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Best 4x4 Dual-Cab Ute in 2016

blue ford ranger parked on sand dune
RACV

February 21, 2017

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2 is Australia's Best 4x4 Dual-Cab Ute.

Winner: Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

This is Ford Ranger’s third win in four years, aided by a model refresh and some extra kit being added in 2016. It excels in the things these utes are bought for, such as towing, as well as having a practical design that makes it easy to live with.

The list of standard features in Ranger is the benchmark in this market. A rear-view camera and reversing sensors have become standard across most of the line-up, and the XLT also has front parking sensors as standard.

The update also saw the XLT get Ford’s new SYNC 3 in-vehicle communications and entertainment platform that has faster performance, more conversational voice recognition, smartphone-like touch-screen and an improved graphics interface.

Inside the cabin, Ranger was equal best in class for space, and outside tray space was equal to or better than any of the other contenders. The seating comfort was also equal best in class, and during the upgrade, Ford put more sound deadening in the XLT. As such the cabin is relatively quieter but it’s still not as good as the HiLux.

Even loaded with three judges in the cabin and half a tonne in the tray, Ranger easily lugged its way up a steep 4WD test track as the 470Nm delivered by the 3.2-litre 147kW five-cylinder turbo-diesel powerplant was well and truly up to the task.

Ranger topped the list here for towing, with a more-than-useful 3500-kilogram rated capacity. Supported by trailer sway mitigation and tyre pressure monitoring, it is also the only ute in the class to have a towbar as standard.

Best 4x4 Dual-Cab Ute
Best 4x4 Dual-Cab Ute
Weighting
Ford Ranger XLT 3.2
Toyota HiLux SR5
Holden Colorado LTZ
VALUE FOR MONEY
Weighting
Ford Ranger XLT 3.2
Toyota HiLux SR5
Holden Colorado LTZ

Pricing

Weighting

Medium

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

3

Toyota HiLux SR5

3

Holden Colorado LTZ

5

Cost of depreciation ($)

Weighting

Medium

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

5

Toyota HiLux SR5

5

Holden Colorado LTZ

3

Running and repair costs

Weighting

Medium

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

6

Toyota HiLux SR5

5

Holden Colorado LTZ

4

Fuel consumption

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

3

Toyota HiLux SR5

4

Holden Colorado LTZ

3

Warranty and dealer access

Weighting

Medium

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

4

Toyota HiLux SR5

4

Holden Colorado LTZ

4

Insurance

Weighting

Low

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

1

Toyota HiLux SR5

6

Holden Colorado LTZ

6

Standard features

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

8

Toyota HiLux SR5

7

Holden Colorado LTZ

8

DESIGN AND FUNCTION

Weighting
Ford Ranger XLT 3.2
Toyota HiLux SR5
Holden Colorado LTZ

Safety

Weighting

Critical

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

7

Toyota HiLux SR5

7

Holden Colorado LTZ

8

Environment

Weighting

Critical

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

4

Toyota HiLux SR5

4

Holden Colorado LTZ

4

Seating comfort

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

7

Toyota HiLux SR5

7

Holden Colorado LTZ

6

Space - cabin
Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

7

Toyota HiLux SR5

6

Holden Colorado LTZ

5

Space - tray

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

8

Toyota HiLux SR5

8

Holden Colorado LTZ

6

Practicality

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

8

Toyota HiLux SR5

8

Holden Colorado LTZ

8

Ergonomics

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

8

Toyota HiLux SR5

8

Holden Colorado LTZ

6

Build and finish quality

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

8

Toyota HiLux SR5

8

Holden Colorado LTZ

6

ON THE ROAD

Weighting
Ford Ranger XLT 3.2
Toyota HiLux SR5
Holden Colorado LTZ

Rated towing

Weighting

Critical

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

9

Toyota HiLux SR5

7

Holden Colorado LTZ

8

Payload

Weighting

Medium

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

6

Toyota HiLux SR5

6

Holden Colorado LTZ

5

Performance

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

8

Toyota HiLux SR5

7

Holden Colorado LTZ

9

Ride

Weighting

Medium

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

7

Toyota HiLux SR5

6

Holden Colorado LTZ

7

Handling

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

8

Toyota HiLux SR5

8

Holden Colorado LTZ

7

Braking
Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

7

Toyota HiLux SR5

7

Holden Colorado LTZ

7

Smoothness and quietness

Weighting

Medium

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

7

Toyota HiLux SR5

8

Holden Colorado LTZ

7

OFF ROAD

Weighting
Ford Ranger XLT 3.2
Toyota HiLux SR5
Holden Colorado LTZ

Engine gearing and traction

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

8

Toyota HiLux SR5

8

Holden Colorado LTZ

7

Clearances and articulation

Weighting

High

Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

7

Toyota HiLux SR5

7

Holden Colorado LTZ

7

OVERALL AVERAGE

Weighting
Ford Ranger XLT 3.2

1082

Toyota HiLux SR5

1052

Holden Colorado LTZ

1008