Ford ranger platinum 2023 review

Give the Ford Ranger chrome treatment, a silky smooth V6 engine and a comprehensive off-roading package and you get the Ranger Platinum; the most premium offering within the Ranger family, bar the Raptor.

And is it worth the money over a Wildtrak? Glenn Butler goes looking for answers. If you're into utes, no introduction is necessary, so feel free to jump right to the pricing section below. If you're new to utes, a bit of background will help set the scene. Dual-cab utes are enjoying incredible popularity right now. In fact, the top two new vehicles bought by Australians in and so far in are the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger in dual-cab 4x4 configuration. The Ford Ranger is also the Drive Car of the Year , so not only is it popular with consumers, it's critically acclaimed.

Ford ranger platinum 2023 review

The Platinum showcases the breadth of ability the current Ranger possesses. Making an upmarket pick-up truck is no easy venture, though. Just ask Mercedes , whose ill-fated Nissan Navara -based X-Class quietly went off sale many years ago. The exterior of the Platinum will appeal to those looking for something more eye-catching than a traditional family -friendly SUV, and there are some welcome extra amenities inside, too. Only available as a five-seat double-cab, the interior features heated and ventilated driver and passenger memory seats with way power adjustment, a leather steering wheel, some wood grain trim and a Bang and Olufsen eight-speaker sound system. The degree camera is very responsive and extremely helpful in a vehicle this size. Adults sitting in the front or back will have plenty of space and there are also lots of storage areas dotted around. The huge touchscreen is the main focal point to the dash. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto take up the top half of the screen, which is a little strange but it means the climate controls and menu shortcuts are always within reach. The climate controls themselves are split between the touchscreen and some physical buttons below for functions like demisting, which is a little odd. Unsurprisingly, the Platinum feels less suited to town driving than other environments. The tall front end and flat bonnet makes it difficult to judge where the front of the car ends, but the slab-sided body makes it a little easier to place within your lane. The 5,mm length dwarfs even a Mercedes S-Class , so get used to protruding out of car park spaces.

Pricing and Features. In terms of driving modes, the Platinum comes kitted with all the selectable four-wheel drive options, including a low-range mode and the new 4A option, which allows permanent four-wheel drive, whether on tar or gravel. Now, the drivetrain.

But at this price point come some fairly serious expectations. Can the Ranger Platinum live up to the big billing? The premium pack that is popular with Wildtrak buyers has also been thrown in for nix with the Platinum, bringing you a speaker Bang and Olufsen stereo, full LED tail lights and an overhead auxiliary switch bank. Likewise, maximum scores were awarded recognising the Good levels of protection offered to child occupants in the frontal offset and side impact crashes. Every Ranger carries a high level of standard safety gear including dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting curtain airbags, along with a driver and passenger knee airbag.

And is it worth the money over a Wildtrak? Glenn Butler goes looking for answers. If you're into utes, no introduction is necessary, so feel free to jump right to the pricing section below. If you're new to utes, a bit of background will help set the scene. Dual-cab utes are enjoying incredible popularity right now. In fact, the top two new vehicles bought by Australians in and so far in are the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger in dual-cab 4x4 configuration.

Ford ranger platinum 2023 review

Considered more of a diet F than mini-truck, the Ranger comes with a hp turbocharged inline-four and speed automatic transmission. It comes up big with a pound maximum towing capacity, however. The Ranger can be ordered as either a two-door SuperCab with a six-foot bed or a four-door SuperCrew with a five-foot bed. This is largely an appearance package with an exclusive Eruption Green Metallic paint color and black mesh grille. Azure Gray Metallic Tri-coat is also added as an available paint option. It comes standard with forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking—things that are only available on the Chevrolet Colorado's and the GMC Canyon's highest trims.

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On the downside the transmission does have the occasional off day. But by and large this is all tinsel. The Wildtrak solves this. The lack of full-width digital dash is a disappointment, though. Yes, the Ranger Raptor still sits in a league of its own, and while it may possess similar elements to the Platinum, with equally high-grade materials, the Raptor is still a very sporty, niche off-roading vehicle in terms of look and feel. A box step located at each rear corner of the tray aids access. Maybe because of the tyre, the steering feels a tad heavier in its weight than other Rangers previously sampled, while the handling remains controlled and confident. But really I just stuffed up. New car calendar. If you're planning on pushing the limits, you should be aware of this:. Being the 2. So, is the Wildtrak worth the money? The aggressive tread of the BFGoodrich tyres works wonders off-road but it reduces the contact patch considerably, and on a wet road in rear-wheel drive the Raptor can spin the wheels and wiggle its rear-end in the first six gears and at any road speed.

The Platinum showcases the breadth of ability the current Ranger possesses.

In co-operation with ARB, Ford has developed a comprehensive range of accessories to help with off-road and Outback adventures. We did not tow anything or put anything in the tray, so if you do, expect your usage to be higher. All news and reviews. We do wish there were lights in the sliding load rack to help sort through stuff in the box at night. Mechanically, there are inch alloys with aggressive BF Goodrich tyres and a full-size spare , diff locks front and rear, adaptive Fox shocks, active dual exhaust, a reinforced box frame and stronger power steering motor. Dual-cab utes are enjoying incredible popularity right now. The digital instrument cluster is a disappointment. Drive Journalists. The exterior of the Platinum will appeal to those looking for something more eye-catching than a traditional family -friendly SUV, and there are some welcome extra amenities inside, too. On the roof behind the rearview mirror, the Platinum gets the Wildtrak's optional auxiliary switch bank which looks and feels like an airplane's switchgear but doesn't do landing gear or reverse thrust. Review 4 May This is ably mopped up by the traction and stability control and selecting 4A for all-wheel drive improves things further, but remember that this improves traction but not grip. Road tests Home Ford Ranger Ranger pick-up. Safer Driving Guide. The Proving Grounds provide a massive facility in the snowed-out mountains of the South Island, where manufacturers across the world test their vehicles in the most trying conditions.