Ford: Family-friendly ute still tough

The 2WD Ford Ranger offers conveniences for a boss or parent. photo / Jacqui Madelin

A ute is handy in a semi-rural environment. But if you're not heading far off road, do you really want a 4WD? The increased drivetrain complexity costs more to buy and more to run in terms of fuel and tyres.

Something like this 2WD Ford Ranger - in high-riding form - is almost as useful. Particularly as a double cab.

Utes make up about a third of NZ car sales, after the small and medium brackets, and they're not just sold as workhorses. Buyers increasingly seek a vehicle that can do the weekday job and double as a family car.

To that end, this one's got a few less-than-commercial features. Fold the rear seat back to access holes pre-drilled for child-seat tether strap bolts. There are four airbags, an iPod port and air con too.

Mind you, Ford's saved money on the materials - the hard plastics are prone to scratching, though their wipe-clean surfaces might appeal as much to parents as bosses. As will the split-level centre console and slide-out document tray. It's just a shame about the centre rear lap belt, consigning that position to emergency seating only.

This generation of Ranger features a new body, but the underpinnings haven't changed. The 115kW/380Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine is carried over. It's mated to a four-speed auto (there'll be a five-speed next year) and delivers plenty of grunt. The Ranger positively leaps from lights when empty, and will tow two tonnes or carry one.

For this is still a work truck, with a single-piece chassis, leaf spring rear and cross-brace ladder frame underpinning. It feels a tad bouncy after a conventional car, and you'll never forget you're in a work ute. But it's sufficiently controlled on-road, though there's more wind noise than I'd like, but less tyre noise than before.

In line with those truck-like underpinnings come rear drum brakes matched to the disc fronts - but with ABS, which are handy in a rear-drive ute when roads are wet and the load tray is empty. That tray's a reasonable size. It'll take a dirt bike with the tailgate down, and tie-down loops rated to 400kg are standard, though the liner and tonneau cover are not.

This high-spec 2WD XLT retails at $48,990. That doesn't include the optional tonneau, side steps, tow bar and tray liner, and it's more than the base 4WD Ranger, which is admittedly a cab-chassis and very bare-bones in the spec department.

Given my steep gravel drive, I'd be balancing spec versus 4WD. But most buyers don't need more than a practical ute with good ground clearance, and the XLT-specification delivers the icing on a rather useful cake.

Ford Ranger 2WD double cab XLT

We like
Grunty engine, reasonable on-road handling

We don't like
Tonneau not standard, cheap cabin materials, too much wind nose at 100km/h

Powertrain
3.0-litre common rail turbo diesel, 115kW at 3200rpm, 380Nm at 1800rpm, four speed auto drives rear wheels

Performance
0-100km/h not available, 10.4l/100km

Safety
ABS brakes, four airbags

What it's got
Alloy wheels, air con, aux port, limited slip diff

Vital stats
5173mm length, 1530x1459mm wellside (top), 70-litre tank