FORD RANGER XLT
THE Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Sport and XLT models are each available with the choice of the V6 or I4 diesel engines, and the V6 is a $3000 extra over the purchase price of the four-cylinder.
Choosing the bi-turbo I4 engine means you don’t just miss out on the performance and refinement of the V6 engine, but a few significant features as well. The biggest omission is the full-time 4x4 capable transfer case which is exclusive to the V6 powered models and the benefits this brings, especially on wet and varied roads when towing. You also miss some of the driving modes, but the Tow-haul setting is still there.
The electronic towing aids and on-screen guides are also there when you have the optional Touring pack fitted as our blue Ranger did.
Heading out of town in the four-cylinder powered Ranger XLT with the Jayco on the back and you still get all the chassis benefits of the V6 Ranger. It’s stable and controlled and again really gives the driver confidence in the car’s abilities.
You need to put your foot down a bit harder to get the most out of the smaller engine but with 500Nm available, the XLT wasn’t left lacking on our drive. It was only on the longer hill climb that it was holding a lower gear and you could hear and feel the engine working harder but not as if it was being flogged.
An indicator of how much harder the four-cylinder XLT Ranger worked than the V6 Ranger Sport was in the fuel consumption. The smaller engine used 17.3L/100km of diesel over the same road loop where the V6 used 16.7L/100km. We’ve found similar results in the past when asking a smaller engine to do the same work in the same cars over the same route.
The new Rangers proved not only to be competent and relaxed towing vehicles but with the new technologies and features included in the cars, they made towing easier and safer.