Ford Ranger 4x4 XLT Double Cab Chassis now on sale

Ford Australia has taken the wraps of the first cab/chassis version of its popular Ranger XLT dual-cab 4x4 ute.

Fitted with all the high-end goodies from the most popular variant of Australia’s top-selling 4x4 ute, the ‘adventure-ready’ 2020 Ford Ranger 4x4 XLT Double Cab Chassis also offers a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine in a cab/chassis Ranger for the first time.

Arriving in showrooms alongside the rest of the updated MY20.75 Ford Ranger line-up from December, the XLT dual-cab/chassis is kind of like the mullet haircut of the ute world.

The Ford Ranger XLT dual-cab chassis is business up front and party out the back, with Ford pitching the ute as a workhorse for weekdays and a lifestyle vehicle for the weekend.

Cab-chassis utes are sold with the rear ladder frame exposed, allowing owners to fit customised trays and boxes with specialised canopies, equipment and so forth.

The highest-grade Ranger 4x4 cab-chassis variant previously available was the XL dual-cab at $47,590, but now the XLT 4x4 version is priced from $56,240 plus on-road costs.

Adopting the minor update seen across the 2020 Ranger 4x4 line-up – namely FordPass embedded modem connectivity – the XLT dual-cab chassis model is offered with both 3.2-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines.

And like all XLT models it comes highly equipped as standard, including 17-inch alloy wheels, tow-bar assembly and wiring, dual-zone climate control and an 8.0-inch touch-screen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, plus sat-nav and digital radio.

In addition, working in tandem the FordPass smartphone app, the FordPass Connect system allows owners to remotely start their vehicle to warm up or cool down the cabin ahead of entering the vehicle, for example. Owners can also remotely unlock the doors and check fuel levels, among other things.

As with all Ford Rangers, standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, giving the ute a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

A range of optional extras are also available for the dual-cab chassis 4x4 Ranger XLT, including leather-accented seating, adaptive cruse control and black 18-inch alloy wheels. The XLT is also the first Ranger available with a pearlescent paint job (Alabaster White), for $650. See below for full pricing details.

The new Ford Ranger XLT tradie special’s standard-issue 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel (147kW/470Nm) is hooked up to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

But for the first time in a Ranger cab/chassis model, the XLT can be had with Ford’s newer and higher-output (157kW/500Nm) 2.0-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel, which is paired to a 10-speed automatic.

A manual gearbox is not available with the biturbo engine, but the multi-ratio auto tranny has a lock-out feature that holds gears for towing. All models come with dual-range 4x4 and a 3500kg towing capacity.

“Customers looking for Ranger’s high safety and equipment levels who want to add their own customised canopies or personalised tray set-up can now do so with far more ease,” said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia CEO.

“Owners have told us that they want to save time and money with a ready-to-go, high-spec Ranger cab chassis that they can purchase straight off the showroom floor, and the 4x4 XLT Double Cab Chassis is here for these customers, be they tradespeople, adventurers or explorers.”

An all-new Ranger is expected to break cover late in 2021, benefitting from many of the features pioneered on the new F-150 pick-up.

Even so, Ford is still plotting more models for the strong-selling current model, in the form of the Ranger FX4 Max, another adventure machine that will sit between the Wildtrak and Raptor models.

Like all Ranger utes, the Ranger XLT dual-cab chassis comes with a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

Capped-price servicing is offered, with the first four years or 60,000km travelled set at a maximum of $299 per service. Service intervals are rated at 15,000km or 12-months, whichever occurs first.

The Ford Ranger is currently the second best selling ute in Australia overall, behind the Toyota HiLux. However, in terms of 4x4 models, the Ranger outsells the HiLux.

How much does the 2020 Ford Ranger 4x4 XLT dual-cab chassis cost?
3.2 manual – $56,240
3.2 auto – $58,440
2.0 auto – $59,940

How much do 2020 Ford Ranger 4x4 XLT dual-cab chassis options cost?
Prestige Paint – $650
Adaptive Cruise Control – $500
Leather-Accented Seats – $1500
18-inch Black alloy wheels for XLT – $750
* All prices exclude on-road costs