While Ford's show pony Ranger Wildtrak and Raptor grab the headlines their hard-working 4x2 siblings are quietly getting on with the job. We've put the Ranger XL 4x2 Double Cab to the fully-loaded TradieGuide test to see how it stacks up under pressure.

The Ranger Wildtrak X was a popular option in the last generation version of Ford's popular dual cab ute, so, no surprise it's back for an encore performance as a special edition in the current generation model. Does its extra equipment make it a better workhorse and are the extra dollars required to acquire it justified? Contributing Journalist Mark Oastler provides the answers.

Some of the mostly hotly anticipated new vehicles due in the next 12 months are utes, but have they already missed the boat?