Nichola Beckford /Contributor

With the Ford Everest now on the Kingston Industrial Garage showroom floors, the next avalanche of questions would be about the Ford Ranger, the pickup upon which the seven-seat SUV is based.

Those questions were answered on February 1, when the first two trims of the 2023 Ford Ranger were unveiled at KIG’s Spanish Town Road headquarters in Kingston.

Visually, from the front third, there’s a lot in common with the Everest. The sheet metal has been nipped and tucked for a pleasant update that goes well with the new front grille. To draw a familial line through all their pickups, the Ranger, which recently returned to the North American market, now has similar headlights to match its bigger American brother the F-150.

However, the Ranger isn’t a top seller because of its looks. Each update brings with it more capability and Ford has called this the best Ranger to date. That’s because under the new skin has been a host of changes to make it so. While the figures indicate that the Ranger is narrower and shorter than the outgoing model, there are major improvements in all the right areas due to advanced construction and redesigned mechanicals.

Multiple panels of the Ranger have been created by a process called hydroforming which allows for lighter, stronger, thinner and more complicated shapes. The pickup now has a larger wheelbase and is taller, providing more interior space for occupant comfort, cargo space – it can now handle a Euro-sized pallet in the bed, and more ground clearance. Fifty millimetres has been added to the wheel track for better driving stability in on and off-road conditions.

The Wildtrak and XLT models available at launch are packed with small elements to make work or play easier. Those who use the Ranger for work will enjoy 3,500kgs of towing capacity, an improved bedliner, clamp pockets on the tailgate for tools or securing items, a rear step for better bed access, and zone lighting that uses the lights around the vehicle to illuminate the vehicle perimeter. If that lighting isn’t enough, then there’s a pair of power outlets in the bed for auxiliary items.

The cabin is new, looking more upscale with a fresh design, high quality materials, and nice accents such as contrast stitching depending upon which trim level is chosen. Making a big statement is the technology of which the Ford SYNC infotainment system runs through either a 10.1-inch or 12-inch portrait touchscreen. The XLT gets the smaller screen, while the Wildtrak adds the extra two inches. A wireless charging pad for smartphones is available in both. All Rangers, bar the Raptor, receive an eight-inch digital display for the driver.

You’ll need all these screens as the Ranger has increased its technology. Long-time fans will notice the lack of a physical handbrake. This means a host of electronic driver assist like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assistance, and lane departure warning. Those using the Ranger as a family vehicle can feel safe with nine airbags.

One thing that did make the shift to the new model is the two-litre bi-turbo diesel motor. This was previously paired with the Ranger Raptor, but is now the midrange spec. A single turbo version of this engine can be had in other markets for lower single cab trims, with a larger three-litre V6 turbo-diesel for the mid and upper range trims. As of this point, the 2023 XLT and Wildtrak gain the former Ranger Raptor’s 210bhp and 269ft/lb of torque. The 2023 Ranger Raptor moves up three-litre V6 twin-turbo EcoBoost power plant giving it approximately 400bhp and 430ft/lb of torque.

Off-road only the breakover angle has been reduced due to the longer wheelbase, but the approach and departure angles have slightly improved over the old model. The wading depth of 800mm stays the same. The XLT and Wildtrak use a 10-speed automatic transmission that feeds power to all four wheels based on any of the electronic drive modes as chosen by the driver.