Comparison of Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux 2023 – off-road
Ykings4x44x4ykings4x4, as a 4×4 accessories sales center in Australia, in this section brings you a comparison of Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux 2023, which shows the changes well. Although the previous model is still a leading car among 4×4 and mid-size Utes, the 2023 Ford Ranger has added power with a V6 diesel engine and continues to lead in off-road races.
In this comparison, we are comparing two cars, Ford Ranger Sport and Toyota Hilux SR5, which usually have the largest share of sales among the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux families. The Ranger Sport sits between the popular Ranger XLT and the Wildtrak in terms of features.
A Ranger V6 diesel currently costs around $66,700, while the Hilux SR5 we just bought is $63,320. It means $3,000 price difference, which of course is justified considering the level of features and engine type of Ford Ranger. The V6 engine adds $3,000 to the price of the Ford Ranger Sport.
Ford Ranger Sport V6
Ranger Sport pricing
- Ranger Sport 4-cyl: $63,690
- Ranger Sport V6: $66,690
Hilux, as one of Toyota’s medium-sized cars, has a superior originality compared to Ford Ranger, which carried Mazda’s name in its early presence in the American and global markets. As we mentioned above, the Ranger 2023 is completely new and in terms of the structure of the central body such as the cabin, glasshouse, door openings, and also in terms of dimensions, it has changed and is more similar to the PX series Rangers. Other things including the chassis, interior, engines, the size of the van and also the suspension system have changed or are completely new.
The 2023 Ford Ranger comes with either a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel or a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo gasoline engine. The engine that was used for Land Rover Discovery 3 and Ford Territory diesel with a capacity of 2.7 liters. Utes usually come with inline four-cylinder diesel engines, which are very rough and noisy. But V6 engines have a quieter performance and produce less noise.
If you are concerned about the design and capacity of the 3.0-liter V6 engine, I must say that it does not suffer from the noise and vibrations of the inline four at all. It has been reviewed for the gearbox problems and the 10-speed gearbox used in the previous series has also been fixed. Ford has used a wider chassis to improve the dynamics of the car as well as its future plans to install electric motors.
The towing power of Ford Ranger has reached 3.5 tons and it has the ability to carry more than one ton of cargo. This is exceptional capability for a pickup and off-road vehicle. Many changes have been made in the suspension system of Ford Ranger Sport and it feels stiff on rough roads. On off-road tracks and wet roads, having a four-wheel drive is an outstanding feature for any car. The effective electronic traction control that we see in the new Ford Ranger 2023 makes sure that the tires do not lose traction with the ground.
Although the drive modes and mud settings are a solution, they are not as fast as the Hilux. 360-degree cameras are one of the prominent features of off-road vehicles, which help the driver a lot to maneuver in narrow and crowded roads.
After walking around the Ford Ranger Sport, we entered its cabin, where we encountered a special and very modern atmosphere. We saw new features and options, among which the 10-inch screen in the center of the dashboard attracts attention. Of course, the screen used in Ranger Wildtrak and XLT is bigger than this. The display shows the same usual controls, the most important of which are the exterior lighting and entertainment controls.
Just below the screen is a wireless charging pad for your cell phone that connects to the SYNC 4 system for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A digital screen is installed in front of the steering wheel and it shows the settings that you may want to display more. By setting off-road and on-road driving mode, it shows different settings. The seats in the front row are adjustable, but they do not have a heating system. Leather covers are used and there is enough space for three passengers in the back row.
Steps behind the tub for easy access to the rear tub space are other practical items that can be seen in the new Ford Ranger. The integrated brake controller consisting of a 360-degree camera and exterior lighting are important options of the 2023 Ford Ranger Sport that you can optionally order.
Ford’s cooperation with ARB for the development of company-approved accessories is another unique after-sales service of Ford, which provides a series of accessory kits, including Bull bar, front air racks, canopy, etc. when purchasing a car.
Toyota Hilux SR5 Premium
Toyota Hilux is one of the most famous and tough vans that has a lot of fans in all countries of the world, especially in Australia. Since 1968, eight generations of this pickup have come to the market, and over the years, it has changed from a cheap compact van to a large and expensive pickup.
Hilux is of interest to off-road riders and people who need a work car. Similarly, many military organizations of the world also use this van in their missions. Because in addition to high technical durability, it has off-road capabilities and the optimal technical ability to perform various tasks on smooth and uneven roads.
In general, the 6-speed automatic transmission has a good speed, and its combination with the 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with 201 horsepower and 500 Nm torque is acceptable. This engine accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.7 seconds. Meanwhile, the 2.4-liter engine of the lower versions of the Toyota Hilux with a power of 148 horsepower and a torque of 400 newton meters goes from 0 to 100 km/h 2.7 seconds later. Also, its fuel consumption is not lower at all.
The 2.8-liter engine with an automatic transmission will make the driver’s job easier in traffic, but people who prefer a manual transmission should know that the Toyota Hilux’s torque is reduced to 420 Nm with a manual transmission.
The vital specifications of Toyota Hilux SR5 are neither too low nor too high. The towing capacity of this pickup is estimated to be 3.5 tons and its load carrying capacity is slightly more than 1 ton, and its cargo room is 1525 mm long and 1645 mm wide.
Although Hilux is mostly made for off-road routes, the handling and ride quality of the car on the roads is also very smooth and feels light. The Hilux feels narrower and taller on the road than the Ford Ranger because the Ranger’s wheels are wider, which could be a strong reason why the Ranger is wider. The greater the distance between the wheels, the greater the stability of the car on the road.
When we go off-road, we realize the essence of the Toyota Hilux. Unique traction power to cross sandy tracks, rough tracks, swamps and rocks is one of the most important features that lies in Toyota Hilux cars.
Another part of the new Toyota Hilux SR5 updates has been done on its cabin and dashboard. The 8-inch dashboard screen has been updated to provide a screen for volume control. Many users in Australia complain that the screen is not integrated. The gauge binnacle, although simpler than the Ford Ranger, shows everything the Ford display shows. At first glance, you’ll notice the Ranger’s screen is more crowded than the Ford’s, which makes working with the settings a bit difficult. The Premium Package combines leather-trimmed seats with piano black trim to add a touch of luxury to the HiLux cabin.
We were not very comfortable on the seats of the second row, and as you can see in the picture, the leg, shoulder and head space is very tight.
If you look at the safety technologies of the Toyota Hilux, it doesn’t have much to offer. Although it benefits from essential technologies such as ABS, ESC, ETC, AEB, the hilux lane departure system does not correct the steering well. In addition, it lacks the features of blind spot indicator and traffic warnings.
265/60R18 tires are used for Toyota Hilux, which is gradually becoming a standard model for all cars. You can also choose 17-inch wheels to use more tires. The cargo tray of the Hilux is smaller and lacks the lighting of the rear tub. The rear load capacity is 1 ton like the Ranger. When we open the engine door, we face the second battery space. Hilux is well supported by auto accessory manufacturers. Of course, Toyota itself produces a series of factory kits such as steel Bull bar for Hilux.
When you drive these two cars for comparison, you can’t ignore the fact that the Ranger is a newer model. By driving once, you can distinguish Ford Ranger’s capabilities and technologies well. Although the V6 engine produces only 100 newtons more, the way it transmits torque to the wheels seems much easier. In addition, the refinement of the V6 engine and ten-speed gearbox sets a new standard in the 4×4 ute category.
If we leave the engine power and torque aside, Ranger is superior to Hilux and any other car in terms of dynamics and comfort. But all these compliments do not issue the sentence that Toyota Hilux is not good.
