MY2023.5 Ford Ranger XLT Update

The MY2023.5 Ford Ranger XLT update brought price rises and the inclusion of an integrated brake controller as standard.

The Ford Ranger XLT is the third model in the Ranger line-up, featuring six variants in three body styles. MY2023.5 XLT pricing started at $54,790 through to $65,190.

For the November 2022 MY2023.5 model year update, prices rose between $800 and $1200. To partially offset the rise from MY2022, XLT variants added the integrated brake controller as standard.

This is a story about the Australian-delivered MY2023.5 RA Ford Ranger XLT released in November 2022. Production of MY2023.5 cars started in March 2023.

The XLT offers a broader range of cab and body styles than the XLS, with dual cab/cab chassis, Super cab/pick-up and dual cab/pick-up. Specification on the XLT really picks up steam after the slightly bare XL and XLS versions, but you do pay for it, especially in 4×4 versions.

Welcome additions to the XLT include rear disc brakes for the first time in the range, an electronic parking brake and auto wipers.

The 3.0-litre V6 and its innovative e-shifter make their first appearance, too.

In the cabin, dual-zone climate control and leather wheel and shifter lift the ambience a little.

For MY2023.5, the integrated brake controller formerly found in the Touring Pack became standard. That Pack now includes the Cargo Management System and Auxiliary Switch bank.

• Carpet flooring
• Leather steering wheel
• Leather gear shifter
• Dual-zone climate control
• Fabric seats
• Power front windows
• Power rear windows (dual cab only)
• Keyless entry and start
• Six-speaker stereo
• Electrochromatic rear vision mirror
• 10.1-inch LCD central touchscreen
  • Sync 4A software
  • Satellite navigation
  • DAB+ digital radio
  • Voice assistant
  • 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

Styling for the MY2023.5 update remained unchanged from the MY2022.

Bold type indicates standard spec differences to the XLS.

• 17-inch alloy wheels with all season tyres
• 17-inch spare wheel
• Front grille with chrome central bar
• Black Side steps
• LED headlights
• C-clamp daytime running lights
• LED taillights (pick-up only)/halogen taillights (Chassis Cab)
• Halogen fog lamps
• Steel underbody protection including transfer case (4×4 only)
• Tow bar
• 4×4 locking rear axle
• Integrated Brake Controller (new for MY2023.5)*
• Cargo (pick-up models only)
  • black sports bar
  • rear box lighting
  • drop-in bedliner with 12-volt socket (Super cab has spray-in bedliner)
  • 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
  • power tailgate lock

The 2022 Ford Ranger scored five ANCAP stars in 2022. This rating will expire in 2028 unless Ford re-tests the vehicle beforehand. The rating remains valid for the MY2023.5 and fundamental safety specification did not change. The XLT adds rain-sensing wipers to the XLS specification.

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.

XLT adds rain sensing wipers to the XLS standard safety spec. A 360-degree camera is available in the Touring Pack, as is an integrated brake controller.

• 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
• Front parking sensors
• Rear parking sensors
• Rain-sensing wipers

The XLT’s option list is smaller than XL and XLT’s, with a lot more standard equipment. The Touring Pack was changed for MY2023.5 as the integrated brake controller was made standard, with cargo management and an auxiliary switch bank added to the package. Also extremely useful in a car this big is the 360-degree camera.

• Prestige Paint – – $700
• XLT 17 All Terrain tyre – $500
  • replacement of all season tyres with all terrain tyres
• XLT Touring Pack (4×4 Pick-up only) – $1295 (+$395)
  • cargo management system
  • auxiliary switch bank
  • 360-degree camera
  • zone lighting
  • puddle lamps
• XLT 4×2 Off-road pack – $650
  • steel underbody protection replacing plastic
  • 17-inch all-terrain tyre
• Auxiliary Switch Bank (Cab Chassis only) – $250

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

The XLT range features the 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo (bi-turbo) and adds the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel. V6 models feature full-time four-wheel drive as opposed to the part-time system on the four-cylinder Rangers.

Across the board, the XLT 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 XLT variant, the 2349kg Dual cab pick-up 4×4 V6, the payload is reduced to 581kg from its 931kg starting weight.

This means you will have to be careful loading the tray with cargo if you’re running a full cabin of people.

Also bear in mind that over 6200kg of gross combination mass is a of a lot of weight, so the integrated brake controller of the XLT Touring Pack may be worth looking at in all variants.

Trailer coverage is a part of the Ranger XLT pick-up’s blind spot monitoring system (not available on other body styles). This detects you have a trailer and adjust 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 XLT is fitted with a locking rear diff as standard on the 4×4 and available 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.

The XLT features driving modes as standard, with Normal, Eco, Slippery and Tow/Haul.

Ford says the drive modes adjust gearshift, throttle response, traction and stability controls, ABS “and more.” The Tow/Haul mode made its debut on the RA Ranger, intended to optimise gear shift timing to maintain power while climbing and to provide engine braking on descent.

The RA Ford Ranger’s tub is larger, 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. You can also check the depth of your load with a ruler imprinted on the side of the tub (as long as you don’t have a drop-in or spray-in bedliner).

The tub also features various lights, a 12-volt power outlet and partition slots. In the XLT MY2023.5, a drop-in tub liner became standard (above image is from the 2022 launch).

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