2015 Ford Ranger Wildtrak to cost more than $60K

THE 2015 Ford Ranger Wildtrak will wear a $60,090 showroom sticker, making it one of Australia’s most expensive tradies.

The $60K ask for the six-speed automatic version of the dual-cab 4x4 pick-up is well north of the Toyota Hilux SR5’s $51,740 sticker and Nissan’s new $51,990 Navara ST-X.

The refreshed Ranger flagship is also several thousand more than Holden’s Colorado Z71 ($54,990), though the Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate ($62,290) and Toyota 70-Series GXL ($65,990) are dearer again.

The Wildtrak kicks off at $57,890 for the manual version, although Ford says that most buyers will take the $60,090 automatic. As the flagship of a line-up that includes 37 variants, it comes exclusively with the 3.2-litre turbo-diesel as well as 18-inch alloys, sports bar, rear-step bumper and roller-shutter cover, with heated leather chairs inside including an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat. Safety features include active driver assist, front parking sensors (to go with the rear sensors and reversing camera) while all Ranger models come with WiFi hotspot capability

The Ranger is Ford’s best-selling product, and was the fifth most-popular vehicle in Australia last month. Ford sold 2500 Wildtraks in 2014, and so far in 2015 it has made up 8.5 percent of Ranger sales year-to-date. Ford expects that share to grow as customers of high-end utes continue to demand more equipment, with Ranger sales growth of both the XLT and Wildtrak leading the charge.

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The Ranger faces stiff competiton from the hot-selling Hilux, which is still outselling the Ford despite a new model being revealed ahead of going on sale in September.

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