Ahead of an early 2025 Australian release, the rumoured 2025 Ford Ranger Plug-In Hybrid has been revealed. Using a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that uses the 2.3-litre turbo-petrol engine used in overseas markets – and the Australian-spec Volkswagen Amarok – and an electric motor and battery, the Ranger PHEV keeps the standard model’s important 3,500kg braked towing capacity when in hybrid mode but offers up to 45km of all-electric driving range. It has also debuted a new feature that allows owners to use tools and equipment using the car’s battery.
“The Ranger Plug-In Hybrid is a best-of-both-worlds solution for work, play, and family – offering customers zero-tailpipe emissions EV driving for short trips, or hybrid performance that delivers incredible on- and off-road performance,” said Andrew Birkic, President and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand.
“Ranger Plug-In Hybrid will bring all of the towing and payload capability our Australian customers expect of Ranger, and with Pro Power Onboard for the first time, Ranger owners will have power for both work and play.”
Under the bonnet of the 2025 Ford Ranger Plug-In Hybrid is the same 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that’s used in overseas Ranger variants – and the Australian-spec Volkswagen Amarok – that’s combined with an as-yet-unnamed battery. Total outputs are also yet to be announced, with Ford claiming that it will be the Ranger with the most torque on offer locally – so, more than the 600Nm that the 3.0-litre V6 diesel available from the XLT and upwards produces.
Charging details are also yet to be announced, but Ford is claiming that the Ranger Plug-In Hybrid will be able to travel up to 45km electrically from a full charge on the WLTP cycle, while still offering the same 3,500kg towing capacity as the rest of the Ranger lineup (aside from the Raptor).
More than just a hybridised Ranger, Ford says that the plug-in hybrid variant also offers more practicality thanks to the new ‘Pro Power Onboard’ feature, which essentially allows owners to utilise the onboard battery through power outlets located in the bed and the cabin. It means that those using their Ranger Plug-In Hybrid for both work and play don’t need to take generators for powering up equipment.
Ford is yet to confirm details of the Ranger Plug-In Hybrid lineup for Australia, or if it’s to be built in a different location to the current Thai-built models. From the outside, we can see some new wheels for the Wildtrak variant shown in the press photos. Interior changes are limited to an EV button on the centre console, as well as new driving modes, including a new save mode so buyers can save their electricity for using equipment on job sites, or in European countries, low emissions zones.
While Ford Australia executives are yet to confirm a lot of details about the Ranger Plug-In Hybrid, they were able to confirm that it has undergone suspension and steering changes to cope with the likely added weight of the plug-in hybrid system.
The 2025 Ford Ranger Plug-In Hybrid will go on sale in Australia in early 2025, with local pricing and specifications to be confirmed before then. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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