WHEN introduced in 2011, the Ford Ranger shook up the light-commercial ute segment, with its macho design, refined cabin, and impressive drivability.

On top of that, the Thai-made Ranger earned a five-star crash rating at a time when its biggest rival, the Toyota HiLux, only had four stars. Mining companies and all their contractors took to the new king in huge volumes.

But times have changed. Just recently, Toyota launched its new-gen HiLux with a five-star crash rating, good looks, a push to SUV levels of ride comfort, and drivetrain upgrades seeking fuel economy without sacrificing grunt.

That followed a new Mitsubishi Triton and a coil-sprung Nissan Navara.

Given the level of the competition, is the Ranger’s rise about to be halted?

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