2022 Ford Ranger line-up revealed

Prices shouldn’t be too far away though, given Ford has confirmed its dealers will open their order books for the new Ranger next month, ahead of first deliveries mid-year.

The new Ford Ranger line-up will comprise the XL, XLS, XLT, Sport, Wildtrak and flagship Raptor variants, with three different turbo-diesel engines offered across the mainstream range. The Raptor performance hero, meanwhile, will dump its diesel drivetrain for an exclusive twin-turbo petrol V6.

That’s not counting the arrival of other potential variants such as a diesel-powered ‘Raptor-lite’ and/or offroad-honed limited editions named Tremor and Wolftrak.

The Ford Ranger will carry over its 3500kg tow rating, except for the Raptor which will be limited to 2500kg.

Available in Single, Super or Double Cab Chassis guises, as well as a Super or Double Cab Pick-Up, the entry-level XL will offer buyers the choice of two- or four-wheel drive configurations and is primarily aimed at fleet buyers.

Identified by its 16-inch steel wheels and black mirrors and door handles, the XL is predictably the most sparsely equipped grade with equipment highlights including halogen headlights, all-season tyres, vinyl floor covering, cloth upholstery, single-zone climate control, a 10.1-inch SYNC4 touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and adaptive cruise control.

Four-wheel-drive versions of the XL get a locking rear differential – optional on the 4x2s – as well as high and low range, while all versions score a pre-installed wiring harness for the optional tow bar (standard from XLT).

In terms of payload, the base XL grade varies from 958kg in Double Cab 4x2 form to 1327kg in Single Cab Chassis 4x4 guise.

Standard safety features include nine airbags, a crash avoidance package including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW) and road edge detection, plus blind spot information system, rear cross-traffic alert (pick-up only) with trailer coverage, a reversing camera (pick-up) and rear parking sensors (pick-up).

Building on the XL’s standard spec, the Ford Ranger XLS is also available in either 4x2 or 4x4 forms but is exclusively offered as a Double Cab Pick-Up with the 2.0-litre Panther twin-turbo diesel engine compared to the lesser single-turbo version of the XL – the twin-turbo is optionally available on the base model.

Keeping the XL’s black grille, the XLS dispenses with steel wheels in favour of 16-inch alloys and body-coloured wing mirrors and door handles.

Included are side steps and halogen foglights, front parking sensors, a six-speaker audio system, a power tailgate lock, carpeted floors and a driver’s floor mat.

Above the XLS, the mid-range XLT is the first variant with the option of the new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 to replace the twin-turbo four-cylinder unit.

The V6 engined versions replace the normal automatic transmission gear selector used in the four-cylinder versions with a Jaguar Land River-style rotary gear selector.

Differentiated by a chrome central grille trim, 17-inch alloy wheels and standard tow bar, the XLT will likely again be the volume seller of the range and, as such, has been fitted with extra creature comforts to help it better appeal to families.

As well as the previously listed features, the XLT adds dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, an electric parking brake, a stop/go function for the adaptive cruise control, keyless entry/start, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, satellite navigation, voice assist, LED headlights and "C-clamp" LED daytime running lights.

On the safety front, disc brakes now feature at all four corners from XLT level, while XL and XLS variants stick with rear drums.

Pick-up versions of the XLT also score a black sports bar, tub light and a standard tub liner, although all versions come with a tow bar.

Effectively the XLT’s cooler sibling, the 2022 Ford Ranger Sport is only available as a 4x4 Dual Cab Pick-Up with the main attractions being a series of darkened exterior features, bigger 18-inch alloys and some extra niceties inside such as a power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather upholstery, wireless phone charging and a display showing off-road data.

Backing up that last feature is an imitation skid plate for the front bumper, a pair of tow hooks to help get the Ranger Sport out of tricky off-road situations and two extra drive modes (Sand, Mud/Ruts) alongside the Eco, Normal, Sport and Tow/Haul modes found on the XLS and XLT.

Once again, at the top of the mainstream Ford Ranger line-up resides the Wildtrak that, like the Sport, comes only in Double Cab Pick-Up 4x4.

Setting it apart from its lesser stablemates is a unique grille mesh and front fascia combination, along with grey 18-inch alloy wheels wearing Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tyres, plus a bespoke integrated sports bar, electric roller cover and aluminium tie-down rails.

On top of the Sport, the Ford Ranger Wildtrack features a larger 12-inch touchscreen, pull-out cup-holders, ambient lighting, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a smattering of Wildtrak accents.

As for toys, a 360-degree camera view is included as standard, as is a fully automated parking system, puddle and zone lighting, and an integrated trailer brake controller.

The pinnacle of the new Ranger line-up is the second-gen Ford Ranger Raptor; a hero ute dedicated to off-road performance.

Riding on adaptive 2.5-inch Fox dampers at all four corners and powered by a 292kW/583Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, the Raptor is taller, more powerful, faster and better equipped than any other Ranger to date.

The Ford Ranger Raptor uses LED lighting and rides on 17-inch alloys shod with BF Goodrich K02 high-performance A/T tyres. The engine is paired with an active exhaust and includes seven separate drive modes culminating in the most aggressive Baja mode that retunes the engine to minimise lag.

Inside, there is a customisable 12.4-inch digital cockpit, 10-speaker B&O sound system, paddle shifters, and Ford Performance seats.

“Designed and developed in Australia, the next-gen Ranger has taken the immense success of Ranger and improved it with customer-led design and an impressive suite of technology, safety, comfort and drivetrain features,” Ford said in a statement.

“There’s now more storage space on the inside of next-gen Ranger, too, from under-seat storage on Super and Double Cab models to retractable cup holders on Wildtrak and Raptor models and a raft of cubby holes stashed around the cabin.

“There’s room under the bonnet for an optional second battery … (while) moulded slots in the bedliner allow you to fit dividers to customise the tray, allowing you to store gear and stop it from sliding around.”