http://www.adbmag.com JANUARY 2018 | 119CATEGORY4WD Ute
Vehicle:Ford Ranger FX4
Highway ability:Most modern
fourby utes produced in the last five
yearswillhavecruisecontrol,which
isamustforthehighway.They
trundle along comfortably at
110k m/h. Unfor tu nately, most
four-wheel-drive utes have leaf-
spring rear suspension and this can
make highway cruising
uncomfortable. They’re also built
predominantlyasworkvehiclesso
thesounddeadeningisaverage.
7/ 10
Nickability:Do not leave any
valuablesinthetray,theywillnotbe
therewhenyougetback.Sadly,the
four-wheel-driveuteisthesecond
worstinthiscategory,withitsonly
safe area being the back seat to store
stuff. Be careful when driving home
to make sure no suspicious
characters are following you.
4/10
Versatility: This is where the
four-wheel-drive ute shines. It is the
most versatile of the lot. It can be
taken hard-core off-road with your
bike in the back and driven to and
from work during the week with ease.
Want to get onto a beach to camp and
ride? No problem. This Ranger was so
comfortable even the missus said
she’d drive it as a commuter. It’s not
the best for parking but that’s what
sensorsandcamerasarefor,right?
9/10Idiot resistance: With the
automatic transmissions in 4WD utes
vastly improved, any idiot can drive
a loaded one in the bush, but the
turningcircleleavesalottobe
desired.
7/ 10Loading: If you’re a short arse, then
look elsewhere. Loading bikes in and
out of a jacked-up fourby is a
nightmare if you’re vertically
challenged. If you are under 188cm
you will need to follow the bike up
into the tub rather than walk
alongside it. You’ll also need a wide,
long ramp so it’s not too steep and
anything not tied down will fly out
down the highway. Make sure you
don’t get pinned under the bike if you
fail to touch the ground when
unloading!
4/10