Every now and then you witness a pivotal vehicle in the motor industry ... one that lifts the bar forcing all rivals to elevate their game. Right now that is the new Ford Ranger 3.2 litre turbo-diesel. After a few days in this Australian-designed and engineered dual cab Ranger XLT 3.2 we have nothing but praise ... with one exception: the six-speed manual transmission. It’s not the sharpest tool in the box. The six-speed auto on the other hand is refined.
Think of a compact Ford F 250 particularly around the pointy end and you get the idea. It looks and drives tough. Inside the cabin you get a feeling of looking down on most cars and across at 4WDs apart from the odd F250 that is going by. It is a clever vehicle. The front door has been shortened slightly bringing the B-pillar forward to allow for a wider rear door that opens to almost 90 degrees with the result being easier access to the rear seats without compromising access to the front pews. Hefty tradies grabbing a lift to and from work will thank you.
What an engine! The 3.2 litre, five cylinder turbo-diesel boasts 470 Nm of torque and 147 kW of power. But where this power-plant excels in how it delivers the grunt, smoothness and quietness. We gave away using first gear - even in high-range it is still a ‘crawler’ gear - and used second on flat ground and even tried third on downhill inclines, at no time receiving any complaint from the engine or drivetrain. Once rolling the 3.2 litre Ranger pulls away effortlessly from a low rev base under 1000 rpm. Around town just stick it in third and drive it like an auto.
The 2012 Ford Ranger is a delight but if you choose the manual transmission hooked up to the 3.2 litre turbo-diesel there are some nuances to look out for. With first gear set up as a crawler gear for hauling heavy boats up ramps or towing heavy vans or horse floats, in normal use it is best to take off in second gear. This is amplified when in low range when first is for using engine-braking to crawl down steep descents or to climb boulder-strewn ascents. For those reasons off-roaders will impressed with the new Ranger and it’s 800mm wading depth.
On road the new Ranger is really in a class of its own. The cabin is as quiet as a refined European marque, the diesel engine is quite sublime delivering heaps of grunt with a minimum of fuss. In the past we have talked about how under-stressed the 3.0 litre turbo-diesel is in the Isuzu D-Max. It has lost that crown to 3.2 litre Ranger. Cruising at 110 km/h Ranger idles along at under 2000 rpm. The 2012 Ranger is an incredibly refined ‘truck’ that is a must-drive for anyone looking at a workhorse or recreational dual cab.
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