2021 Ford Ranger 2.0 XLT Plus Review

The current pickup market in Malaysia is becoming increasingly competitive, and family users have growing demands for both functionality and comfort in pickups. The 2021 Ford Ranger 2.0 XLT Plus, as a popular model in the mid-size pickup segment, enters the market with balanced features and reliable performance. The greatest highlight of this vehicle lies in its combination of daily home-use comfort and light off-road capability, while its price is set at RM 131,888, offering good value for money. This test drive will focus on testing its practicality in terms of space, dynamic driving performance, and features to determine if it meets the dual needs of family use and light off-road scenarios, providing genuine insight for potential buyers.

From the exterior, the 2021 Ranger 2.0 XLT Plus retains Ford's classic rugged pickup styling with relatively straight overall lines. The front adopts a large trapezoidal grille, paired with chrome trims and the Ford logo, offering high recognition. The side profile features a body waistline extending from the front to the rear, with slightly protruding wheel arches enhancing its robust appearance. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels and 265/60 R18 tires, resulting in a visually harmonious effect. The rear design is simple, with vertically arranged tail lights. The rear bumper is equipped with reversing radar and a camera, adding to its practicality. As for the lighting system, the car is equipped with standard LED daytime running lights, automatic halogen headlights, and front and rear fog lights, meeting daily lighting needs. However, compared to the full-LED headlights found in higher trims, the halogen lights are slightly inferior in brightness.

Sitting inside, the interior adopts a dark color scheme, with the dashboard layout focusing on practicality. The upper section features soft-touch materials, while the lower part uses hard plastics, consistent with the material standards of pickups in this price range. The center console is equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, supporting the Sound Plus system and a 6-speaker audio system. The operation is relatively smooth, but the interface design is quite simple, lacking modern smart connectivity features. In terms of configuration, this car is equipped with keyless entry, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, a 220V/230V power socket, and manually adjustable front seats (4-way for the driver, 2-way for the passenger). While manual adjustments are less convenient than electric ones, they are sufficient for daily use. Space is one of the strengths of this vehicle. The body dimensions are 5426mm in length, 1860mm in width, and 1848mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3220mm. The front row offers spacious seating, with approximately two fists of headroom for a 175cm passenger. The rear-row legroom is about one and a half fists, with headroom around one fist, making it suitable for family outings. In terms of storage, the door panel storage slots and the central armrest box provide moderate capacity, while the rear row is equipped with air-conditioning vents for added practicality.

In terms of power, the 2021 Ranger 2.0 XLT Plus is equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged diesel engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 180PS and peak torque occurring between 1750-2500rpm. It is paired with a 6AT transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system. During actual driving, the power response in the initial acceleration stage is relatively smooth. Once the revs reach 1750rpm, the torque output becomes more pronounced. During overtaking, the power reserves are sufficient, and the transmission shifts smoothly without noticeable jerking. The driving modes include Normal, Eco, and Off-road. In Off-road mode, throttle sensitivity decreases, making it suitable for complex terrains. The chassis employs a double-wishbone independent front suspension and a rear leaf spring non-independent suspension. The front-row comfort is decent when dealing with urban road bumps, whereas the rear-row, due to the leaf spring structure, transmits more noticeable jolts when going over speed bumps or uneven surfaces. The steering feel is moderate with minimal play, and the body roll is well-controlled during cornering. Its high-speed driving stability is commendable. Regarding fuel consumption, the measured average under mixed driving conditions is about 8.5L/100km. With an 80L fuel tank capacity, it achieves an approximate range of 900km, making it suitable for long-distance journeys. Noise control is average; while wind and tire noise become apparent at high speeds, the diesel engine noise is well-suppressed, and in-cabin conversations remain unaffected.

Overall, the core advantages of the 2021 Ford Ranger 2.0 XLT Plus lie in its spacious interior, reliable four-wheel-drive system, and decent fuel efficiency. Its features meet the needs of daily household use, and its price offers better value for money compared to the similarly classified Toyota Hilux 2.4G. However, its intelligent features and interior quality are slightly inferior to the latter. This vehicle is suitable for users who need to balance family outings with light off-road activities, such as families who frequently need to carry cargo or go camping on weekends, or small business owners requiring the practicality of a pickup truck. All in all, it is a well-balanced and pragmatic mid-size pickup, with no obvious shortcomings, capable of meeting the needs of various scenarios.