2025 Ford Ranger XLT: What makes the dual-cab such a reliable volume-seller?

Since its launch in 2022 the latest generation Ford Ranger has sat comfortably atop the dual-cab pile, setting new benchmarks in terms of safety, technology and driving dynamics. 

This excellence has been rewarded with sales success, the Ranger regularly enjoying the accolade of Australia’s best-selling vehicle. 

But time stands still for no one, especially in such a fiercely competitive segment, with new arrivals from the likes of GWM and BYD adding to the familiar foes from Toyota, Mitsubishi and Isuzu. 

Here’s how the volume-selling XLT stacks up in 2025. 

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Price and equipment 

Pricing for the Ford Ranger XLT kicks off at $63,890 plus on-road costs for the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel while optioning the V6 will set you back $69,090 (+ORCs). However, there is now a third XLT option with the arrival of the PHEV, which lists at $71,990 (+ORCs). 

All variants come in Frozen White as standard, with prestige paint an extra $750. Blue Lightning is also available on all variants, while the diesels can be had in Meteor Grey, Aluminium or Shadow Black and the PHEV in Iconic Silver, Carbonized Grey, Agate Black or Lucid Red. 

At base level, the Ranger XLT is in the same ballpark as the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain, Toyota Hilux SR5 and Mitsubishi Triton GSR, while the V6 lines up against the Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior and Volkswagen Amarok Style TDI600. 

Ranger XLT standard features 

• 17-inch alloy wheels 
• All-season tyres 
• LED headlights (bar PHEV) 
• LED daytime running lamps (bar PHEV) 
• LED front fog lights (V6 only) 
• LED taillights 
• Power adjustable mirrors 
• Steel underbody protection 
• Side steps 
• Sports bar 
• Premium cloth upholstery 
• Eight-way manually adjustable driver’s seat 
• Four-way manually adjustable passenger’s seat 
• ISOFIX points on outboard rear seats 
• Carpet floor covering 
• Dual-zone climate control 
• Rear air vents 
• 400W socket on rear of centre console 
• Rain-sensing wipers 
• Front and rear power windows 
• Embedded modem 
• FordPass Connect app connectivity 
• 8.0-inch digital driver’s display 
• 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen (12.0-inch PHEV) 
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 
• Six-speaker stereo 
• Satellite navigation with one year of Connected Navigation Services 
• DAB+ digital radio 
• SYNC 4A with voice-activated controls 
• Perimeter alarm system 
• Keyless entry with push-button start 
• Tyre pressure monitoring 
• Tow bar with integrated trailer brake controller

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Ranger XLT optional equipment 

• All-terrain tyres ($750) 

• Commercial canopy ($4700) 

• Stylish dual-lift canopy ($4700) 

• Stylish lift and slide canopy ($4500) 

• Touring Pack – cargo management system, auxiliary switch bank, 360-degree camera, puddle lamps, zone lighting and pro trailer back up assist ($1750) 

A range of Ford-approved accessories is also available including bullbars, electric roller shutters, hard or soft tonneau covers, medium- or heavy-duty suspension kits and 20mm or 40mm lifts. 

All Ford Rangers wear a five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2022 with scores of 84 per cent for adult occupant protection, 93 per cent for child occupant protection, 74 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 83 per cent for safety assist.  

Ranger XLT safety features 

• Nine airbags 

• Adaptive cruise control with stop & go, traffic sign recognition and lane centring (no TSR or lane centring on PHEV) 

• Intelligent speed assist 

• Blind spot monitoring with cross traffic alert and trailer coverage 

• Stability control including roll over mitigation and trailer sway control 

• Evasive steer assist 

• Lane-keep assist with road edge detection and driver alert system 

• Post impact braking 

• Pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking 

• Reverse brake assist 

• Front and rear parking sensors 

• Rear view camera 

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Interior, practicality and tray 

The XLT is the first variant on the Ford Ranger ladder intended for retail rather than commercial use. It’s a plain but comfortable cabin, lacking luxuries like the leather-padded door trims and heated electrically adjustable seats you’ll find in higher-spec variants such as the Wildtrak. 

Nevertheless, the driving position is very good, the seats are comfortable, there’s a decent amount of space in the back row (and finally the 230v outlet has returned!) and it’s one of the few utes with proper individual top tethers for child seat attachment. 

