Ford Ranger (T6)
The Ford Ranger is a range of mid-size pickup trucks manufactured and sold by Ford Motor Company since 2011. The T6 consolidated worldwide production of the Ranger onto a single model range, replacing both the 1998–2012 Ranger marketed in North America and South America and the Mazda-derived Ranger sold in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and several Latin American markets.
Based on the T6 platform, this series of the Ranger was designed and engineered by Ford Australia.
Though developed for global sales, it was initially not marketed in the United States and Canada, with Ford at the time instead concentrating its resources on turbocharged versions of the F-150. In 2019 the Ranger T6 was released in North America, slotted below the F-150 and above the Maverick upon its 2022 release. In late 2021 the second generation Ranger T6 was revealed for 2022 production, adopting a revised T6 platform known as "T6.2" with an updated body design.
Like the previous Mazda-derived Ranger, the T6 Ranger has an SUV derivative called the Everest. Since 2022, the T6 Ranger platform is also shared with the second-generation Volkswagen Amarok.
First generation (P375/PX; 2011)
First unveiled at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October 2010, production of the first-generation T6-based Ranger commenced in mid-2011. During development, the first-generation T6-based Ranger was codenamed P375, and also known by the PX model code in Australia. It is considered the third-generation Ranger in most international markets, and the fourth-generation Ranger in North America.Similar to its 2006–2011 predecessor, the P375 Ranger is produced in three body styles worldwide. A two-door is standard, with a cargo capacity of. A cargo capacity of is offered with a four-door extended cab, or a four-door crew cab. Along with the standard pickup truck, the Ranger is also offered as a chassis cab, effectively taking the place of the Ford Falcon cab-chassis in Australia.
All four-door Rangers have the same ground clearance, whether two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive; two-door versions are offered with a "Hi-Rider" option in two-wheel drive configuration, giving them the same ground clearance as 4x4 versions. Hi-Rider versions have water-fording clearance of, while standard-height Rangers have clearance of. The Ranger T6 has a rated towing capacity of ; versions with the 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel have a payload capacity of.
The model is produced across several facilities worldwide. First produced by the AutoAlliance facilities in Rayong, Thailand, production is also conducted in Argentina and South Africa, while CKD assembly is conducted in Nigeria and Vietnam. North American production is sourced from the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan.
As of 2022, the Argentine version contains 46% locally made parts. 70% of its production is exported.
The model is also used as the basis for the second-generation Mazda BT-50 and the second-generation Ford Everest. The 2014–2021 Troller T4 off-road vehicle is also derived from the T6 platform shared with the Ranger.
Facelift
In 2015, the P375 Ranger underwent a major mid-cycle redesign, with the front fascia adopting elements of Ford Kinetic Design. In place of the rectangular three-bar grille, the Ranger adopted a slightly oval grille with a single centre bar, allowing further differentiation between the Ranger and the mechanically similar Everest, the Interior was also completely overhauled with the rear of the vehicle remaining largely unchanged.In 2019, the P375 Ranger underwent a second, minor redesign, with its exterior appearance being largely the same as the PXII with a few minor cosmetic changes to the front of the vehicle. Some mechanical changes were made such as a new front end suspension setup and the option to spec the XLT & Wildtrak trims with the 2.0-litre engine from the Ranger Raptor. The interior remained largely unchanged with upgrades to safety features and a new infotainment system based on the Ford SYNC 3 operating system.
