The Ford Ranger is the winner of the 2023 Drive Car of the Year Best Dual-Cab Ute, and Drive Car of the Year overall winner
Forget what you think you knew about dual-cab utes; the Ford Ranger changes everything.
The Ford Ranger was always going to be short odds at Drive Car of the Year, because it was rated so highly in our week-long real-world evaluations earlier in the year. However, there isn’t any pushover in this group.
Making a four-wheel drive ute ride and handle well is akin to hammering a square peg into a round hole because of its demands of payloads, off-roading and towing ability. That being said, the Ranger is able to eke out improvements in this regard and builds upon the prowess of the previous generation. It’s nicely balanced and keeps the ute’s trademark jiggly ride quality largely under control when unladen.
Steering is nicely weighted, and the range of four-cylinder and V6 diesel powertrains are both torquey and competent. The 500Nm ‘BiTurbo’ and 600Nm V6 options are great, even if the 10-speed gearbox can be busy at times.
| 2023 Ford ranger | |||
| Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel | 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel | |
| Power | 154kW @ 3750rpm | 184kW @ 3250rpm | |
| Torque | 500Nm @ 1750–2000rpm | 600Nm @ 1750–2250rpm | |
| Drive type | Part-time four-wheel drive | ‘Automatic ‘ four-wheel drive | |
| Transmission | 10-speed torque converter automatic | 10-speed torque converter automatic | |
| Spare tyre type | Full-size | Full-size | |
| Tow rating | 3500kg braked 750kg unbraked |
3500kg braked 750kg unbraked |
|
| Turning circle | 12.0m | 12.0m |
However, we do note that the optional all-terrain tyres on our test vehicle hampered performance through the slalom and swerve-and-avoid testing. And that firm-feeling suspension, especially from the rear when unladen, is apparent.
Technology is a strong point, both in terms of safety and convenience. The infotainment display – even in base specification – is big and feature-laden, growing to be even bigger and fancier higher up the spec ladder. And with nine airbags and a minty-fresh 2022 five-star ANCAP safety rating, there is little room for criticism on the safety front.
Being one of the larger utes in the segment (in terms of both wheelbase and length), the Ranger offers good levels of space and comfort inside, along with a handful of nice touches. There’s handy under-seat storage at the back and a storage shelf up front. The side steps behind the rear wheels are handy, and the tub is well-equipped with things like power outlets and tie-down points.
Australian-based engineering is one of the hallmarks of the Ranger’s development program, and on Aussie roads, be they urban or rural, the value of local input really shines. From the well-tuned ride and handling, to the predictable and reliable intervention on driver assist systems, the Ranger puts its best foot forward time and time again.
Note: These ratings have been pulled from our most recent Ford Ranger review (read it here) and as part of Drive Car of the Year 2023 all finalists will be freshly reviewed in the near future.
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