Which 2019 Ford Ranger to buy? – Variant Comparison Guide

One truck in the market that’s serious about dominating its class is the Ford Ranger. From the base all the way to the ultimate form of the blue oval pickup known as the Raptor, Ford Philippines made sure any demand from buyers is covered. We already reviewed a couple of variants of the Ranger’s 2019 iteration and things were well between our expectations and what the American pickup truck has to offer.

There are four trims—eight variants all in all—of the Ranger and these range from manual, automatic, rear-wheel-drive, and four-wheel-drive (4WD) alterations. If you can’t make up your mind on which one to choose, this article might be what you’re looking for. To help you get the best value for your money, we put the entire Ranger lineup side-by-side and aligned each and every spec there is that we know. Let us find out which variant best combines affordability and tech-availability.

Do note, however, that we’ll only talk about the Ranger and exclude the Raptor – which has yet to find a match in the local market.

Although the Ford Ranger’s base variant is actually priced higher than most of its rivals, it promises on beating its opponents with a slew of technology and high-quality components that build up the truck. This is observed on the wide array of features shared across the lineup. Before everything else, the Ranger plays inside the price range of P1,032,000 and P1,695,000, which are the price of the base XLS and top-range Ranger Wildtrak.

Ford has standard dimensions utilized by its truck, except if you are to count the Raptor – which is bigger in every angle. The exterior design isn’t also customary. Despite the facelift introduced in September 2018, the XLS and XLT both share the regular Ranger design, while the Wildtrak features different bumper and grille design. Despite that, the American pickup made sure buyers of the base model gets most of the features enjoyed by mid- and top-range owners.

Standard convenience and comfort features include six speakers, steering audio control, power-adjustable side mirror, electronic door locks and windows, rear center armrest, and rear defogger. There’s also a high-sense of safety with more shared features than what most might expect, such as the dual front airbags, adjustable speed limiter, anti-lock braking system (ABS), ISOFIX anchors, and childproof door locks.

More technical stuff that is available from the base to the Wildtrak Biturbo is the front ventilated disc and rear drum brakes. Also, the double wishbone with coil spring and leaf spring suspensions on the front and rear are common to all variants.

Do you think the base XLS variant is a bit short for your needs? If you have the additional budget then why not aim for the better trim? The XLT has a price tag ranging from P1,176,000 to 1,236,000, which are quite a deal given the added features like projector headlamps, side steps, bigger 17-inch alloys, chrome accents upfront, and a bedliner at the back. Those were just the obvious additions because the interior also gets extras such as a leather gear knob, illuminated vanity mirrors for the driver and passenger, and electrochromic rearview mirrors that automatically dim down given certain circumstances.

What’s interesting enough are the bunch of convenience features that were added in the manual and automatic XLT variants. For their prices, you already get rear parking assist, automatic on and off headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and electric power-assisted steering – yes, the base still has the hydraulic power steering. Oh, since the base models don’t have a volumetric burglar alarm system, the price difference was able to put that in place for the XLT.

On the farther part of the price spectrum are the Wildtrak variants that are tagged between P1,390,000 and P1,695,000. These are the top-tier form of the blue oval brand, which, if not because of the Raptor’s introduction in September 2018, would be sitting at the top of the podium. The most obvious advantage of opting for the Wildtrak is the power you’d get from the 2.0-liter single turbo and biturbo diesel engine, plus 18-inch alloy wheels.

Both the XLS and XLT has 158 hp and 385 Nm of torque under their hood. Not to mention, both utilizes 6-speed manual and automatic gearboxes. For the Wildtrak variants, specifically the Single-Turbo and Biturbo automatic variants, Ford has introduced a more capable and efficient 10-speed automatic transmission. With the new transmission comes increased power outputs of both automatic Wildtrak variations were amped up; the Single-Turbo 4x2 AT is at 178 hp and 420 Nm of torque, while the Biturbo is at 210 hp and 500 Nm of torque.

Other variant-exclusive features include HID headlights with daytime running lights (DRL), LED fog lamps, London Gray exterior accents, hoop sports bar, roof and bed rails, tailgate lock, and Wildtrak scuff plates. These exterior details separate the base Rangers from the real deal variants. However, the excitement of choosing the Wildtrak does not stop there.

Comfort and convenience in the Wildtrak are obviously far better than the other two trims with built-in navigation, Dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (EATC), smart keyless entry feature, and ambient lighting. The trim also offers front parking assist along with the standard rear parking sensors and an added rearview camera for easier reverse parking. Connectivity is made more accessible with two USB ports and a 230-volt inverter. You’ll also feel safer with the front side and curtain airbags, as well as hill-start assist and seatbelt reminder.

Meanwhile, the top of them all which is the Biturbo 4x4 AT gets adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and keeping aid, forward collision warning paired with autonomous emergency brakes, active park assist, hill-descent control, and auto high beam control. The driver seat also features 8-way electrical adjusting, way better than the 6-way manual adjustable seats in the other variants.

To sum it all up, and like we always say at the end of every “which variant” articles, it’s a matter of preference and, of course, your financial status. If you think you can afford the best variant without worrying much about your wallet, then you can take the Wildtrak 2.0 Biturbo 4x4 AT (even more interesting, the Ranger Raptor). Those trims are the dominating ones in terms of power and off-roading capability. However, if you are a strict advocate of practicality, we’d say the XLS 4x4 MT is great as you already have a 4WD Ranger for the price of P1,181,000. The only downside of the 4x4 XLS is that it does not come with an automatic variant.