4WD ute of the year: Ford Ranger Tremor

News and General

This is good, very good. The Tremor is based on the mid-spec 2.0-litre Ranger Sport but has the line-up’s full-time selectable 4WD system, which is standard on V6 Rangers. It’s not the part-time system used by other four-cylinder Rangers.

That alone makes the Tremor a desirable ute, because it means 4WD can be used on tarmac.

The Tremor also gets heavy-duty off-road suspension and steering tune, Bilstein external-reservoir shock absorbers, more ground clearance than a standard Ranger, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels, General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres, and off-road driver-assist tech including Rock Crawl mode and Trail Turn Assist, which is a button-based version of a ‘cutting brake’. Tremor has 261mm ground clearance which means, in the Ranger line-up, only the Raptor has more with a claimed 272mm.

The Tremor is a sensible upgrade over regular Rangers, providing a bridge between them and the Raptor. Full-time 4WD, heavy-duty suspension, more ground clearance, and decent all-terrain tyres make a meaningful difference. This has become our pick of the bunch, our all-time favourite Ranger.

Publishing Information
Magazine Issue:
Contact Us
NZ4WD covers a range of topics of interest to the 4WD vehicle buyer & driver. We're dedicated to providing a wide range of information covering vehicle selection, accessories & upgrading, 4WD clubs & sport, adventure & track stories an

Related Articles
Tyrewise Collects 8.2 Million End-Of-Life Tyres
Millions of tyres collected for recycling, well over 5,000 registered partners, over 34,500 processed into tyre derived products and fuel – the second annual report from Tyrewise tells the story of a...
Changes to light vehicle inspections coming from 1 November
The Government has announced changes to light vehicle inspections, which will start to come into effect from 1 November 2026. These changes aim to cut down on unnecessary costs while keeping people...
Ineos special edition inspired by the elements
The IneosGrenadier SUV and Quartermaster models line-up for the 2027 model year will feature a special edition known as Helmsman, which charts the course for a new line of special editions inspired...