MY2024 Ford Ranger XLS Update

The MY2024 Ford Ranger XLS update meant a whole lot new standard features that had previously been options. The price rise – the only one for the MY2024 Ford Ranger line-up – matched the addition of these options with a little extra on top. Ford also laid to rest the slow-selling 4×2 XLT.

The XLS scored both the Technology Pack and the Towing Pack as standard, lifting specification and cost by a significant margin. The Packs themselves cost $750 and $1700 respectively, with a cheeky extra $200 added on top for a total rise of $2650.

MY2024 also saw the demise of the 4×2 version, which ceased production with the end of MY2023.5 production.

This is a story about the Australian-delivered MY2024 RA Ford Ranger XLS released in November 2022. Production of MY2024 cars started in March 2024. The MY2024 is also known as MY2024.5 and MY24.

The XLS is a 4×4 pick-up only variant. Building on the modest specification of the XL, the most notable additions are the switch to carpet flooring from hose-out vinyl, the addition of side steps, halogen fog lamps and alloy wheels replacing the steels of the XL.

A welcome addition to the XLS is front parking sensors, important in a vehicle like this where it is difficult to see the front corners.

• Carpet flooring
• Fabric seats
• Power front windows
• Power rear windows (dual cab only)
• Climate control
• Six-speaker stereo
• 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
• Technology Pack
  • Sync 4A
  • voice-activated controls
  • keyless entry and start
  • dual-zone climate control
  • rear seat air vents
  • satellite navigation
  • DAB+ digital radio

• 16-inch alloy wheels with all season tyres
• 16-inch spare wheel
• Black front grille
• Black Side steps
• Halogen headlights, DRLs
• LED taillights (pick-up only)/halogen taillights (Chassis Cab)
• Halogen fog lamps
• 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
  • power tailgate lock
• Towing Pack
  • integrated trailer brake controller
  • tow bar
  • extended blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage
  • trailer light check
  • integrated trailer brake controller

The 2022 Ford Ranger scored five ANCAP stars in 2022. This rating will expire in 2028 unless Ford re-tests the vehicle beforehand, so remains in place for MY2024.

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.

The XLS adds just front parking sensors to the XL’s specification.

• 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
• Extended blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage

The XLS’s options are similar to the XL’s, but the list is shorter now owing to the addition of the Tech and Towing packs. This package adds dual-zone climate control, rear air vents, keyless entry and adds the feature-packed SYNC 4A media and navigation system to the 10-inch touchscreen.

All options remained the same price for MY2024 with the exception of prestige paint.

• 17-inch wheel pack (4×4 only) – $750
  • includes all-terrain tyres
  • 17-inch steel spare
• Prestige Paint – $700
• XLS 4×2 heavy duty suspension – $500
• XLS spray-in bedliner – $900
• Lift and Slide Canopy – $4500
• Dual Lift Canopy – $4700
• Commercial Canopy – $4700
• Manual Roller Shutter – $3000

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

The XLS is offered with just the 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel.

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

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.

Down here in the cheap seats 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 XL’s front discs and rear drums.

Trailer coverage is a part of the Ranger XLS pick-up’s blind spot monitoring system. This 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 XLS 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.

The XLS is also the first model to feature driving modes, with Normal, Eco, Slippery and Tow/Haul available as an option on both 4×4 and 4×2.

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.

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