Ford Ranger FX4 2017 Review

Part of the Ranger's success is based on its tough looks as well as its real and perceived strength and ability as a load hauler, tow tug and off-roader.

And along with this ute's success comes a burgeoning aftermarket, as owners personalise their Rangers for that unique look.

The marketers at Ford haven't missed this and have started launching limited-edition variants with that customised look.

Enter the Ford Ranger FX4.

How much will it cost?
The FX4 is based on the Ranger XLT, which is a mid-spec version that sits between the entry-level XL and XLS and the top-spec Wildtrak.

The FX4 adds $3500 to the price of the XLT bringing the total up to $58,915 for the manual and $61,115 for the auto (plus on-road costs).

The FX4 gets all the goodies from the XLT plus a whole bunch of black stuff including black bonnet and tailgate decal wraps, black roof rails, black roll bar, black rear bumper, side steps and door handles. There's also a blacked-out grille, black exterior mirrors as well as 18-inch grey alloy wheels with a unique design and side decals with 'FX4' branding.

The black theme continues on the interior with black leather-trimmed seats, front and rear floor mats and black highlights on the dash.

Why should/shouldn't I buy it?
If you're after a 4WD dual-cab ute, the Ranger is hard to go past. The 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine combined with the six-speed auto gearbox is a real winner, and one of the best combinations on the market, arguably only bettered by the Volkswagen Amarok V6 (as we found out in our recent ute comparison test – coming soon).

No matter what spec, the Ranger will haul loads, tow your boat or caravan, get you through the roughest tracks and yet do it all in comfort and with a bit of style.

And if you want to stand out from the increasingly crowded Ranger car park, this could be the right jigger for you.

When is it available in Australia?
The Ranger FX4 is available now but only in limited numbers.

It's available in four exterior colours: Frozen White, Ingot Silver, Magnetic and, of course, black.

So what do we think?
We love the Ford Ranger. Sure it's expensive, but it offers buyers a real, hard-working vehicle with a grunty diesel that puts out 470Nm of torque and has a 3500kg towing ceiling.

It's a comfortable cruiser on the highway whether loaded or empty, which is a lot to say for a one-tonne ute (the XLT's payload is 995kg). It's also pretty frugal, and although we couldn't get near the claimed fuel economy of 8.7L/100km, we did achieve a figure under 10.0L/100km which is pretty good for a big ute with big outputs.

And the Ranger is loaded with technology. Gone are the days when a ute was just another tool of the tradie. The Ranger offers Ford's SYNC 3 with voice-controlled sat-nav, which includes DAB radio, 8-inch colour touch screen, iPod and smartphone integration, reversing camera and front sensors.

There are also rain-sensing wipers and a tyre pressure monitoring system, while an optional Tech Pack features forward collision alert, lane keeping assist, automatic high beam control and adaptive cruise control.

All up, it's a modern and sophisticated vehicle that just happens to be in the guise of a ute.

Would we have one? You bet.

Ford Ranger FX4 pricing and specifications:
Price: From $57,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/470Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 229g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP