2024 Ford Ranger Black Edition

The MY2024 Ford Ranger Black Edition was a limited-run special based on the XL bi-turbo diesel pick-up.

The Black Edition ran for 1500 units from July 2024. With just one bodystyle, the idea was to capitalise on the popularity of aftermarket editions to the entry-level spec. It was one of two special editions in 2024, the other being the Wildtrak X-based Ranger Tremor.

The Ford Ranger XL is the entry-level model in the extensive range. For MY2024, there were nine different variants of the XL in the permanent range starting from $36,880 through to $54,380. For the MY2024 model year, heavy duty suspension had been made standard.

Pricing for the Black Edition started at $56,680 before options and on-road costs. A drive away offer of $57,990 in Arctic White was available.

Heavy duty suspension, previously a $500 option, consists of thicker springs, new front and rear dampers and a revised tune to improve heavy load carrying performance.

The Black Edition’s claim fame included a black “long-legged” sports bar, a drop-in bedliner with 12-volt socket and the cargo management system. Wheels are up by an inch to 17-inches and are alloys instead of steels. Black side steps and a black mesh grille with Wildtrak-style Boulder Grey highlights are also added

This is a story about the Australian-delivered MY24 RA Ford Ranger Black Edition released in July 2024 with prices and specifications, weights, measurements, equipment and safety information.

Interior equipment is unchanged in the Black Edition.

• Vinyl floor covering
• Fabric seats
• Power front windows
• Power rear windows (dual cab only)
• Climate control
• 10.1-inch LCD central touchscreen
  • Sync 4A software
  • Remote start with FordPass app
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay
  • Wireless Android Auto
• 8.0-inch digital dashboard
• 8 way manually adjusted driver’s seat
• 4 way manually adjusted passenger seat

The Black Edition is all about exterior appearances and it will be no surprise that everything new is black. A non-cosmetic change are the all-terrain tyres fitted to the larger diameter wheels.

• 17-inch Ashphalt Black alloy wheels with all terrain tyres
• black grille with Boulder Grey inserts
• black side steps
• Heavy-duty suspension
• Halogen headlights, DRLs
• LED taillights (pick-up only)/halogen taillights (Cab chassis)
• Steel underbody protection including transfer case (4×4 only)
• Trailer tow body wiring (tow bar was an option)
• Cargo (pick-up models only)
  • additional securing points at front of load box
  • box capping to protect metal on the box with integrated fixing points
  • integrated rear load box access step behind rear wheel
  • tailgate with lift assist
  • cargo management system
  • drop-in bedliner with 12-volt socket
  • black “long-legged” sports bar

The RA Ford Ranger scored five ANCAP stars in 2022. This rating will expire in 2028 unless Ford re-tests the vehicle beforehand.

Ranger’s high score is due in part to the front centre airbag that helps prevent head clashes in a side impact for front passengers, which also explains the absence of a front bench-seat option.

• 9 airbags, including
  • front centre airbag to prevent head clashes in a side impact
  • knee bags for driver and passenger
• Collision mitigation
  • forward autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • lane keep assist
  • lane departure warning
  • road edge detection
• Blind spot warning
• Reverse cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors

• XL Towing Pack – $1900
  • integrated trailer brake controller
  • tow bar
• Prestige Paint – $700
• manual roller shutter – $3000
• Stop-start delete (NCO)

• Arctic white – solid – $0
• Absolute black – $700
• Meteor Grey – $700
• Aluminium – $700
• Blue Lightning – $700
• Sedona Orange – $700

The XL featured two turbo diesel engines, both of them 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesels, however the Black Edition was only available with the bi-turbo.

The twin-turbo four was inherited from the PX3 Ranger Raptor and is paired exclusively with all-wheel drive and the ten-speed automatic.

Note that these weights are based on the XL bi-turbo pick-up and do not take into account the extra weight of the Black Edition parts.

Across the board, the XL is capable of towing up to 3500kg of braked mass. Ford specifies a maximum towball download of 350kg.

Keep in mind that whatever you load on the towball comes off your payload. Subtract the load on the towball from each model’s payload to ensure you stay within the legal gross vehicle mass.

Taking the heaviest XL variant, the 2173kg twin turbo dual-cab pick-up, the payload is reduced to 727kg from its 1077kg starting weight. As already mentioned, allow for the extra weight of the sports bar and side steps.

Even so, that does leave a lot of room for packing the cabin with people and the tray with gear.

Also bear in mind that a 6200kg GCM is a heck of a lot of weight for the Black Edition’s front discs and rear drums.

Trailer coverage is a part of the Black Edition’s optional Towing Pack. The blind spot monitoring system detects you have a trailer and adjusts its detection to include the extra length. This means an object travelling both beside the Ranger and the trailer will trigger an alert.

It works by punching in the dimensions of your trailer in a profile in the SYNC system. It will accept trailers up to 2.4 metres wide and 10 metres long – to ensure safe operation when changing lanes.

You can also consult the checklist in the SYNC system and the trailer light check function can ensure all your trailer lights are working.

The T6 platform grew for the RA, starting with a wheelbase stretch of 50mm, from 3220mm to 3270mm. Similarly, the track has increased by 50mm, now spreading out across 1620mm up from 1570mm.

The RA Ford Ranger XL is fitted with a locking rear diff as standard on the 4×4 and as part of the option pack on the 4×2. Steel underbody protection is in place on 4×4 version, instead of the plastic of 4×2.

For those keen to take a two-wheel drive Ranger off-roading, the 4×2 Off-road pack adds 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres, steel underbody protection and the 4×4’s rear locking diff.

In the 4×4 you can choose 2L, 4A, 4H or 4L to best suit the conditions.

The RA Ford Ranger’s tub is larger than the PX’s, now accommodating a Euro sized pallete, which is a result of Ford’s collaboration with VW for the Amarok.

Access to the tub is via drop-down tailgate, which is undamped. On the way up, however, is a lift assist system.

Additionally, Ford has added a step or footplate to the lower side of the tub to allow step-up access to the load area.

The tub also features various lights, a 12-volt power outlet and partition slots.

According to Ford’s documentation, the tub sizes – or pick-up box dimensions – vary slightly between variants Supercab and Dual-Cab versions.