When you spend time in the city but need a truck for work or projects, it can be a big challenge to find one that handles city traffic while hauling your gear. If you want something versatile and tough but not a challenge to drive around town, you should look at this year's Ford Ranger XL. Let me break down the Ford Ranger XL price in Sydney.

In Sydney, the starting price of a Ford Ranger XL is around $48,000. That gets you an Arctic White Pick-Up with a double cab and the 2.0-litre Turbo Diesel engine, with a black fabric interior with no extras. Let's take a look at how that changes when you make adjustments or upgrades.

The Engine

The default option for the XL is the 2.0-litre Turbo Diesel 6AT 4×2 Hi-Rider. It gives you up to 125kW and 405 Nm of torque. Adding Part-Time 4×4 capability, you'll add $8,000. If you go to the more powerful 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo Diesel 10AT Part-Time 4×4, it adds over $11,000 to the price, but it boosts your power up to 154kW and 500 Nm of torque.

If you're looking at carrying around heavy loads regularly or going off-road often, it may be worth the investment to get the extra power and control on the road.

The Exterior

For $48,000, you'll get an Arctic White double cab pick-up truck. If you want to change the colour to something more flashy, like Sedona Orange, it will add $700 to the price. There are currently no other options for cab style for the Ranger XL in Sydney.

The Extras

You can add a sleek black XL Wheel Centre Cap for $20. If you plan to haul a lot of heavy-duty loads, it might be a good idea to add the Tough Bed Spray-In Bedliner for $900.

4×2 Offroad Pack

If you're looking to do more heavy-duty driving and don't opt for a 4×4, you might consider adding the Offroad Pack for $1,150 to boost your performance. It adds a Locking Rear Differential (eLRD) to help you maintain traction under challenging conditions. Steel Underbody Protection helps make sure you don't accidentally damage your truck by kicking up a rock or hitting a high road obstacle, and 17-inch Steel Wheels with All-Terrain tyres maximise your grip on the road.

Towing Pack

To take advantage of the Ford Ranger XL's 3,500 kg of maximum braked towing capability, you'll want to add the Towing Pack for $1,700. This includes an integrated trailer brake controller along with a sturdy tow-bar/tow tongue assembly.

Getting the tow pack from the dealer means you'll have factory parts that are intended to be used in your truck's configuration. With heavier cargo, it's not worth the risk of something going wrong due to the wrong, or poorly installed, parts.

The Ford Ranger XL is a fantastic option in the smaller truck class. It's easy to navigate around the city, but still up to being your everyday workhorse. Even the base package comes loaded with technology and convenient options, so your options (and, therefore, your price) really come down to how you plan to use your truck.