Ford's latest PHEV is a serious contender
Twigs snap and gravel crunches under the all-terrain tyres of Ford's Ranger hybrid as we climb a rocky slope in the bush. Birds sing, leaves rustle in the breeze, and the calm voice of an off-road expert standing outside the car offers quiet coaching through a particularly tricky trail.
I can hear all of this because there's no sound from the engine. Instead, it glides through the territory on battery power alone, moving with a grace that brings you closer to the surrounding environment.
There's a precision to this hybrid-electric setup rarely found in the noisy, laggy motors of conventional utes. Smooth and silent, it offers fine throttle control off-road, allowing you to carefully apply power to get where you need to go.
It might be Ford's best option for low-speed off-roading.
And the experience improves when you arrive.
Power points encourage you to plug in appliances and enjoy a touch of comfort when far from home. Ford demonstrated this with afternoon tea powered by a pie oven, kettle, toasted sandwich maker and espresso machine in a remote forest.
Like taking a powered caravan site everywhere you go, the Ranger's 'Pro Power Onboard' system has two 15-amp outlets in the tray and a 10-amp outlet in the cabin.
It will charge a tradie's tools on the worksite, or keep your home fridge and microwave in action during a blackout.
These achievements are made possible by a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and battery.
The petrol motor makes 138kW and 411Nm, while the electric motor and battery claim 75kW of power and 11.8kWh of storage.
This combination is good for maximum outputs of 207kW and 697Nm, figures that put it ahead of conventional utes, but behind Chinese rivals such as the GWM Cannon and BYD Shark.
The Ranger is arguably a better car than those though it is definitely more expensive.
Priced from $71,990 plus on-road costs in basic XLT form (think cloth seats and old yellow halogen headlights) to $86,990 plus on-roads in range-topping Stormtrak form (leather, matrix LED lights and loads of accessories), it certainly isn't cheap.
Customers need to spend about $10,000 more than four-cylinder Rangers, or $5000 more than V6 versions.
Smoother and quieter than those cars, the hybrid delivers effortless progress whether you're accelerating to pass slower traffic, or slogging through stop-start traffic in town.
Ford reckons a fully charged Ranger is good for almost 50 kilometres of electric driving range.
Claimed fuel economy is just 2.7L/100km though like all plug-in hybrids, that figure doesn't reflect real-world use. Short commutes can be completed without using a drop of fuel, while interstate road trips could return double-digit consumption.
Especially if you take advantage of the Ranger hybrid's 3.5 tonne towing capability. That figure is an important one to Ford engineers who insisted the green Ranger should retain the same core capability as its combustion cousins.
That means it can wade through 800mm of water, claims peak payload up to 973 kilograms, and can do remarkable things off-road.
While some rivals feel as though they were rushed to market accompanied by a promise to improve with running changes, this Ranger feels like the finished article.
Its off-road ability is helped by Ford's decision to place the electric motor between the motor and transmission, which means it can make the most of a 10-speed automatic transmission and a low-range transfer case that give you incredible leverage in the rough stuff.
Simple drive modes work in its favour.
There's no mystery to EV Now, EV Later, EV Charge and Auto EV settings that let you drive on battery power, preserve the current battery level, use the petrol engine as a generator to charge the battery, or let the car sort itself out.
And the core Ranger elements are all here the modern cabin, impressive ergonomics and thoughtful practicality that have made the blue oval's pick-up Australia's favourite car for the last two years.