First facelift
'''Second facelift'''
Powertrain
Trim levels
The global Ranger follows traditional Ford truck trim level nomenclature, offering XL, XLS, and XLT trim levels. Based on its four-wheel drive versions, Ford offers the Ranger Sport, Ranger FX4, Ranger Wildtrak and the Ranger Wildtrak X, with model-specific exteriors. The North American version of the Ranger shares similar nomenclature, with XL, XLT, and Lariat; the FX4 is offered as an option package for 4x4 vehicles. The Tremor trim level was introduced in North America in 2020.Wildtrak
In certain global markets, including Australia and UK, Ford released the Ranger Wildtrak as a special edition of the Ranger. Based on the four-wheel drive crew-cab, the Wildtrak was equipped with a 3.2-litre Duratorq diesel engine with a manual or automatic transmission. To visually distinguish the model, the Wildtrak was equipped with a model-specific grille, model-specific 18-inch wheels, and other exterior and interior trim. Marketed in a colour exclusive to the trim, the Wildtrak was also offered in several other colours.Pre-facelift
First facelift
Second facelift
Raptor
Unveiled in Thailand in February 2018, the Ranger Raptor is a high-performance truck optimized for off-road driving similar to the larger F-150 Raptor. Marking the debut of the 210 hp 2.0-litre EcoBlue bi-turbo diesel engine in the Ranger paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Raptor is equipped with standard four-wheel drive and upgraded chassis and suspension. As with the F-150 Raptor, the grille of the Ranger Raptor replaces the Ford blue oval logo with "FORD" in block letters. The first-generation Ranger Raptor was not available in North America, with Ford citing that the Ranger Raptor was designed specifically for markets where the F-150 Raptor is not available; Ford also cited the cost of redesigning the truck to accommodate a more powerful petrol engine for the US market.Safety
The first-generation T6-based Ranger is equipped with six airbags. Along with dual front and side airbags, the Ranger is equipped with curtain airbags; European versions are equipped with a driver-side knee airbag. Along with standard anti-lock brakes, the Ranger is equipped with emergency brake assist. The twin-piston by front brake rotors are joined by by rear drums and by rear drums. The Latin American Ranger is equipped with rear drum brakes.Australian-market XLT and WildTrak variants have the optional Tech Pack which includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, front windscreen mounted camera and a radar placed in the front right side of the grille.
The Ranger in its most basic Latin American market configuration with 3 airbags and no ESC received 3 stars for adult occupants and 4 stars for infants from Latin NCAP 2.0 in 2016.
The Ranger in its most basic Latin American market configuration with 3 airbags received 4 stars for adult occupants and 4 stars for infants from Latin NCAP 2.0 in 2019.
Awards
In January 2021, the Ford Ranger Double Cab 2.0 EcoBlue 213 Wildtrak auto was named Pick-up of the Year by British magazine What Car?. What Car? awarded the Ranger five stars out of five in its review of the vehicle.North American version (2019–2023)
For its 2011 launch, the first-generation T6-based Ranger replaced previous generations of the Ranger worldwide, consolidating designs developed by Ford and Mazda. A notable exception included the United States and Canada, as Ford exited the compact truck segment entirely. During the early 2010s, Ford concentrated its light truck design resources in North America on its F-Series trucks, with its redesign for 2015 including an aluminium-intensive body and introducing direct-injection and turbocharged engines in an effort to improve fuel economy.After an eight-year market hiatus, Ford introduced the fourth-generation Ranger for the United States or Canada for the 2019 model year at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, marking the first Ford entry into the mid-size pickup truck segment since the discontinuation of the Explorer Sport Trac. As the first mid-size Ranger sold in North America, the Ranger underwent several design modifications to accommodate US crash standards along with the increase of its payload, with the introduction of fully boxed frame rails. All versions of the Ranger sold in the United States and Canada have a wheelbase, regardless of cab or drivetrain configuration. Production started on 29 October 2018.
The North American-market Ranger is sold in four-door SuperCab and four-door SuperCrew configurations. While externally similar to its global counterpart, the Ranger features a number of exterior design changes. The front fascia was redesigned with a frame-mounted steel bumper. At the minor expense of frontal aerodynamics, the sturdier front bumper was designed to better comply with American crash standards.
To better market the vehicle towards private buyers in North America, the Ranger was given a distinct bonnet design and grilles related to trim level. Additional trim included colour-contrasting fender molding and fender grilles, in line with the F-Series trucks. The "RANGER"-embossed tailgate was modified; in the interest of aerodynamics, a spoiler was added. Unlike the F-Series, usage of aluminium in the body is minor, with only an aluminium bonnet and tailgate.
While offered in both rear-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive, all Rangers in North America are produced using the "HiRider" chassis of the Ranger 4x4. Ford did not introduce the Ranger Raptor and the Ranger Wildtrak in North America. Ford has no current plans to market a two-door Ranger in North America.
To comply with American safety mandates, a rear view safety camera is standard. Several sizes of interior touchscreens are offered, depending on trim packages ordered. To increase interior storage, waterproof storage compartments were added under the rear seats.