2024 Ford Ranger Tremor review
Australia’s best-selling car just got even better, with beefed-up off-road ability and rugged new looks – but there is a catch.
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We’re getting into the weeds here.
Partly because the new Ford Ranger Tremor is designed to go far beyond sealed roads, but also because the blue oval is hellbent on exploring every possible niche with the Ranger.
This new Ranger Tremor model is loaded with great extras – body armour, all terrain tyres, wider arches, extra lights, plus side aluminium side steps and a sports bar for the tray.
It also has a better all wheel drive system, a couple of handy software additions for off-road use, and a couple of cosmetic labels that separate it from the herd.
More importantly, it looks tough.
And you don’t need to worry about the hassle of aftermarket additions not being roadworthy or covered by insurance.
But it also reflects a world where model line-ups have become bewildering as manufacturers mine new niches in search of customers.
Ford says the Ranger Tremor is for people who can’t afford a Raptor, who want more off-road ability than a similar-priced Wildtrak, but not the luxury elements that would push its price beyond about $77,000 drive-away.
Optional extras include a $2800 sliding rack system for the tray, a $3000 metal roller shutter cover and a $1650 Touring pack delivering tech such as a 360-degree camera.
The Tremor customer needs a ute with superior ability to the Ranger Sport it is based on, but without the powerful (and thirsty) 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 diesel available in other Ranger models.
But they do want the smaller 150kW/500Nn four-cylinder engine to have the 10-speed automatic transmission and full time all wheel drive traction found in dearer cars.
They want easily cleaned vinyl seats, but without heating as that’s an unnecessary expense. They want a large portrait-style touchscreen, but will settle for standard speakers instead of premium hi-fi.
They want to be able to take the car off-road, and might opt in to Ford’s new insurance product designed for cross-country enthusiasts prepared to pay a premium (and double their excess) for extra coverage.
Make no mistake, planning all of this is a complex process. But it’s also easy to overcomplicate it.
Fundamentally, the Ranger Tremor is a great looking truck with a handful of desirable extras. The 17-inch alloys and General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres will get you further off road than most utes, helped by additional ground clearance made possible by expensive Bilstein suspension.
The smarter all-wheel-drive system gives you more traction, more of the time, and the addition of a rock crawling mode will be welcomed by folks who push their cars to the limit.
Other toys include a new trail turn assist function that locks the inside rear wheel on tight bends on loose surfaces, helping the car to tighten its turning radius at low speed.
It all works magnificently.
The Tremor feels at home in the bush, scrambling over rocks, pushing through creeks and traversing rough ground with minimal fuss. But potential customers should be aware that the firmer shocks return a busier ride on tar than other models in the Ranger line-up.
And that the 2.0-litre engine, while capable enough, doesn’t come close to the effortlessly smooth performance of Ford’s more sophisticated and powerful V6. Ford says it picked the lesser motor to keep costs down, but we also reckon it is trying to keep a lid on its fleet fuel consumption average ahead of a new emissions standard that starts next year.
It’s hard not to feel as though the brand is pulling its punches. The best all-round Ranger could be one that combines the Tremor’s butch looks and beefed-up off-road ability with the mighty V6 motor, but that blend will only be offered to the public in wagon-bodied Everest form – at least for now. Because of that, it’s hard not to feel as though the Tremor is a great ute, but one that isn’t as good as it could be.
Originally published as 2024 Ford Ranger Tremor review
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