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A decade on,<br />
the Ranger still<br />
shows them all<br />
how it is done<br />
and can hold its<br />
head up high<br />
HANDLING<br />
This poor wet surface performance is a shame,<br />
as the Ranger XLT is otherwise very impressive,<br />
dynamically; clearly the most car-like of our<br />
assembled quintet. Like most trucks, the<br />
2,197kg XLT wears leaf springs rather than the<br />
coils of its Raptor big brother.<br />
Yet, even with a seemingly primitive<br />
rear-end spec, the former’s sophistication is<br />
palpable, providing beautifully fluent handling,<br />
outstanding body control and a downright<br />
sumptuous and isolated ride, backed up by an<br />
outstandingly subtle, yet effective, electronic<br />
speed controller (ESC) calibration at speed<br />
over gravel.<br />
Light and easy to manoeuvre, the XLT<br />
remains the dual-cab pick-up high-water mark<br />
for driver enjoyment and passenger comfort<br />
alike. A decade on, the Ranger still shows them<br />
all how it is done and, even in its final year, can<br />
hold its head up high.<br />
The Ranger is also a stand-out for laden<br />
composure. Its steering does lighten with 500kg<br />
in the tray but the chassis remains responsive<br />
in tight corners and sails over undulations with<br />
encouraging poise. It is a similar story when<br />
towing, with the vehicle retaining its stability<br />
through corners and corrugations – you can tell<br />
the Ranger was tuned for Australian conditions.<br />
At the other end of the spectrum is the HiLux.<br />
It offers easy, eager and responsive steering<br />
and surprisingly sure-footed handling but a<br />
denture-rattling ride on roads that the others<br />
managed with measurably greater finesse.<br />
It has much more mechanical and tyre-noise<br />
intrusion and the stability control remains on<br />
high alert on bitumen or gravel. Happily, the<br />
situation doesn’t deteriorate when hauling; the<br />
HiLux offering stability and confidence-inspiring<br />
poise when towing or loaded.<br />
Our other three contestants lie somewhere<br />
in the middle. The third-gen D-Max is a huge<br />
step above its predecessor and few drivers will<br />
complain about the effortless steering that is<br />
nicely weighted for around-town commuting<br />
and agile enough for tight-spot parking<br />
manoeuvres.<br />
It cannot match the Ranger for bump<br />
absorption or isolation, but Isuzu’s engineers<br />
should be lauded for quelling road and tyre<br />
noise while offering a pleasingly soft ride on<br />
normal roads. The steering lightens when<br />
loaded, though that’s partially a consequence<br />
of our 500kg pallet not fitting squarely in the tub<br />
thanks to the tonneau’s storage cartridge. With<br />
the Turbo Taxi attached, the ride, if anything,<br />
improves and the steering feels well balanced.<br />
Ever since the D23-series Navara surfaced<br />
72 <strong>ATN</strong> July 2021 FULLYLOADED.COM.AU
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