Ford Ranger to include AEB and more across range

Ford has released pricing and specifications for the 2019 Ranger, which adds standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection across the whole range, as well as lane keep assist, driver attention alert, traffic sign recognition and automatic high beam.

In a big move for the Blue Oval, the 2019 Ranger is the third ute in Australia to offer AEB across its entire range (the first and second being the Mercedes-Benz X-Class and SsangYong Musso respectively), but notably, the Ranger is one of Australia’s best-selling vehicles.

Ford’s move to expand the active safety tech also surpasses the Mitsubishi Triton, which recently standardised AEB and other safety equipment in all models aside from the base GLX. 

A new acoustic windshield features on XL and XLS models.

Adding city- and highway-speed AEB to the whole line-up further emphasises the lack of safety tech among others in the ute class. Many other utes including the top-selling Toyota HiLux, Volkswagen Amarok, Nissan Navara, Mazda BT-50 and Isuzu D-Max don’t offer any active safety equipment at all. The Amarok does not even feature curtain airbags.

“The standard inclusion of AEB on the Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor is great news for ute buyers and other road users,” said ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin. 

“As one of Australia’s top sellers, having this important safety technology fitted across the Ranger line-up will have a big impact.”

Priced from $28,340 plus on-road costs, the 2019 Ranger has risen by $350, while the Ranger Raptor increases $600 to $75,990. 

With the majority of the equipment from the former Tech Pack (optional on XLT but standard on Wildtrak) now standard across the whole range, Ford has revised the options packages for the 2019 model year Ranger. Available on the Ranger XLT is a new Tech Pack with adaptive cruise control and automatic parking for $800. Leather trim for the XLT is now $1,500 instead of $1,650. An acoustic windshield has been added to XL and XLS models to improve cabin refinement.

The Ranger Raptor also picks up AEB.

The Ranger Raptor has also seen revisions for 2019, with the same AEB with pedestrian detection now standard equipment, as well as eight-way power adjustment for both front seats. 

Ford has also revised the capped price servicing for the Ranger, which now costs $299 per service for the first four years or 60,000km for a total of $1,430 (including a brake fluid change every two years). Previously, Rangers cost up to $2,275 over the same period, saving owners up to $849.

The updated 2019 Ford Ranger goes on sale in June.

2019 Ford Ranger list pricing: 

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