Here’s a deep dive on all the key facts and figures for the 2022 Ford Ranger ute – and there are a few you definitely don’t know about
The new 2022 Ford Ranger has 23 model variants across six specification levels: XL, XLS, XLT, Sport, Wildtrak and Raptor.
There are also three different bodies – Single Cab, Super Cab and Double Cab – and the choice of cab-chassis or pick-up load areas.
Throw in the choice of two four-cylinder diesel engines, a new V6 diesel and, on Ranger Raptor, a twin-turbo V6 petrol and it makes for a vast model line-up that sprawls from $35,930 plus on-road costs all the way to $85,490 plus ORCs for the Raptor.
Away from the occasionally baffling model range, there are also loads of cool new additions and smart thinking behind the new Ranger.
Here’s everything you need to know about the all-new 2022 Ford Ranger.
Global ute
• As with the previous Ford Ranger, the new one will be sold in more than 180 countries around the world. Specification levels and features can vary a lot between those markets.
• In Australia, the Ranger is sold with a choice of three diesel engines: the entry-level engine is a 125kW/405Nm single-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder. The mid-grade engine is a twin-turbo version of that 2.0-litre making 154kW and 500Nm. The new diesel performance hero is a 3.0-litre V6 single-turbo making 184kW/600Nm.
• The soon-to-arrive Ford Ranger Raptor comes with the only petrol engine in the Ranger line-up. The 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo makes 292kW and 583Nm, which is more than the entry-level Porsche 911.
• The wheels on the new Ranger are spaced further apart but the overall size of the truck is similar to before. There’s a 50mm wider track (distance between left and right wheels) and a 50mm longer wheelbase (distance between front and rear wheels).
• As a Wildtrak, the new Ranger is 12mm shorter, 51mm wider and 36mm taller than the model it replaces.
• The ground clearance of the new Ranger is 234mm, just 2mm more than the previous generation.
• The optional matrix LED high beam headlights available on the Wildtrak have even been calibrated to pick up a cyclist, ensuring that those on pedal power won’t be blinded by oncoming lights.
• Each matrix high beam cluster on the Wildtrak Premium has 11 individually operated LEDs. Compared with dozens of LEDs in some passenger cars it’s a lot less, so the matrix system doesn’t have the finer adjustment of more complex systems.
• While a familiar piece of kit – it was used in the diesel-powered version of the Ford Territory – the 3.0-litre V6 diesel was treated as a new engine during its development process. That means a more rigorous development process to account for its heavier-duty use in a workhorse ute.
• Changes to the V6 for use in the Ranger included redesigning the oil pan so the car can have more aggressive tilt angles when off-roading.
• The new Ranger can accept B20, a diesel mix containing up to 20 per cent bio-diesel.
• The 2.0-litre four-cylinder biturbo engine makes slightly less power than before: 154kW versus 157kW. Ford says the difference is down to calibration differences related to emissions.
• The V6 diesel is the first Ranger with a full-time four-wheel drive system, allowing the ute to be run permanently driving all four wheels. Owners can choose between 4A (for auto, or on-road use) or 4H (for high, or off-road use), the latter sending equal drive to front and rear wheels. Engineers also included a two-wheel drive mode (2H) for a minor fuel economy benefit.
Australian base
• The home base for design and engineering of the new Ford Ranger was Australia, but it was also tested in more than 10 countries, including the UK, the United States and South America.
• The Ranger was engineered to cope with temperature extremes of at least -50 degrees Celsius, all the way up to 50 degrees.
• During development Ford covered the equivalent of 1,250,000km of customer driving, with 625,000km of that simulating rugged off-road durability testing.
• Engineers have covered more than four million kilometres in early production vehicles.
• Testing the Ranger involved more than 10,000km of desert development.
• The new Ranger maintains its class-leading 800mm wading depth. An optional snorkel can increase that and is added peace of mind given the air intake is ready to take a gulp of water if a bow wave goes over the bonnet.
• The Ranger was tested in the Monash University wind tunnel. The tunnel uses a 450kW variable pitch axial flow fan that can deliver wind speeds up to 180km/h.