Verdict
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
EOFY 2025 ultimate motoring guide for car sales in Australia
Now is the time to buy a new car. Fierce competition in the automotive market, combined with excess vehicle supply and reduced consumer demand, means that there are extraordinary deals to be done on new cars. Vehicle price tracker co-founder Rob Leigh said there are more than 180 special offers on new vehicles in June 2025. 'I don't think I've ever seen end of financial year sales to be more aggressive than what they are today,' Mr Leigh said. 'It feels like there are more campaigns than ever. Pretty much every brand has something in the market.' There are brands in showrooms today that were not there a year ago – such as Jaecoo, Deepal, XPeng and Zeekr. Those new Chinese brands all have promotional offers in place, and those deals put pressure on established brands such as Ford and Hyundai to sharpen their pencils. New car deals take a variety of forms. The most common are drive-away deals that include on-road costs such as registration, stamp duty and dealer delivery fees in a single transaction for less than a car's regular retail price. Others offer desirable extras at a discount. There are deals to be done with manufacturer finance with cheap interest rates, minimal deposits and fewer fees. The Beep co-founder Rob Leigh says he's never seen a more active EOFY sales market in the car industry. Picture: Supplied Some even include deposit contributions of up to $20,000, which means you pay much less to finance a car over the course of owning it. But it's worth looking at the fine print. Some of the deals apply to models set to be replaced imminently. Others only apply to particular model year vehicles. You can get a great deal on Jeep four-wheel-drives in stock, but some of them have been sitting in showrooms for three years. They'll be worth far less than a 2025 model at trade-in time. We break the deals down with our ultimate guide to the EOFY sales across Australia. UTES If there's one thing Aussie drivers love more than a ute, it's a bargain. Thankfully, both are available this month. There are strong end of financial year deals for utes and pick-ups in Australia, whether you're shopping for a household name like the Ford Ranger or shopping for emerging models from new brands. SEE AUSTRALIA'S BEST EOFY 2025 UTE DEALS HERE Ford Ranger's Wildtrak X is being sold for about $7000 less than ususal. Picture: Mark Bean ENTRY-LEVEL CARS June is the best time to buy a new car, thanks to the end of financial year deals in place for new cars. But huge savings are hard to find at the most affordable end of the car market. Sharp prices and thin profit margins make it hard for manufacturers to offer big discounts on their most affordable machines. While the days of sub-$20,000 cars are behind us, there are deals to be done involving models that cost less than $30,000 drive-away. SEE AUSTRALIA'S BEST EOFY 2025 ENTRY-LEVEL CAR DEALS HERE COMPACT CARS End of financial year deals for compact cars aren't always easy to find. That's because booming SUV sales have put the brakes on traditional low-slung compact models. Be mindful that you can't buy a Ford Focus any more, and that the Honda Civic is a $50,000 proposition, then sub-$40,000 deals start to look sharp. SEE AUSTRALIA'S BEST EOFY 2025 COMPACT CAR DEALS HERE FAMILY CARS There are great end of financial year bargains to be found in family cars in 2025, particularly in the booming medium SUV class. There is fierce competition in this category and motorists are the winners as manufacturers slash costs to win your business. It's worth shopping around to find a bargain. SEE AUSTRALIA'S BEST EOFY 2025 FAMILY CAR DEALS HERE The Honda CR-V price hasn't seen a huge reduction in the family car segment but there are other perks that make it worth a look. LARGE SUVS Large SUVs and four-wheel-drives represent some of the most popular cars in Australia. But you shouldn't expect a great end of financial year deals on the most popular models - cars like the Toyota Prado and Ford Ranger. Instead, the best deals are found in cars that need a sales boost. Shop around and you can find are big savings on big cars - both in large SUV and four-wheel-drive form. SEE AUSTRALIA'S BEST EOFY 2025 LARGE SUV DEALS HERE ELECTRIC VEHICLES End of financial year sales for new cars aren't just great for people shopping for a deal - they're also an important opportunity for manufacturers to move metal off their books. Battery-powered models are selling slowly in 2025, which means there are bargains to be had in showrooms. SEE AUSTRALIA'S BEST EOFY 2025 EV DEALS HERE Zeekr X, Deepal S07, XPeng G6 electric cars. Picture: Thomas Wielecki SPORTS AND PERFORMANCE CARS The definition of a discretionary purchase, sports and performance cars aren't always subject to sharp deals. There aren't huge cash discounts on sports and performance cars as part of end of financial year sales in 2024. But there are a handful of promotions worth considering if you look around. SEE AUSTRALIA'S BEST EOFY 2025 SPORTS CAR DEALS HERE LUXURY CARS Promotions can be a sensitive subject for prestige brands keen to protect resale values - and their relationship with existing customers - by playing it cool during end of financial year deals. Don't expect brands to make a huge song and dance about slashing thousands from desirable models - discounts are sometimes done quietly, almost on an individual basis. But you can find advertised promotions on models with great inclusions, accessories, service packages and more. SEE AUSTRALIA'S BEST EOFY 2025 LUXURY CAR DEALS HERE
