Among pickup truck enthusiasts, it is well known that the Ford Ranger is designed to support diverse uses, including work, family travel, and leisure trips. Ford Thailand launched the 2024 Ranger XLS, a high-riding four-door pickup with a 6-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, priced affordably for challenging economic times. Recently, the 2026 Ranger XLS Double Cab four-door with the Extra Pack special accessory set is priced at 809,000 baht. The exterior and interior design have been slightly updated to add a touch of luxury, perfectly meeting versatile style needs.
Powertrain and technology of the Ford Ranger XLS include a 2.0-liter single-turbo diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, delivering a maximum output of 170 horsepower and peak torque of 405 Newton-meters.
The vehicle features all-black trim including the grille, side mirrors, side vents, fog light frames, door handles, and rear bumper, complemented by new 17-inch black alloy wheels.
It is equipped with LED multi-reflector headlights and LED daytime running lights.
The side step on the rear pickup bed enhances convenience when loading and unloading cargo from the bed.
Leather seats and a redesigned front console panel match the sporty exterior look.
The Ford Ranger XLS 4-door model is priced at 799,000 baht.
The Ford Ranger XLS highlights a high-riding pickup emphasizing value and sportiness. Available body styles include Open Cab (two-door) and Double Cab (four-door). It is powered by a 2.0L turbo diesel engine with two-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Recommended prices range from approximately 649,000 to 799,000 baht. Features include a 10.1-inch touchscreen and FordPass system.
In-depth details on the 2025 Ford Ranger XLS (Double Cab/Open Cab models).
Engine: 2.0L Turbo (4-cylinder diesel), maximum output 170 PS, peak torque 405 Newton-meters, 6-speed automatic transmission.
Models and prices (launch/promotional period).
Ford Ranger XLS Open Cab (two-door) starting at approximately 649,000 baht.
Ford Ranger XLS Double Cab (four-door) starting at 799,000 baht (from full price of 919,000 baht).
Ford Ranger Double Cab XLS Extra Pack special accessory set priced at 809,000 baht (test vehicle).
Includes sport bar and new sticker design for an additional 10,000 baht.
Two body color options.
Snowflake White Pearl.
Meteor Grey.
Design and features include LED multi-reflector headlights, LED daytime running lights, black grille fog lights, front towing hook, electrically adjustable side mirrors with turn signals, side steps, rear bed side step, black wheel arch trim, tailgate edge trim matching body color, rear bumper in body color, and third brake light.
Inside, Ford understands the changed lifestyle of modern users. The steering wheel can be adjusted in and out (previously only up and down). There are holders, USB charging ports including both Type A and C, and ample storage space that even Honda would envy. The door handle has been relocated from the upper area to the armrest area. When asked why they did not keep the traditional pull-handle with elbow push, the engineer explained that placing the handle at the armrest lets you open the door just by squeezing the lever and pushing with your palm, minimizing unnecessary movement.
Interior equipment includes manual adjustment for driver and front passenger seats, an 8-inch full-color instrument cluster display, remote key, two 12V power outlets, front power windows with one-touch up/down for driver and passenger, urethane steering wheel with audio control switches, 10.1-inch touchscreen, FordPass app, multi-touch color display with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android AutoTM, Bluetooth connectivity, SYNC® 4A voice command system, FordPass Connect, two USB ports, and six speakers.
The dashboard features a large central screen that supports diverse entertainment functions and enhances safety by displaying the rearview camera image, assisting parking and maneuvering in tight spaces. The instrument cluster is a large MID screen with customizable display options.
However, the MID screen cannot be switched to a traditional needle-style gauge preferred by many, and the tachometer is shown as a bar chart with color fade effects, more for show than practical use for redline monitoring.
Regarding the manual mode transmission, Ford maintains the traditional setup without paddle shifters, instead placing +/- buttons on the gear knob. Pressing +/- in Drive mode sets the maximum gear the vehicle will use, while in Manual mode it shifts gears up or down. In practice, limiting the highest gear in Drive is easier than manually shifting because pressing buttons on the gear knob requires letting go of the steering wheel, which is less convenient. Ford explained that their research shows customers of non-Raptor models rarely use manual shifting and mostly leave the transmission in Drive.