• The top of the Ranger tailgate was lengthened to improve its aerodynamic efficiency, in turn incrementally lowering fuel use.
Cabin tech
• All regular Ford Ranger models get an 8.0-inch customisable instrument cluster flanked by a fixed temperature gauge and fuel gauge. The Ranger Raptor gets a larger 12.4-inch instrument cluster.
• All Rangers get two LED lights neatly integrated into the tray of pick-up body styles. They’re great for checking the load area at night.
• Despite a larger infotainment screen (10.1 inches on most models, 12 inches on Wildtrak variants) all Rangers still get physical dials and buttons to control airflow, cabin temperature and audio volume. Ford said customer feedback demanded the use of physical buttons for some functions.
• The Ranger XLT, Sport and Wildtrak get a tow bar fitted as standard. The fitment of that tow bar also means each gets larger front brakes and rear disc brakes in lieu of drums.
• The new Ford ute gets “RANGER” stamped into the metal tailgate for the first time (previously it was a sticker).
• Ford Australia designers fought to maintain a gear selector lever on all models rather than the dial employed by many other Fords globally. Lower model grades use the carryover tall gear selector while upper variants get a new stubby ‘e-shifter’.
• The new Ranger has an available ‘zone lighting’ feature. It allows individual illumination of the daytime running lights, side puddle lights and rear load tray lights when parked.
• The ribbed tray liner that’s fitted standard to XLT, Sport and Wildtrak models have shallower and wider ribs to make it easier on the knees when crawling or kneeling in the load area.
Safety upgrade
• All Ford Ranger models come standard with nine airbags: dual front, front side, side curtain (longer on dual-cab models), front knee airbags and a centre airbag between the driver and front passenger.
• The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system uses a camera with a wider view than previously for enhanced pre-collision assistance as well as an intersection assist function that can brake if it determines a risk in turning across traffic.
• The Ranger also gets post-impact braking, whereby it will apply the brakes after a crash to potentially avoid another impact.
• The blind spot system has been calibrated for trailers, although it requires the length and width of the trailer to be added using the SYNC infotainment system.
• The revised SYNC infotainment system can be programmed to store up to 10 different trailer sizes.
• The new Ranger has reverse brake assist, whereby it can apply the brakes in reverse to avoid a collision.
• The Ranger has intelligent adaptive cruise control on XLT, Sport and Wildtrak models. It can recognise speed limit signs and automatically adjust the cruise control speed to the new limit.
• The active park assist system that is standard on the Wildtrak now takes care of all steering and braking.
• The Ranger has an available integrated brake controller to activate electric trailer brakes. It is standard on the Wildtrak or $900 for XLT and Sport models when paired with a 360-degree camera and zone lighting system.
Towing and touring
• The gross combined mass (weight of the car and trailer and everything in them) on the new Ford Ranger has been increased by about 250-300kg. That means it should be able to carry more when towing the maximum 3500kg.
• There is a new Tow/Haul mode in the drive mode select system. It’s standard on all but the base XL model and performance-focused Raptor and aims to better hold gears when carrying heavy loads or towing.
• The front-mounted camera on the new Ranger comes with an integrated sprayer to clear the lens if it is covered in bugs or mud. No such smartness on the rear camera…
• Ford crash-tested more than 10 Rangers just to develop the ARB-developed factory-approved bull bars for the new model.
• The Ranger is available with a 140-litre fuel tank. It was not fitted standard because it would have reduced the payload of the core vehicle (payload is calculated with a full tank of fuel).
• The new Ranger has a space under the bonnet for a second battery. The company even developed a specific arm for the water bottle washer refiller to allow the auxiliary battery to slot underneath.
• Even in Wildtrak guise you’ll still be lifting the bonnet manually as there are no struts to help out. And don’t go searching for the bonnet release on the driver’s side because it’s over on the passenger’s side.
• The forward-facing radar (all models) and front camera (standard on Wildtrak, optional on XLT and Sport 4×4 models) have been designed to be relocated if you’re fitting a bull bar. Each has a self-learning function to adapt to their new positions.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://editorial.csnstatic.com/editors/toby-hagon-author.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Toby Hagon[/author_info] [/author]