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
How to save money on a car
Buying and running a car is one of the household's biggest expenses. Here are some tips and tricks to reduce the cost of car life, from buying smarter to reducing fuel and service costs. Buy smarter, not flasher Tempted by that Mercedes, Lexus or Porsche? Of course you are. But can you really afford one? Prestige cars are pricier to purchase or lease, making monthly repayments far higher. Obvious stuff, but think depreciation, too. A $100,000 car shedding half its value over five years stings a lot more than a $30,000 one dropping by 50 per cent. Premium brand servicing and spare parts are typically higher than mainstream brands (sometimes by a lot), as is insuring one. HOT TIP: Buy a humbler brand such as Kia or Hyundai and pick the top grade model. Its features and cabin luxury can rival prestige marques. Wait for new car deals before buying If a car model's not meeting sales expectations, factory-backed deals follow – think drive-away offers, cashback, cheap finance or free servicing. Dealerships and sales staff usually have monthly, quarterly or annual sales targets, so car shopping at the ends of those periods and haggling hard can reap rewards. End of financial Year deals are typically abundant. Prove you've got the means and are willing to buy, then stand firm with your offer. Dealers want to sell. And skip paint protection and window tinting. To save dollars, organise this yourself if you deem it necessary. HOT TIP: Visit for a list of current new car offers and deals. Save thousands on ex-demo vehicles Slow-selling brand new cars are often dressed up as dealer ex-demos, yet have only delivery kilometres on the clock. Ex-demos that have driven a few thousand km are still practically new cars. Search and look under the New/Used tag, then choose 'Demo & Near New' under the 'Condition' tag. For example, a 2024 model year Skoda Fabia Select showing just 1500km is at a Queensland dealer for $26,990 drive-away, next to a list price of $32,390. HOT TIP: Ex-demo vehicles don't have full new car warranties. The warranty started when the dealer first road registered it. Try selling privately, not through a trade-in or car wholesaler Trade-ins or using an 'instant buy' wholesaler is quick and convenient, but you won't get near market value for your car. Selling privately may feel confronting, but clean your car properly, photograph it well, do a quick phone video, get a roadworthy and price it realistically and you'll likely get more genuine buyers than tyre kickers. Check out Carsales, Gumtree and Marketplace to gauge asking prices for cars similar to yours, and price yours realistically on one or all of the above. HOT TIP: There are numerous online advice articles about safely selling your car privately. You don't have to service through a main dealer Brands such as Mitsubishi and Nissan offer a 10 year warranty, but only if logbook services are done at authorised dealers. While that makes servicing within the dealer network a good idea, it's often cheaper to service using an independent workshop. Your car's warranty remains intact as long as the workshop's licensed and use correct parts and fluids demanded by the manufacturer. Capped price services at dealers can be excellent value, especially brands such as Toyota and Honda. HOT TIP: Try using a marque specialist when servicing your car. They'll be true brand experts and can diagnose common problems immediately. Cut fuel bills Use websites such as and to see your area's cheapest fuel in real time. Use supermarket coupons, and download the My 7-Eleven app to lock-in the best local fuel price for up to seven days, saving up to 25 cents per litre. Help your car be more fuel efficient. Ensure it's been serviced, tyres are at the correct pressure, remove roof racks and any excess weight from the boot and cabin, and don't drive aggressively. All will chew the fuel. HOT TIP: The fuel price cycle is real. Brim the tank when prices are low. Shop around for insurance Use websites such as and to get car insurance quotes from numerous providers. Get quotes when your insurance is up for renewal each year. They typically reward new customers with lower prices, rather than loyal customers rolling over from last year, so play the field. For more savings, pay your premium annually not monthly, stipulate limits (such as no drivers under 25), increase your excess, or agree an annual mileage limit. HOT TIP: Considering an electric car? Get insurance quotes first as they're often higher than petrol or diesel vehicles. QUICKFIRE TIPS: Own a second car? Do you really need one? Total up annual bills and depreciation, and maybe your family could manage with one car to save megabucks. Tyres soon need replacing? There are often 'buy three get one free' deals on quality tyre brands. Don't buy cheap tyres, it's false economy. How's your parking and toll road costs? Perhaps park for free further out and walk or cycle the last part? Swerve toll roads by driving during less busy periods if possible. Be loyal to your car and keep it for several years. Depreciation is usually the biggest car cost. Buying or leasing every three years means you're suffering the maximum dollar depreciation hit.
