Ford Ranger Platinum debuts as luxury ute flagship

The mainstream Ford Ranger line-up will have a new sub-Raptor flagship next year in the form of the new 2023 Ford Ranger Platinum, first examples of which are due Down Under in May.

Priced from $76,990 plus on-road roads, the Ranger Platinum will slot into the MY23 range between the established Wildtrak and the rabid Raptor.

The newcome takes a leaf out of the Ford Everest’s book by dialling the opulence factor up to 11 with unique 20-inch alloy wheels, bespoke two-tone grille and previously detailed Flexible Rack System.

These are just a few of the new Ranger range-topper’s enhancements, with others including silver ‘Platinum’ bonnet lettering, Matrix LED headlights, damped tailgate, ‘silk chrome’ exterior trim and a power roller shutter.

Drivers will be greeted first and foremost by quilted and perforated leather upholstery, a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.4-inch infotainment interface, heated and ventilated front seats with 10-way power adjustment, heated steering wheel, memory function for the driver’s seating position, a smattering of ‘Platinum’ logos, premium floor mats, an auxiliary switch bank and a B&O premium sound system.

“We’ve seen growth in high-end variants in this segment over recent years, so we challenged ourselves to create a vehicle that provides all of our customer’s wants and needs,” Ford Australia president and CEO Andrew Birkic said.

“Ranger Platinum gives customers the chance to have their cake and eat it too; they get the next-gen Ranger’s inherent capability with a serious dose of class and sophistication.”

Unlike the rest of the mid- to high-end Ranger variants which are offered with the choice of four-cylinder or six-cylinder power, the Platinum is only being offered with the 184kW/600Nm ‘Lion’ 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, mirroring the corresponding Everest Platinum.

All of the usual Ranger colourways are available, as is the Everest’s ‘Equinox Bronze’, which is being offered exclusively on the Platinum to underline its position as the most elegant and lavish Ranger variant.

However, a black roof is also fitted as standard on the flagship, although customers can have it finished in the same colour as the body as a no-cost option – one of just two optional extras available, the other being prestige paint (+$700).

Ford Ranger chief engineer Ian Foston said the Ranger Platinum was aimed at “owners who need a work truck that combines both premium luxury for the family, and the flexibility of a work truck for their business”.

“We’ve really focused on creating a premium exterior and gold-class interior experience with Ranger Platinum,” he said.

The emergence of the Platinum puts Ford in good stead in the lead-up to the launch of the closely-related Volkswagen Amarok line-up, which will be crowned Down Under with a pair of flagships – the off-road oriented PanAmericana (based on Wildtrak) and the road-biased Aventura (Platinum).

How much does the 2023 Ford Ranger cost?
XL 4x2 Single CC 2.0L SiT – $36,180
XL 4x2 Super CC 2.0L SiT – $38,430
XL 4x2 Double CC 2.0L SiT – $40,680
XL 4x2 Double PU 2.0L SiT – $42,580
XLS 4x2 Double PU 2.0L BiT – $47,130
XL 4x2 Single CC 2.0L BiT – $47,280
XL 4x4 Double CC 2.0L SiT – $48,280
XL 4x2 Super CC 2.0L BiT – $49,780
XL 4x4 Double PU 2.0L SiT – $50,180
XL 4x4 Super PU 2.0L BiT – $51,680
XL 4x4 Double CC 2.0L BiT – $51,780
XL 4x4 Double PU 2.0L BiT – $53,680
XLS 4x4 Double PU 2.0L BiT – $54,730
XLT 4x2 Double PU 2.0L BiT – $54,790
XLT 4x4 Super PU 2.0L BiT – $59,990
XLT 4x4 Double PU 2.0L BiT – $61,990
XLT 4x4 Double CC 3.0L V6 – $63,290
XLT 4x4 Double PU 3.0L V6 – $65,190
Sport 4x4 Double PU 2.0L BiT – $64,490
Sport 4x4 Double PU 3.0L V6 – $67,690
Wildtrak 4x4 Double PU 2.0L BiT – $67,990
Wildtrak 4x4 Double PU 3.0L V6 – $71,190
Platinum 4x4 Double U 3.0L V6 – $76,990
Raptor 4x4 Double PU 3.0L V6 EcoBoost – $86,790
* All prices exclude on-road costs

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