include, six SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX anchor points, and an engine immobilizer. The top spec Ranger Wildtrak variant gets an additional knee airbag. Other Ranger variants like the XLS get hill launch assist, roll-over mitigation, an electronic stability program and traction control system.

Exclusive only for the top spec Ranger Wildtrak variant, is Ford's Advanced Driver Assist Technology. It consists of adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and a forward collision warning system. Also included are active safety features like auto high beam, lane departure warning, and a lane-keeping system. Lastly, there’s a new 360-degree camera and blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert and braking, reverse brake assist, and evasive steering assist.

Infotainment features

Always at the forefront when it comes to tech features, Ford made sure that the new Ranger comes with even more. For starters, it’s hard not to miss the huge central touchscreen display. Depending on the variant, its either a 10.1-inch or 12-inch unit with SYNC 4A, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto capability. The system also comes with six speakers on all Ranger variants. Other tech features that come standard include, wireless charging, smart keyless entry with push-button start, single-zone manual temperature control, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and a windshield-mounted USB port.

For the top spec Ranger Wildtrak variant, there’s a 360-degree camera, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control with rear aircon vents, two additional USB ports and Ford’s Terrain Management System.

Platform, Chassis and Powertrain

Just like a proper pickup, the 2023 Ford Ranger adopts a rigid body-on-frame structure using Ford’s T6 platform. In the Philippines, the Ranger is only available as a four-door, double cab body.

However, there are two powerplant options to choose from. The first is a 2.0-liter Single-Turbo EcoBlue diesel engine with 170 hp and 405 Nm of torque with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The second is a 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo EcoBlue diesel engine that delivers 210 hp and 500 Nm of torque. This engine, along with the 10-speed automatic transmission and an electronic rear-locking differential, is exclusive to the top spec Ranger Wildtrak 4x4 variant. The Ford Ranger is available in either 2x4 or 4x4 configuration, depending on the variant.

Engine

It's time to go inside the kitchen runway room to see the specifications of the 2023 Ford Ranger at the heart of the drive. This car is divided into several variants. The Ford Ranger diesel engine base that has been Ranger's mainstay from generation to generation has proven to be tough. besides being very powerful the engine in this car is also quite economical in fuel consumption. 

The All-new Ford Ranger packs a 2.0-liter turbodiesel that generates 168hp at 3,500rpm and 405Nm of torque between 1,750-2,500rpm.

• 210 hp, 500 Nm torque (2.0-liter Biturbo Diesel)
• 178 hp, 420 Nm torque (2.0-liter Single Turbo Diesel)

Chassis

• Class - Midsize Pickup Truck
• Body Style - Four-Door Double Cab, Body-On-Frame Pickup Truck 

Platform

• Layout - Front Engine, Rear-Wheel Drive or Four-Wheel Drive
• Platform - Ford T6 Platform

The Ford Ranger gets several engine options: 

Fuel Consumption

Ford claims the fuel consumption of Ranger 3.2-litre automatic will do 32.1mpg and emit 231g/km, while the manual claims 33.6mpg and 221g/km. In comparison, the 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel in the Ranger Limited manages 40.4mpg in manual guise.

Acceleration

During our time with the Ranger Wildtrak, we recorded a 0-100 km/h time of 9.8 seconds. Pretty remarkable for a truck that weighs 2-tonnes.

Transmission Performance

Alongside its segment-leading power output figures, upper variants of the Ranger are fitted with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Other variants of the Ranger receive a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. 

Steering and Handling

Unlike a lot of its rivals, the steering in the Ford Ranger is surprisingly light. In fact, the steering is lighter than the one found in the Isuzu D-Max, which makes parking manoeuvres much easier. 

The Ford Ranger continuous to be one of the most powerful and premium pickup trucks in its segment. It’s on and off road agility, extensive cargo space and modern design makes it one of Ford Philippines’ best-selling vehicle. For a pickup, the amount of advanced tech features that come with it is very impressive.

Whether you're a business owner that needs to carry work equipment or a family man that wants a pick-up truck, Ford has you covered with the sheer amount of Ranger variants on sale. The Ford Ranger is a very capable all-rounder, as the upper variants with their refinement and comfort levels comparable with regular passenger cars. If safety is paramount to you, then the Ranger Wildtrak and its ADAS suit should be shortlisted.