It must be said that the newer Chinese utes have somewhat rewritten the rulebook on what’s included at a certain price point, but the XLT has all the basics like dual-zone climate control and wireless smartphone mirroring, though no wireless charging.  

Out back the tray measures 1464mm in length, 1520mm in width and 525mm in height with 1217mm between the wheel arches for the diesel models. The PHEV’s is shallower (498mm) thanks to the battery sitting beneath it but scooping out an alcove in the rear wall allows for a longer floor (1638mm) and it’s slightly wider both in total (1584mm) and between the wheel arches (1233mm). 

All variants feature a drop-in bed liner, LED lighting, tailgate cupholders for the morning tea break and rear steps to make accessing the tray easier. Diesel variants have a single 400W power inverter, while the PHEV’s ProPower system allows for a pair of 3.45kW 230v/15A sockets in the tray, opening up the possibility of powering all manner of appliances or power tools. 

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Performance and fuel efficiency 

There isn’t a massive gulf between the two diesel engine options. The 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel is a fine powertrain that gives the Ranger very respectable performance, aided by 10 closely stacked ratios in the automatic gearbox. 

Under heavy load, whether that be towing or full-throttle overtakes, the extra power and torque of the V6 is certainly noticeable, but it’s the refinement that’s most impressive, the four-cylinder’s diesel clatter largely absent. 

On paper the four-cylinder is around 15 per cent thriftier on fuel – 7.2L/100km vs 8.4L/100km – but in the real world there doesn’t tend to be a lot in it, with both engines typically returning between 9-10L/100km depending on your specific use case.  

Speaking of use case, the Ranger XLT PHEV’s fuel consumption will vary wildly depending on your driving circumstances – the 2.9L/100km combined claim is a quirk of the testing procedure, nothing more. There’s a claimed 49km of electric-only range so short urban trips can be completed using no fuel, while on the open road it’ll be thirstier than the diesels.  

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On the road 

The driving experience is where the Ford Ranger stands tall in the dual-cab fraternity. With the caveat that this is still a ladder-frame, leaf-sprung ute, its dynamics are as good as you’ll find in this class of vehicle. 

Accurate steering, reasonable ride quality, useful performance and well-balanced handling mean the Ranger XLT isn’t a vehicle you need to wrestle with in an urban environment, nor is it one that’ll wear you out on longer drives, particularly as the active safety systems are very well calibrated. 

One advantage of stretching to the V6 or the PHEV is the ability to run on sealed surfaces in four-wheel drive, which can be handy, especially in the bigger diesel, as 600Nm tends to easily overwhelm the rear tyres in the wet.  

This ability is also handy on unsealed surfaces where the Ranger shines, being wieldy enough to make even winding forestry roads enjoyable rather than a chore and giving the driver confidence with its stability at higher speeds. 

Off road the Ranger continues to impress, with reasonable ground clearance, a well-calibrated traction control system (not quite Hilux good but not far off) and a standard rear diff lock when things really get tough. As far as stock dual cabs go, it’s towards the top of the class when it comes to prowess in the rough stuff.  

Towing and payload 

All Ford Ranger XLT variants are rated to tow a braked maximum of 3500kg and unlike some manufacturers, that offer a blanket Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and Gross Combined Mass (GCM) across all model variants, Ford re-rates each car to account for differences in kerb weight. 

Service and warranty 

Like all Fords, the Ranger XLT is covered by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and 12 months of roadside assistance, which is extended by a further 12 months after each service for up to seven years.  

Ford also offers a capped price servicing program for the Ranger at $1516 for the first five visits – required every 12 months or 15,000km – though this will increase to $1596 for Model Year 26. 

Verdict: should I buy a Ford Ranger XLT? 

The Ford Ranger XLT makes a very strong case for itself if you want a top-drawer dual cab. It may not have the bells and whistles of some rivals, but its abilities and the quality of the driving experience are ample compensation if you’re happy to forgo some frills. 

As such, it’s the 2.0-litre we’d most recommend as it’s a more polished performer than its similarly-priced rivals. For our money, the extra spend for the more refined V6 makes greater sense in the more luxurious Wildtrak or Platinum variants and it’s a similar story with the PHEV. 

Nevertheless, it never hurts to have choice and its breadth of abilities means the Ranger XLT should have you covered whether you’re commuting, working or adventuring.  

Ford Ranger XLT rivals 

Toyota HiLux 

Isuzu D-Max 

Volkswagen Amarok 

Specs

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