From workhorse to fun machine

Two litre turbo more then enough

The Ford Ranger is fresh from taking out the Light Commercial Vehicle Car of the Year title(see over page) after dominating the field last year and continuing in the same vein for 2023.

It is a range of utes that has something for everyone — workhorse to fun machine.

That fun machine is the Raptor and at the top of the heap is a 3.0-litre biturbo petrol V6 with supercar power, and thirst.

So what happens if you want the looks and handling, but not the power?

The answer has arrived in the form of the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 — freshly arrived in showrooms for the summer.

I had the briefest of drives in the model at Fairview Motors, it was that new.

The 2.0 stands for Ford’s proven two litre turbo diesel, with a more than respectable 150kW of power and 500Nm of torque.

That is enough to get you out of trouble.

The 10-speed automatic transmission is also familiar, as is the AWD system with 2 and 4WD options and seven terrain settings — including Baja.

Added is the performance suspension package, which changes ride height and gives a more positive ride and handling experience.

The purposeful looks are enhances by the 17” wheels and all terrain tyres, bold badges and grille emblem, Raptor side steps (which are useful), wheel arches, headlamp clusters, tow hooks, underbody protection and zone lighting.

From a workhorse point of view the Raptor range loses some towing capacity — it is understood and if towing is the main aim, Ford has a vehicle for the job.

Interior is also a step up, with leather features and orange accent stitching throughout, powered and heated front seats, ambient lighting, a great audio system and digital cluster and touchscreen.

After our SUVs, we are a ute loving country, so it is hard to stand out from the crowd, but that is what the Raptor achieves.

Fuel economy sits around 10.6l/100km — acceptable for a workhorse/fun vehicle that can serve a number of functions, be it in the workplace or family life.