PJ Ford Ranger 2006-2009
The international version of the second-generation Ford Ranger was built in five different factories in Asia, South Africa and South America. Australian and European-delivered Rangers shipped from Ford’s Rayong factory in Thailand.
Thailand – Rayong
Vietnam – Hai Dong
Taiwan – Taiyuan
South Africa – Silverton Pretoria
Colombia – Bogota
The Ranger name arrived in Australia for the 2006 model year as the PJ Ford Ranger. Before 2006 it was known as the Ford Courier and was a continuation of the same vehicle, just with a slightly more macho name and tougher styling.
Although comparing that car to current Rangers, it looks pretty feeble but these machines weren’t the lifestyle cars they’e since become.
Available versions included cab chassis, dual cab, super cab and single cab as well 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains with a choice (depending on model) of 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre turbodiesel engines. Transmission options were five-speed manual or five-speed automatics.
Ford also offered hi-rider versions which, as the name suggests, featured a raised ride height over the standard models. Again, given today’s Australian offerings, these look barely higher.
A single cab seated three across in the front bench seat, with hardy cloth and hard plastics the order of the day.
The super-cab added two seats in the rear, with access eased a little with two dinky rear-hinged doors. The single cab’s bench seat went in favour of much more comfortable buckets and the addition of a centre console with some storage and the still-novel idea of two cupholders.
Rear seat occupants were basically on vinyl cushions under their butts and another vinyl cushion across the rear bulkhead for some relief from shoulder blades on metal. You could only fit two of your worst enemies in the rear.
The dual cab allowed for five passengers, with a proper three-seat bench in the rear accessed by two actual doors. Obviously the bigger cab cut into the cargo bed but you could bring your friends and family you like with you in the dual cab.
2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel
The entry-level engine for the PJ Ranger was a 2.5-litre, twin-cam in-line four-cylinder diesel. With a fairly underwhelming power figure came an impressive 330Nm of torque to pull a kerb weight of 1468kg.
A five-speed manual transmission sent power to the rear wheels.
| Size: | 2499cc |
| Cylinders: | 4 in-line |
| Induction: | Turbo (intercooled) |
| Compression: | 18:1 |
| Power: | 105kW @ 3500rpm |
| Torque: | 330Nm @ 1800rpm |
| Transmission: | manual, five speed. |
3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel
The second engine in the line-up and found in every variant bar the XL was a twin-cam 3.0-litre turbodiesel with either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. Power and torque were both up but the 4×4 drivetrain added significant weight, with kerb weights from 1864kg to 1907kg.
All variants with the 3.0-litre featured all-wheel drive, with dual-range available as an option.
| Size: | 2953cc |
| Cylinders: | 4 in-line |
| Induction: | Turbo (intercooled) |
| Compression: | 18:1 |
| Power: | 115kW @ 3200rpm |
| Torque: | 380Nm @ 1800rpm |
| Transmission: | manual: five-speed automatic: five-speed |
Starting at the bottom with a bare cab-chassis was the manual, 2.5-litre in rear-wheel drive. Buyers could the choose single, super or dual cab options. The XL could be had with both diesel engines and a five-speed automatic.
Stepping up to the pick-up, you could also have it in XL form as well as XLT, again with all the drivetrain options of the cab-chassis. The XL ran on steelies, had no air-con in the cab-chassis (it was added later) but did have a two-speaker stereo with CD player, AM/FM, cloth trim and a full-size spare.
Safety gear was pretty skinny even for 2006, with just two front airbags – not great in the single cab with a bench seat if you were the middle passenger – seatbelt pretensioners (again…) and, scandalously, no ABS.
Going up to the XLT scored you more speakers, 16-inch alloys to replace the steelies of the XL, two side airbags in the front, emergency brake assistance (EBA) and ABS. The Ranger wasn’t alone, its main rival the Toyota Hilux didn’t have it either.
A three-star safety rating from 2006 was pretty grim given small hatchbacks like the Renault Clio had five stars.
If you wanted sat nav, climate control, ISOFIX points or Bluetooth, you were properly out of luck.
For its second model year, the Ranger XL scored a huge uplift in spec, with air-conditioning standard across all cab types, power mirrors and windows, immobiliser and remote central locking.
The XLT picked up all the same standard features, but that was about it.