Ranger has been kind to Ford.
Released in 2022, clever marketing has seen the current model become Australia’s best selling ute.
Along with plenty of eye candy, that strategy includes a seemingly endless stream of grades and special editions of which the Tremor is one.
As we speak there are nine different grades from which to choose and a warehouse full of options to make it yours.
Even the Ranger’s SUV counterpart, Ford Everest is starting to gain some traction in a highly competitive section of the market.
In a nutshell, Tremor (nice name by the way) is a cut-price version of the Ranger Wildtrak X and like the Wildtrak X it is targeted at the off-road enthusiast. Competitors include the Nissan Navara Warrior and Mazda BT-50 Thunder.
STYLING
Ranger is large, at just over 5.4 metres long, 2.2 metres wide and 1.9 metres high, with a 3270mm wheelbase and 12.9-metre turning circle. Its sheer size can be a problem when it comes to parking and negotiating city streets, not to mention turning around and threading the ute between trees and so forth off road.
Prices for Ranger start from $36,880 plus on-roads for the barebones 4×2 XL single cab chassis with a 2.0-litre turbo diesel and an auto.
But the so-called 4×4 sport utilities attract the most attention, starting with Sport, XLT and Wildtrak – at $66,140, $63,640 and $69,640.
Then there’s the petrol-powered Raptor (yes, petrol powered) which sits well above them all, with a breathtaking price tag of $90,440 – plus on-roads of course.
While Wildtrak X was based on the Wildtrak, the Tremor is based on the lower echelon Sport, but both offer the same enhanced capabilities.
Up to 1150 Tremors will be built, priced from $69,690 plus on-roads – hardly budget-friendly?
Released early 2023, Wildtrak X was priced at $75,990.
Working out exactly what you get for your hard-earned dough is no easy task.
Tremor has all the features of the Sport Double-Cab 2.0L Bi-Turbo 4×4 model, with a long list of following additions including: full-time 4WD, 17-inch Asphalt Black alloy wheels, General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres, 30mm increase in track, Trail Turn Assist and Trail Control, rock crawl Drive Mode, Tremor badging and styling Tremor-embossed vinyl seats, front and rear black Ford oval badges and option of Conquer Grey paint, Tremor branded all-weather front and rear floor mats, overhead auxiliary switch bank for aftermarket accessories, honeycomb grille with auxiliary grille LED lights, 2.3mm steel front bash plate, cast aluminium side steps and extended sports bar.
Tremor is available in a range of six exterior colours. White is standard, the other five are a $700 option.
INFOTAINMENT
Tremor scores a smaller 10.1-inch portrait touchscreen and 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, with Bluetooth, voice control, built-in satnav with 12-month connected navigation services, DAB+ digital radio, both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker audio plus wireless phone charging.
There’s USB A + C ports front, a 12 volt outlet in the console box and a 400W AC outlet at the rear of the console.
FordPass app allows you to view vehicle status.
SAFETY
Tremor scores a five-star safety rating with a rear view camera and nine airbags, including driver and passenger knee airbags along with the latest centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes.
There’s also Autonomous Emergency Braking w/ Junction Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring with Cross Traffic Alert and Trailer Coverage, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Centring, Lane Keeping System with Road Edge Detection and Driver Alert System.
There are two top tether and two ISOFix child seat anchors.
DRIVING
Suspension is independent at front with traditional leaf springs at the rear, but the shocks are mounted outside the chassis rails, which helps to reduce sideways movement.
Brakes are ventilated discs front and rear, which is great news, while this model is fitted with chunky off-road rubber.
A full-size alloy spare is provided.
The all important tub measures 1464mm in length, 1520mm wide and 525mm deep, with 1217mm between wheel arches.
A step is cleverly located either side of the rear bumper to facilitate access, but simply reaching in is not feasible.
This particular grade is rated to carry a 937kg payload and of course it can tow a 3500kg braked trailer.
Upgrades include shielded heavy duty power steering.
New springs and dampers, together with 17-inch wheels and chunky General Grabber AT3 265/70 series rubber boost ground clearance 26mm to 260mm. That’s 12mm shy of range-topping Raptor.
Wading depth is 800mm.
The setup includes premium heavy duty Bilstein shocks and increases the track front and rear by 30mm, contributing to better stability – both on and off the road.
A locking rear diff is standard.
Tremor’s off-road credentials are also bolstered by three electronic aids: Trail Turn Assist, Trail Control and Rock Crawl.
Trail Turn Assist reduces the turning radius by applying brakes to the inside rear wheel in tight situations (but it’s not available with the diff locked).
Off-roading capability is further enhanced with the inclusion of a Rock Crawl drive mode and Trail Control.
Trail Control is a kind off-road cruise control that can take control of acceleration and braking at low speed.
Rock Crawl drive mode provides optimal slow-speed traction and momentum on loose and rocky surfaces.
There’s no doubting Ranger is an impressive ute, but we can’t understand the family attraction when an SUV would be more comfortable and even better off road.
To get the best out of a ute you really need to jack them up and that creates problems when it comes to getting in and out, not to mention the effect it has on handling and steering geometry.
Tremor rides a bit higher, but in the end its length and long overhanging tail are limiting factors, together with things like the side steps and rigid plastic mudflaps which are easily damaged.
Sand and moderately rough fire trails should present no problems, but after that you might want to exercise some caution.
Even the 26mm lift makes getting in and out of the ute more difficult and this becomes apparent stretching with your foot to find the ground. The ride is also noticeably firmer thanks to the suspension changes and all-terrain tyres compared to the Platinum version we drove previously.
It becomes jiggly over smaller bumps in the road and occupants may find themselves reaching for something to hold onto when it comes to corners.
Throttle response from the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel is strong, with very little turbo lag, but tends to become a little jerky on and off the accelerator.
Out on the open road however the ute cruises smoothly and easily.
Steering is light around town but weights up nicely at speed, with plenty of communication for the driver.
The cabin is trimmed in vinyl water-resistant upholstery, with all weather mats which might be practical but are also cheap.
The start button occupies what was the key barrel on the steering column and takes some getting used to.
The stubby transmission lever is a pain in the butt.
You need to release the transmission with your middle finger and changing between drive and reverse requires some precision.
Small thumb switches on the side of the lever are provided to change gears manually. They work okay, but again some accuracy is required.
We found ourselves mistakenly clicking the thumb switches to move the car into drive or reverse.
Change paddles would be a lot easier. Raptor gets paddles.
SUMMING UP
Close on the heels of last year’s Wildtrak X, comes another special edition Ranger – the off-road focused Tremor.
Ford says it’s targeted at those who couldn’t afford the X, but comes with the X essentials.
But if you couldn’t afford the X, it’s unlikely you’ll have the funds for the Tremor either – not at $70K plus by the time it hits the road.
Who’s kidding who? Just saying.