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- News.com.au
EOFY 2025 ultimate motoring guide for car sales in Australia
Now is the time to buy a new car. Fierce competition in the automotive market, combined with excess vehicle supply and reduced consumer demand, means that there are extraordinary deals to be done on new cars. Vehicle price tracker co-founder Rob Leigh said there are more than 180 special offers on new vehicles in June 2025. 'I don't think I've ever seen end of financial year sales to be more aggressive than what they are today,' Mr Leigh said. 'It feels like there are more campaigns than ever. Pretty much every brand has something in the market.' There are brands in showrooms today that were not there a year ago – such as Jaecoo, Deepal, XPeng and Zeekr. Those new Chinese brands all have promotional offers in place, and those deals put pressure on established brands such as Ford and Hyundai to sharpen their pencils. New car deals take a variety of forms. The most common are drive-away deals that include on-road costs such as registration, stamp duty and dealer delivery fees in a single transaction for less than a car's regular retail price. Others offer desirable extras at a discount. There are deals to be done with manufacturer finance with cheap interest rates, minimal deposits and fewer fees. Some even include deposit contributions of up to $20,000, which means you pay much less to finance a car over the course of owning it. But it's worth looking at the fine print. Some of the deals apply to models set to be replaced imminently. Others only apply to particular model year vehicles. You can get a great deal on Jeep four-wheel-drives in stock, but some of them have been sitting in showrooms for three years. They'll be worth far less than a 2025 model at trade-in time. We break the deals down with our ultimate guide to the EOFY sales across Australia. UTES If there's one thing Aussie drivers love more than a ute, it's a bargain. Thankfully, both are available this month. There are strong end of financial year deals for utes and pick-ups in Australia, whether you're shopping for a household name like the Ford Ranger or shopping for emerging models from new brands. ENTRY-LEVEL CARS June is the best time to buy a new car, thanks to the end of financial year deals in place for new cars. But huge savings are hard to find at the most affordable end of the car market. Sharp prices and thin profit margins make it hard for manufacturers to offer big discounts on their most affordable machines. While the days of sub-$20,000 cars are behind us, there are deals to be done involving models that cost less than $30,000 drive-away. COMPACT CARS End of financial year deals for compact cars aren't always easy to find. That's because booming SUV sales have put the brakes on traditional low-slung compact models. Be mindful that you can't buy a Ford Focus any more, and that the Honda Civic is a $50,000 proposition, then sub-$40,000 deals start to look sharp. FAMILY CARS There are great end of financial year bargains to be found in family cars in 2025, particularly in the booming medium SUV class. There is fierce competition in this category and motorists are the winners as manufacturers slash costs to win your business. It's worth shopping around to find a bargain. LARGE SUVS Large SUVs and four-wheel-drives represent some of the most popular cars in Australia. But you shouldn't expect a great end of financial year deals on the most popular models - cars like the Toyota Prado and Ford Ranger. Instead, the best deals are found in cars that need a sales boost. Shop around and you can find are big savings on big cars - both in large SUV and four-wheel-drive form. ELECTRIC VEHICLES End of financial year sales for new cars aren't just great for people shopping for a deal - they're also an important opportunity for manufacturers to move metal off their books. Battery-powered models are selling slowly in 2025, which means there are bargains to be had in showrooms. SPORTS AND PERFORMANCE CARS The definition of a discretionary purchase, sports and performance cars aren't always subject to sharp deals. There aren't huge cash discounts on sports and performance cars as part of end of financial year sales in 2024. But there are a handful of promotions worth considering if you look around. LUXURY CARS Promotions can be a sensitive subject for prestige brands keen to protect resale values - and their relationship with existing customers - by playing it cool during end of financial year deals. Don't expect brands to make a huge song and dance about slashing thousands from desirable models - discounts are sometimes done quietly, almost on an individual basis.