Safety features include front airbags, emergency call system, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESP), traction control, hill-start assist (HLA), rollover mitigation (ROM), rearview camera for parking, immobilizer anti-theft system, and six airbags. Available body colors are Arctic White, Aluminum Silver, Meteor Grey, and Absolute Black.
Rear bed side step facilitates entering and loading/unloading cargo.
Ford designed the rear bed side step to make entering and loading cargo easier after discovering customers often had to climb onto the wheel or awkwardly push themselves over the tailgate edge, which was inconvenient. The rear bed side step is an effective solution that reduces difficulty and significantly improves convenience.
Sport bar.
When carrying long items, some users need to install an additional roof rack on the pickup, which adds cost. Owners who regularly transport items like longboards, kayaks, or wood use roof rails and sport bars. However, the XLS model’s sport bar is a fixed accessory and cannot be adjusted. For adjustable sport bars, customers need to choose the Flexible Rack System 1 or 2, as found on the Ranger Stormtrak 4x4.
Pickup bed compartmentalization.
To address user challenges in managing rear bed space, Ford designed the bed floor with plywood panels allowing users to organize the area into compartments as desired, keeping items orderly and reducing the risk of cargo shifting and damage.
Multifunctional tailgate.
The Ranger is designed to support versatile work tasks by converting the tailgate into a mobile workbench, featuring two tool attachment points and a built-in measuring ruler (on models without additional bed flooring), with markings every 10 millimeters to assist in measuring objects during work.
Accessory mounting points.
Ford developed the Ranger with customers in mind who want to install accessories, providing mounting points tailored to daily life uses, such as for bed covers or folding tents, supporting both work and leisure lifestyles including family trips.
Adding many cool features inevitably increases cost, raising vehicle price. Although customer preferences vary by country, all want the best fit for their needs at the lowest price. When building a vehicle, engineers’ 100 ideas are trimmed by accounting to remove costly options, and marketing or research departments may reject good ideas that are hard to communicate or whose benefits customers don’t perceive. This is not blaming anyone; everyone works to keep the company moving forward so employees can receive bonuses and avoid layoffs.
The upright front design with C-shaped headlights evokes large Ford SUVs from the 1970s-80s, giving a bold presence that seems to say through the rearview mirror, “Here I come, move aside.” The large, road-filling body and new tail light styling maintain a sturdy, modern look. If Ford had simply altered the front and rear door shapes, few would realize the chassis is still based on the T6 platform like previous models.
The Ranger XLS includes slots for securing wood but lacks power outlets and three-prong plugs in the bed; these are only available in more expensive trims. There are two clamps for holding wood logs, useful for carpenters cutting wood onsite. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the thoughtful design that reveals itself upon opening the tailgate.
Aside from the somewhat inconvenient manual mode operation, this locally assembled pickup has notably smooth suspension for a leaf-spring rear setup. The Ford-tuned shock absorbers are not sport-tuned but designed for responsive rebound and to filter road vibrations effectively. The vehicle handles better and more firmly than before. This new Ranger XLS seems aimed at regular drivers who prefer fast, comfortable long-distance travel, outperforming competitors at a similar price point.
Another highlight of the Ranger XLS is its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which delivers strong low-end torque comparable to previous 3.0-liter turbo diesel models. Engineers have adjusted gear ratios for stronger initial acceleration, making takeoffs quick and smooth. In a race among 4x2 automatic diesel pickups with 2.0-liter engines, the Ranger would likely lead. It also has ample power for overtaking slower vehicles on the right lane, offering performance comparable to top four-wheel-drive pickups—no worries there.
Ford knows it cannot beat market leaders by copying their strengths. Instead, they focus on making a vehicle suited for everyday drivers who don’t carry heavy loads. The result is smooth driving, quiet engine and wind noise, winning over even those who previously disliked pickups for being loud and bumpy. The XLS’s sales figures suggest this approach is working, as it leads Ranger sales. From price, performance, value, and driving feel, it offers a complete package in one vehicle.
If your priority is durability and service centers, Ford might not top the list. But if you want an indie pickup excelling in acceleration, power, comfort, quietness, standard safety features, electronic aids that reduce accident risk, and small thoughtful details pushed through accounting by engineers and researchers to ease your life, then the Ford Ranger is ideal. Assuming the seatbelt fits correctly over your shoulder, it’s ready to go. Get your spouse’s approval or bring her for a test ride—she might just want to take the wheel herself.