The updated 2019 Ford Ranger has gone on sale with a raft of focused improvements that build on Ranger’s category-leading on-road versatility and off-road capability.
With upgrades across the line-up the MY 19 Ranger also brings new technology to the ute sector including Inter-Urban Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Vehicle Detection and Pedestrian Detection and Semi-Auto Active Park Assist as standard on Ranger Wildtrak.
Key upgrades across the three core models lines (XL XLT and Wildtrak) include a subtly upgraded new grille, nose cone and bumper, upgraded front (new anti-roll bar set-up) suspension and new spring and damper rates front and rear, keyless entry and a push button starter upgrade, as well as Lift Assist now standard on all tailgates.
The suspension upgrades have been made to reduce and better control roll, with an emphasis on improving the driving experience when fully-laden and towing and have been engineered to work with the across range alphabet soup of driveline electronics which includes a Comprehensive Dynamic Stability Control System (DSC) incl. Trailer Sway Control (TSC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC) on 4x4 XL, Load Adaptive Control (LAC) and Roll Over Mitigation (ROM)
While the base model XL retains a 2.2 litre four cylinder (with auto) engine option the XLT line will only be available with the five-cylinder 3.2 and 6-speed auto transmission.
That said, buyers here will have the option of speccing MY19 Wildtrak with either the existing 147kW/470nm 3.2 litre five-cylinder/six-speed auto combo or (for an extra grand) the all-new bi-turbo 157kW/500NM 10-speed auto out of the range-topping Raptor.
2019 Ford Ranger Recommended Retail Pricing starts at $37,990 for a 4x2 XL Single Cab Chassis Cab, 6 speed automatic transmission, 2.2L and heads through the $63,990 for the single most popular 4x4 XLT Double Cab Wellside, 6 speed automatic transmission, 3.2L and $70,990 for the 4x4 Wildtrak Double Cab Wellside, 6 speed automatic transmission, 3.2L, to $84,990 for the new 4x4 Raptor Double Cab Wellside, 10 speed automatic transmission, 2.0L BiTurbo
To read the full story in the November 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (October 19) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
