It feels like US buyers have been waiting forever for the new Ford Ranger to arrive. Meanwhile, truck enthusiasts in Australia have mid-sized trucks in a variety of flavors to sample right now, including the hot Raptor. This is a new video from Car Expert required three versions to the chassis dyno for some power testing.
It’s been almost a year since the 2023 Ranger debuted for a global audience, so let’s do a quick refresh. Powertrains will vary by region, with diesel power prevalent outside the US. For Australia, that means a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 producing 247 horsepower (184 kilowatts) and a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 207 hp (154 kW). Even more interesting is the Ranger Raptor, which uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 gas stove. European emission regulations limit power to 288 hp (214 kW), but in Australia, it’s good for 392 hp (292 kW). We expect the same rating for North America.
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Before discussing dyno numbers, it’s important to note that they can vary greatly depending on all kinds of factors. We’ve certainly seen the crazy numbers that result from incorrect dyno settings; Atmospheric conditions and the type of transmission can also play a role. We point this out because the numbers shared in this video are quite staggering, with the diesel engine showing significantly more power than expected at the wheels. Meanwhile, the Raptors check with less.
First, the diesel engine. The four-cylinder Ranger delivers 170 hp (127 kW) to the wheels. That’s an 18 percent power loss, which is generally considered above average for a vehicle with an automatic transmission. The V6 diesel engine is even better, producing 212 hp (158 kW). Doing the calculations, we see that there is only 14 percent power loss between the engine and ground. That’s well above average, even for a vehicle with a manual gearbox. However, Ford dropped the manual Ranger for 2023 in Australia, so all the trucks here run the 10-speed automatic.
Now for the Ranger Raptor, and this is where things get weird. This off-road focused truck delivers 274 hp (204 kW) to the rear wheels, which translates to a 30 percent loss of power from the engine. Losses ranging from 20 to 25 percent with traditional automatic transmissions are common, so we had some confusion. Are Ford’s diesel Rangers underrated? Is the Ranger Raptor overkill? Are we dealing with an error in the dyno settings? Or is there something else going on here?
With the next-gen Ranger pickup still missing in most of the world, it’s likely we’ll have to wait a little longer before seeing more dyno testing. The results on this trip at least give us something to consider as more and more trucks are getting into the hands of owners.
