Much has been said and written about the ‘next-Gen' Ranger. For this duel we chose the popular XLT spec, leaving the Sport and Wildtrak high-spec versions aside on the basis that the XLT is ‘ute enough' for those looking for a working truck.
It arrives on 17-inch alloys and 255/70 all-terrain Goodyear Wranglers.
NZ4WD was well impressed with the ‘next-Gen' Ranger at its launch in mid-2022. Our subsequent longer tests of new Ranger have not dispelled our first impressions, and it is fair to say the V6 Ranger Sport is an early fave.
The next-Gen Ranger continues to make waves, gain a reputation, and be right at the top for sales alongside Toyota's HiLux. But is it still a practical workhorse and a decent off-roader? Or like many, has it succumbed to the threat of over calibrated safety features, soccer parent mentality and cushy street manners that are making our off-road tools more car like,
