CHARGED RANGER

FORD'S NEW RANGER PHEV BLENDS PETROL POWER WITH ELECTRIC TORQUE, DELIVERING STRONG PERFORMANCE, REFINED ROAD MANNERS AND GENUINE 4X4 CAPABILITY - ALL WHILE SLASHING FUEL USE AND OFFERING PLUG-IN PRACTICALITY.

- DEAN MELLOR

Ford has added a plugin hybrid to its top-selling ute range, and the Ranger PHEV is more than just a fuel-saver - it's a refined, powerful and highly capable dual-cab ute that is effective for work, touring and off-road conditions.

At the heart of the new model is a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a 75kW electric motor and an 11.8kWh battery. On its own, the 2.3-litre petrol engine makes a claimed 138kW at 4600rpm and 411Nm at 2700rpm, but combined output is a stout 207kW at 4600rpm and 697Nm at 2500rpm, fed through a 10-speed Modular Hybrid Transmission (MHT) and a full-time 4x4 system lifted from the Ranger Raptor. This includes a locking rear diff, low-range and an Auto 4WD setting that works well on mixed terrain.

Ford claims 2.9L/100km combined fuel consumption under lab testing, and a battery-only range of 45km (WLTP), but on our real-world drive - starting in Auto EV mode – we covered around 27km on battery alone before the battery was depleted and the petrol engine took over. Over a 60km mixed loop, our average fuel consumption was 6.9L/100km, which is still impressive for what is a fairly large dual-cab ute with serious off-road chops. A regenerative braking system helps charge the battery which aids efficiency in stop-start driving scenarios; there is an EV Coach in the instrument cluster aimed at helping drivers make the most of the system.