The Ford Ranger is a staple model in Australia and invariably enjoys good sales figures there, thanks in no small part to continuous updates. Therefore, it came as a surprise when the company silently removed some equipment from the list a few days ago.
According to CarAdvice, the move has already caused numerous complaints as new car buyers found certain much-anticipated luxury bits missing from their pickups. Among other things, the latest Ford Ranger ditched the sun visor tilting mechanism that enabled drivers to shield their eyes from the sun shining from the side at an acute angle. The plastic pocket under the rear bench is likewise gone, as is the mirror llumination.
The main point of criticism was the attitude of the dealerships, which preferred to stay silent about these trim modifications. Granted, the documents coming with the cars were accurate about the changes, but does one really need to ponder over all the specifications when one has already owned a Ford Ranger and knows what the truck is about?
As for the reasoning behind the action, Ford has provided none so far. We suspect it was simply trying to make the current generation more affordable before the next one arrived.