2022 Ford Ranger

Ford Ranger 2021-2022 Review

For a brief period of time, Ford was known for a huge variety of models in their line-up – from the C-Segment Ford Focus, to the compact hatchback Ford Fiesta, and even the Ford S-Max MPV. But both before and after this time, Ford was known for one thing in Malaysia: making pick-up trucks. It represents the majority of their sales, and today it is known as the Ford Ranger.

Pick-up trucks are a huge market, not just in Malaysia but across South East Asia as well. The Ford Ranger represents the best of what Ford has to offer for our region, and with such a large number of consumers and rivals, it’s no surprise that every generation of the Ranger gets better and more sophisticated.

It’s the last part that’s a little confusing, especially if you aren’t immediately familiar with pick-up trucks. What used to be designated as more pure workhorse type vehicles, has become more lifestyle oriented as consumers in urban environments see the value in owning something like a pick-up truck. While the base model variants of pick-ups still have to be robust enough to take a beating, the top-spec variants are usually even better specified than regular passenger cars.

To reflect this, there are a huge number of variants of the Ford Ranger – we count eight regular variants, and one special edition model in the form of the Ranger Raptor X. You can get the Ranger in single cab or double cab, manual or automatic, and with three different powertrains on offer. As the model that carries the Ford brand in Malaysia, you can be almost certain there’s a variant for you, at the right price point.

Ford Ranger 2021-2022 Specifications

Even if you were to choose the purest, simplest form of the Ford Ranger, you would get a robust 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine pushing 160 PS and 385 Nm of torque. In fact, this is the sole powertrain offering for five of the eight main variants and is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed conventional automatic transmission.

There is one engine that exists but for a sole variant – the Ranger XLT Plus. It’s a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that makes 180 PS and 420 Nm of torque and is only paired with a ten-speed conventional automatic transmission. What’s interesting about it is that it comes with a single turbo, compared to the full fat variant of this engine in the remaining two variants.

Yes, we’re talking about the twin-turbo 2.0-litre turbodiesel powerplant that is available for the Ranger Wildtrak and Ranger Raptor – a beast of a powerplant that effectively replaces the larger 3.2-litre turbodiesels of the past. It’s clear that this powerplant is more lifestyle than workhorse, but the numbers stand at 213 PS and 500 Nm of torque, paired with only a ten-speed conventional automatic transmission.

Across all variants of the Ford Ranger, the wheelbase is identical at a whopping 3,220 mm. For reference, a D-segment sedan comes in at around 2,800 mm in length, but the long wheelbase is necessary to accommodate cargo in the long bed. The overall length of the Ranger varies between 5362 and 5426 mm, with the Raptor being a little more compact at 5398 mm. Width wise, most variants of the Ranger are 1,860 mm wide (excluding the side mirror), with the Raptor coming in at 2,180 mm wide.

The Ranger Raptor’s chassis is slightly different with coilover rear suspension, while the rest of the variants have a traditional rear leaf spring setup. The fronts, however, are double wishbone across the range – and of course, the Raptor variant gets more impressive dampers in the form of Fox Racing Shox. All models are 4 x 4 – from single cab to Raptor.

Ford Ranger 2021-2022 Exterior

The Ford Ranger is an incredibly handsome vehicle – especially when you consider that this platform has been around since 2011, and was severely revised and updated for the current generation that was launched in 2018. A big, prominent front grille leads the way – the Ford logo made extremely large for Raptor variants – and the usage of chrome and black interchanges as you go through the range.

Also progressing through the range are plain halogen headlights, to automatic projector halogen units, to full on LED projector headlights for the top-spec variants. Fog lamps are provided front and rear as is regulation, and wheels are 17-inch for the cheaper variants and 18-inch for the higher spec models.

Ford Ranger 2021-2022 Interior

The inside of the modern Ford Ranger is a fantastic place to be – especially with their new interior designs. The centre-piece of the dashboard changes depending on the variant you choose, with the SYN 3 system reserved for top spec variants, but most variants will have some form of Ford’s in house infotainment system. The dashboard finish and materials are less designed for hard wearing and more for comfort when spending long amounts of time driving or commuting.

Ford Ranger 2021-2022 Safety Features

Opt for the cheapest variant of the Ford Ranger and you will still get Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, ABS with EBD, Hill Descent Control, Rollover Mitigation, Trailer Sway Control – your bread and butter passive safety systems. Go all the way to the top with the Raptor, and you will get more active systems like Lane Departure Warning and Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Autonomous Emergency Braking. 

Ford Ranger 2021-2022 Strengths and Weaknesses

It’s hard to talk about the Ford Ranger’s strengths because it really depends on which variant you go for. The Raptor models alone are fantastic if you value performance and outright fun in a vehicle – being able to go off the beaten path and travel at incredibly high rates of speed courtesy of the drivetrain and chassis.

But even if you were to look at the more “regular” variants of the Ford Ranger, it has to be said that they are incredibly refined options compared to their peers. Ford wasn’t afraid to push the Ranger in the lifestyle direction, and you see that being reflected in how the model has gone from being more for ASEAN and other countries, to even being offered in the United States.

If there has to be a downside, however, it is that the Ranger just doesn’t have that level of ruggedness that other pick-up truck models have, which allow them to transcend from being nameplates to legends. The rivals of the Ranger still hold those titles, being used for everything from construction work, to going off-road in the Borneo Safari.

Ford Ranger 2021-2022 Price

The pricing for the Ford Ranger goes up by over 100% through the range. The most basic form of the Ranger is the 2.2 XL Single Cab Manual that runs you RM 92,388. From then onwards, we see a progressive climb through the variants: the 2.2 XL Double Cab Manual runs RM 97,388, the 2.2 XL Double Cab Automatic runs RM 105,388, the 2.2 XLT manual costs RM 111,388, and the 2.2 XLT automatic costs RM 118,388.

The more significant jump happens when you get the 2.0 XLT Plus – expectedly with a more complex engine and transmission. This takes you up to RM 131,888, while the 2.0 Bi-Turbo WildTrak 4x4 costs you RM 152,388 – again, another level of complexity. From here, there is a massive jump to the Rapter 2.0 Bi-Turbo that costs RM 210,888, and the Raptor X special edition variant costs RM 216,888.

Ford Ranger 2021-2022 Features

With so many variants, it can be hard to list out exactly what each Ford Ranger model gets in terms of features. Going through the range you will see transitions from manual to power adjustable driver seats, the addition of a 12-volt socket in the cargo bed, keyless entry and start, a dual four-inch TFT instrument cluster, and automatic dual-zone climate control. There is also support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you choose a variant with the SYNC 3 infotainment system.

Ford Ranger 2021-2022 Fuel Consumption

There are no manufacture quoted fuel consumption figures for the Ford Ranger, but our testing with the Wildtrak variant returned 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres (15.6 km per litre) on the highway, or 10.2 litres per 100 kilometres (9.8 km per litre) in city traffic – thanks in large part to the ten-speed automatic transmission. Pick-up trucks can be incredibly frugal if driven properly, thanks to their robust powertrains.