Utes continue to be some of the best-selling vehicles in Australia, with more than 205,000 units delivered over the course of 2023.
Four-wheel drive ute sales were second to only the mid-sized SUV segment last year. And among all those impressive numbers, the ute segment is dominated by two key players in Australia.
Those are the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, both tried and tested dual-cab stalwarts in the ute/pickup truck world with plenty to offer in terms of versatility and functionality.
There are a plethora of variants for both vehicles, ranging from cheap 4×2 cab-chassis models to massive, powerful and expensive monsters. We’ve picked popular high-end versions of each that match up on paper.
We’re comparing the Ford Ranger Wildtrak Bi-Turbo and the 2024 Toyota HiLux Rogue MHEV.
They’re similarly priced, similar on paper, but there are key differences that we’ll break down here.
NOTE: The images throughout this story are collated from our previous reviews of the two cars.
Pricing
Both models are a few rungs down from the peak of their respective line-ups, and there’s only a difference of around $2000 between the two.
The Ranger Wildtrak Bi-Turbo received a $250 price increase on June 1 this year, while the HiLux Rogue received a mild-hybrid powertrain for 2024 and is $770 more expensive than the previous year’s diesel-only offering.
The Wildtrak can be optioned with a V6 engine for an additional $4000, which brings an extra 30kW of power and 100Nm of torque.
Drivetrains and Efficiency
There are a couple of different engines across each ute line-up, but these two are offered with turbocharged four-cylinder diesel powerplants.
The notable difference is Toyota’s inclusion of the V-Active mild-hybrid system, which adds a motor generator, 48V battery, and DC/DC converter to its 2.8-litre turbo-diesel.
It doesn’t change power output compared to the outgoing non-MHEV engine, and the Ranger has slightly more to give. It also has four more gears.
Both have four-wheel drive which can’t be operated on sealed surfaces, an 80-litre fuel tank, and a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.
Dimensions
Both cars are similarly sized, though the Toyota has a wheelbase that’s around 200mm shorter.
Its body is roughly 100mm wider than the Ranger thanks to its wider track and wheel arches. You’ll also get 31mm of extra ground clearance in the HiLux Rogue than the Wildtrak.
The other notable difference is weight. The Ranger has a kerb weight that is around 50kg heavier than the HiLux, and a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) that’s around 200kg heavier.
The Ranger does have a more impressive payload though, as it can carry just over 100kg more than the HiLux.
Servicing and warranty
Here’s a breakdown of warranty and servicing for the two cars:
Toyota’s warranty on the drivetrain extends to seven years if you service on time within the Toyota dealer network.
Safety
The Ranger Wildtrak Bi-Turbo wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
The Ranger Wildtrak Bi-Turbo comes standard with the following safety equipment:
- 9 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keep assist
- Road edge detection
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Trailer Coverage (with optional Tow Pack)
- Adaptive cruise control incl. stop/go
- Blind-spot monitoring incl. Trailer Coverage
- Lane centring assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Active Park Assist 2.0
The optional Touring Pack adds a surround-view camera.
The HiLux also wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
Standard safety features on the HiLux Rogue include:
- 7 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian and cyclist detection)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane departure warning
- Brake-based lane keep assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Blind-spot monitoring
- 360-degree camera
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane departure warning with brake-based steering assist
- Traffic sign recognition
Here’s a breakdown of how each car scored in ANCAP testing:
Standard features
The Ranger Wildtrak Bi-Turbo comes with the following standard equipment:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- 18-inch alloy spare wheel
- All-terrain tyres
- Automatic LED headlights, daytime running lights and fog lights
- LED taillights
- Power adjustable side mirrors with power folding and puddle lamps
- Steel underbody protection
- Side steps
- Rear box step
- Roof rails
- Sports hoop
- Drop-in bedliner
- 12V socket in bedliner
- Aluminium tie down rails
- Cargo management system
- Load box illumination
- Tailgate with cargo clamps, cupholders, power locking, and lift assistance
- Power roller shutter
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and e-Shifter gear selector
- Electric parking brake
- Leather-accented front seats with heating
- Eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat
- Carpeted flooring
- Front floor mats
- Ambient lighting
- 12V power outlet in centre console bin
- Five USB ports
- Wireless charger
- Dual-zone climate control
- Rear air vents
- Front and rear power windows
- Privacy glass
- Rain sensing windscreen wipers
- Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
- Embedded modem
- FordPass Connect
- 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment screen
- DAB+ digital radio
- Bluetooth phone connectivity
- Satellite navigation
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
MORE: Everything Ford Ranger
The HiLux Rogue comes standard with the following equipment:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Multi-Terrain Select with six selectable modes
- Hill descent control
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Side steps
- Automatic headlights
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 4.2-inch multi-information display
- Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Leather-accented seats and door trim
- Dual-zone climate control
- Auto up/down windows
- Keyless entry and start
- Front air-conditioned cooler box
- Automatic dark-finish LED headlights
- LED daytime running lights and fog lights
- Gloss black exterior mirrors and door handles
- Powder-coated black sports bar
- Privacy glass
- Satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Rear air vents
- ‘Premium’ shifter and steering wheel
- Wireless phone charger
- 2 x rear USB-C outlets
- Carpeted floors
- Heated front seats
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Power front and rear windows
- Nine-speaker JBL sound system
- Motorised roller cover
- Wider tracks
- Ventilated rear disc brakes
- Wider wheel arch flares
- Front mud guards
- Marine carpet bedliner
- Gloss black door handles
- Tow bar
- Front tow hooks
- Fuel tank protector
- Toyota Connected Services
MORE: Everything Toyota HiLux
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