New Ford Ranger – Seven smart features we love

Ford has clearly listened to customers in designing and engineering the new-generation 2022 Ford Ranger.

It can still lift heavy things and lug up to 3.5 tonnes.

But the new Australian-developed Ford Ranger has some clever touches that make ute life that little bit more enjoyable.

Some of them are catching up with the passenger car market, while others fall into the bucket of “why hasn’t someone thought of that before?”.

Either way, it’s resulted in a smarter ute that’s easier to live with.

Here are some of our favourites…

Let’s face it, most people who buy a ute end up throwing something else at it, even if it’s as simple as an LED light bar or a bull bar. It’s all about adding more functionality or upping the look.

In many instances, those accessories will require some sort of wiring and a switch somewhere to go with it.

That’s where the challenges kick in. Often the switches supplied with the item don’t match others in the car and people who fit lots of items might struggle for space to fit all the switches.

But when you option the Premium Pack on the 2022 Ford Ranger Wildtrak it comes with a bank of auxiliary switches ready to be wired.

It’s currently not on the list of accessories for the Ranger, but we reckon it should be.

Ute owners always find a way to get into the load area of their rig, but the action to get there is not always pretty. That’s why the Blue Oval brand decided to fit a step behind each rear wheel of the new Ford Ranger.

They’re neatly integrated into the wraparound of the rear bumper and make checking a load or diving aboard that little bit easier. Simple, but clever.

There are other thoughtful extras in the load bed, including grooves that allow a separator (either a specifically designed one or a chunk of wood) to be easily installed.

On the XL there’s also a ruler built into the tailgate, something that is also included if you fit the spray-in bedliner ($900 on XL and XLS models or $400 for XLT or Sport versions, which includes swapping out the standard ribbed plastic bed liner).

Checking the operation of the lights on a trailer is part of the checklist when towing. Trailers can often sit for months with little love and sometimes use rudimentary lighting tech, so globes or wiring can easily give up.

But Ford has solved the issue of leaning on a mate to help check those lights. It’s called Trailer Light Check and comes standard on all models with a tow bar: XLT, Sport and Wildtrak.

Activate the system from the cabin and it runs through five cycles to check every light – brake lights, tail-lights, reverse lights and indicators.

The FordPass connectivity system is nothing too new, but it is still well ahead of rivals in the ute space.

It allows basic functions – car location, locking/unlocking the doors and checking how full the fuel tank is – from a smartphone app.

There’s a long way to go to catch industry-leader Tesla with remote tech, but it’s at least a start – and one many Ford Ranger owners will no doubt appreciate.

Having that connectivity also lays the foundation for more advanced features throughout the life of the current Ranger.

To some people a ute is a near-blank canvas that can be improved with a bunch of add-ons.

Sometimes those installing aftermarket accessories have to get innovative with how to fit them. But Ford is taking some of the guesswork out with some parts of the new Ford Ranger.

The engine bay houses a space for a second battery, for example, and those wanting to fit a lithium-ion system could even use some of the space under the back seat.

On all pick-up versions but the Wildtrak – which already has an additional styling/load bar down each side of the rear tray – there are pre-drilled holes ready to accept all manner of accessories.

Canopies and roof racks are the obvious targets, but some thoughtfulness from the aftermarket suppliers will no doubt come up with other options for those mounting points.

Utes are made to carry things and their drive characteristics can change substantially once they’re carrying a tonne and/or towing 3.5 tonnes.

But the XLS, XLT, Sport and Wildtrak models come with a new Tow/Haul mode that adjusts the transmission’s shift patterns to account for a load on board. It’s about stopping unnecessary upshifts and enlisting the engine to help with braking when going down hills.

We haven’t properly put it to the test but like the idea.

Okay, so it’s not new to the broader car world – especially in the luxury end of the market – but matrix LED high beams are a giant leap forward for utes.

The previous Ford Ranger had some of the worst headlights of any new ute, while the new one steps that up, especially if you get an XLT, Sport, Wildtrak or Raptor, each of which gets LED low- and high-beam lights (XL and XLS Rangers still get older-school high beams with a yellow tinge).

If you get a Raptor or option the Premium Pack for a Wildtrak you also get matrix LED high beams. The system can use its high beams a lot more often, even with other cars around. The individually activated LEDs can be switched on and off almost instantly, in turn blanking out – or shadowing – other road users so they’re not dazzled by the lights.

We only sampled it briefly but came away impressed, although with only 11 LEDs in each light (many cars have dozens) the shadowing of other cars is done in larger blocks rather than finer adjustments.