Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger presents itself as the perfect urban pick-up truck. There are 7 variants, ranging from the utilitarian Ranger XL Single Cab all the way up to the mental Ranger Raptor.

It has class-leading refinement and ride, with plenty of features and technology as well as clever touches all over that make it a great work truck or family-mover.

There are 3 engines available, a 2.0-litre single turbo diesel (170 PS/405 Nm), a 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel (210 PS/500 Nm) and a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol (397 PS/583 Nm).

The Ford Ranger is priced from RM 98,888 all the way up to RM 259,888.

Design

The all-new 2023 Ford Ranger has its overall design language inspired by its larger sibling that isn’t sold here, the Ford F-150.

That sees it inherit the signature C-clamp headlights that sees the taillights mimic the design as well. Overall, it projects  a muscular design that’s impossible to mistake as anything else on the road and is the largest pick-up sold in the country.

Dimensions

Lighting

From the Ranger XLT onwards, all variants make do with LED reflector headlights in that iconic C-clamp design. Nonetheless, all variants get LED taillights.

 Clever Exterior Touches

 Ford has always been a pioneer in maximising the utility of the Ranger and the 2023 model is no different. You’ll find some variants pack a 3-pin power socket and cigarette lights socker in the bed, alongside holes for G-clamps to transform the bed lid into a workbench and side-steps on the rear bumper right behind the rear wheels to make it easy to climb into the bed.

Dashboard

The 2023 Ford Ranger is still lightyears ahead of its competition when it comes to the interior.

It looks like an interior from a passenger sedan, feels like one and functions like one. Clever use of soft touch materials further accentuates the refinement and comfort for all occupants.

A monstrous 10.1-inch touchscreen that hosts all the car functions as well as SYNC with Android Auto and Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard across the range, even in the workhorse single-cab, and that’s something none of the competition can come close to.

Space and Practicality

The previous Ranger lacked in this department but the current one has more than made up for it. Usable space has been stretched to be among the best in the segment with a large box in the centre and a wireless smartphone charger for certain variants.

Infotainment

It’s hard to ignore that screen, isn’t it? The 10.1-inch touchscreen houses all the Ranger’s functions as well as permanent air-conditioning controls at the bottom. Now, we don’t see the need for that given there’s physical controls for the air-conditioning but who are we to argue.

Seeing the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on such a wide screen is welcome, as it makes navigating the functions much easier.

Spec and feature breakdown

You can check out a detailed breakdown of all the features in all 7 variants of the 2023 Ford Ranger here.

Ford Ranger variant breakdown

Safety Features

All 2023 Ford Ranger variants come standard with stability control, traction control, hill descent control, hill launch assist, rollover mitigation and trailer sway assist. Furthermore, all except the single-cab come standard with a minimum of 4 airbags. The single cab makes do with only 2 airbags.

From the Ranger 2.0 XLT Plus onwards, ADAS is standard.

Engine

The 2023 Ford Ranger comes with a choice of 3 engines across the range. The variants and engines are as follows:

Ranger 2.0 XL Manual Single Cab – 2.0-litre single turbodiesel commonrail direct injection (170 PS and 405 Nm with a 6-speed manual)

Ranger 2.0 XL – 2.0-litre single turbodiesel commonrail direct injection (170 PS and 405 Nm with a 6-speed manual/6-speed automatic)

Ranger 2.0 XLT – 2.0-litre single turbodiesel commonrail direct injection (170 PS and 405 Nm with a 6-speed manual/6-speed automatic)

Ranger 2.0 XLT Plus – 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel commonrail direct injection (210 PS and 500 Nm with a 10-speed automatic)

Ranger 2.0 WildTrak Automatic – 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel commonrail direct injection (210 PS and 500 Nm with a 10-speed automatic)

Ranger 2.0 Bi-Turbodiesel Raptor – 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel commonrail direct injection (210 PS and 500 Nm with a 10-speed automatic)

Ranger 3.0 V6 Ecoboost Petrol Raptor – 3.0 V6 EcoBoost petrol direct injection (397 PS and 583 Nm with a 10-speed automatic)

Drivetrain

Every Ranger variant comes in 4x4 with the ability to shift-on-the-fly electronically.

Steering and Handling

The Ranger has surprisingly light steering, belying its size and making it much easier to manuever in urban environments.

NVH

As the most refined and comfortable pick-up in its segment, the Ranger returns one of the lowest, if not the lowest, levels of NVH.

Passengers will appreciate the quietness and isolation of the cabin from external elements.

Fuel Consumption

Ford claims the Ranger Wildtrak will do 7.6L/100km on average. Limited by a mid-week slot that didn’t allow for more driving, we averaged 10.2L/100km over an equal split of highway and town driving that came up to around 350 km.

Read the complete 2023 Ford Ranger WildTrak review here

If you’re someone with an active urban lifestyle, the 2023 Ford Ranger is all you’ll need. It’s a true jack of all trades as a pick-up.

You’ll likely keep it on the road as opposed to heavy off-road use but that’s not to say it would fail at it, it’s more of saying the Ranger is in its environment doing active urban lifestyle duty.