Ford Ranger still tops for towing
Popular dual-cab ute wins mega comparison for third time
Ford's Aussie-developed global pick-up has beaten 10 other mid-size 4WD dual-cabs to win Carsales' top ute award once again.
Despite being a decade old and due for replacement in 2022, Ford’s global mid-size pick-up remained ahead of its rivals in the seven key areas, including safety, technology, comfort/convenience, on-road performance, off-road capability, towing/payload and cost of ownership.
And despite the release of an all-new nameplate and several new and upgraded competitors in the past 12 months, Australia’s most popular 4x4 ute continues to outperform its direct rivals – including the nation’s top-selling ute and the most popular new vehicle overall for the past five years, the (recently facelifted) Toyota HiLux.
For 2021, carsales’ Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute award compared the most popular premium versions of every mainstream mid-size four-door four-wheel drive ute currently available Down Under. The field comprised the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2, GWM Ute Cannon-X, Isuzu D-MAX X-Terrain, Jeep Gladiator Overland, LDV T60 LUXE, Mazda BT-50 GT, Mitsubishi Triton GSR, Nissan Navara ST-X, SsangYong Musso Ultimate, Toyota HiLux SR5 and Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 TDI580.
This year’s victory makes the Ford Ranger a three-times winner of carsales’ Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute, after taking the title both in 2019 and in the inaugural 2015 awards. The Volkswagen Amarok took top honours in 2017.
The Ranger’s mix of eye-pleasing interior and exterior design, comprehensive safety features, intuitive technologies, generous equipment levels, low cost of ownership, extensive aftersales provisions, class-leading ride/handling and exemplary off-road, towing and carrying capabilities made it Carsales' top ute pick once again in 2021.
"Quite simply, there is no other mid-size dual-cab 4x4 ute on the market today that handles, rides and performs as well as the Ranger – whether unladen, laden or towing – while also offering cutting-edge safety and technology," the Carsales' judges said.
For a full rundown of the towing and payload aspects of the comparison, click here.
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