New Ford Ranger arrives with big safety upgrade

With little fanfare, Ford has detailed a significantly upgraded safety specification for the new 2022 Ford Ranger ute.

New equipment includes category-first blind spot coverage for towing, as well as a far-side centre-front airbag.

While the basic Ranger safety spec was outlined in media material ahead of last week’s launch, it is understood Ford is waiting for an ANCAP rating before going big on the subject.

A maximum five-star ANCAP rating is expected and really needed for Ranger’s substantial audience across both private buyers and fleets.

“With next-gen Ranger the task was to try and amplify work, family and play and so the safety and driver assist technologies we brought on the new model were really specifically intended to do that,” said Ranger product marketing manager Karen Larkin.

She argued that safety upgrades were particularly important in an era where family touring and towing had become more popular because of the limits on overseas travel imposed by COVID.

“The driver assist technologies that are available will give confidence, especially to people who are new to touring and off-roading to do it safely,” she said.

The Isuzu D-MAX and Mazda BT-50 are currently top of the pops when it comes to standard safety equipment in the ute segment. The Ranger is now competitive with them and inches ahead on some spec.

For instance, the Ranger adds a front passenger knee airbag, has front parking sensors available across more of the range and a 360-degree camera with Wildtrak and Raptor.

As a baseline, the entry-level XL includes nine airbags – up from six previously. Dual front knee airbags are new as well as the centre airbag.

Thanks to a new wider-view windscreen-mounted camera acting with the grille-mounted radar, the Ranger’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system adds cyclist detection and intersection assist to its pedestrian-spotting capabilities.

Adaptive cruise control was previously limited to the XLT and flagship Wildtrak but is now standard across the range.

From XLT up the system adds lane centring, stop-and-go and an intelligent function paired with traffic sign recognition that can automatically adjust your speed to the legal limit.

Lane keeping aid with lane departure warning was a Ranger feature previously, but the new model adds road edge detection.

Other new features include blind spot warning with rear cross traffic alert (on pick-ups) and reverse brake assist, evasive steer assist and post-impact braking.

The blind spot system includes trailer coverage when the tow pack is fitted. It is standard from XLT upward.

“In the touch-screen you are able to program up to 10 different trailers including caravans and boat trailers,” Larkin explained.

“You are able to set up the dimensions of all those towing needs, including the brake type and that will then interact with the BLIS (blind spot information system).

“The sensors will cover the blind spot through to the end of what you are towing. It will increase safety when you are changing lanes no matter what you are towing.”

From XLT up, the Ranger comes fitted with rear disc brakes and larger front brakes.

All Ranger pick-ups continue with a reversing camera, but the Wildtrak and Raptor swap to a new 360-degree camera with a split screen.

These two models are also the only ones to get uprated hands- and feet-free parking assist standard.

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