Being the most versatile Ranger ever isn’t just about being able to carry a load or tow a trailer, according to Nick Eterovic, interior design manager, Ranger.

“No matter where someone looks inside Ranger, we wanted them to see something practical, something useful to help them stay organised,” he said.

Ranger’s cabin is full of clever storage and useful spaces, like big door pockets, a deep storage bin beneath a wider centre console lid that can be used as an arm rest by both passenger and driver, and both upper and lower gloveboxes for extra versatility. But it’s the shelf nestled between those two gloveboxes that shows the deep thinking that went into Ranger’s practical storage.

“During customer clinics, we were told how owners like to keep their vehicle organised and that storage in the cabin was important to them,” said Eterovic. “We heard from those who used their truck for work about how they wanted a place for items they regularly use, like pens and pencils or a tape measure, for example.”

The shelf isn’t just practical, with room for things like a wallet or smartphone, but it was designed to help emphasise the feeling of space and width inside the vehicle.

“Incorporating it presented a number of challenges from a design perspective,” Eterovic said. “We had to make the shelf big enough to be useful but not so big that it made it hard to get in or out of the vehicle, or that it impeded leg room.”

The shape of the shelf was also carefully considered to prevent any of its contents from interfering with airbags and safety systems.

“We spent a lot of time on the shape of the shelf and worked closely with the safety team, conducting extensive computer modelling to ensure the shelf did what we wanted without any unintended consequences,” said Eterovic.

That same neat integration of the shelf can be seen in other practical storage spaces, including the pop-out cup holders available on some Ranger variants. The cup holders have been designed and placed so that users don’t have to take their eyes off the road to retrieve their drink or place it back inside the cup holder.

The much-loved under seat storage in Ranger received a revamp with increased carrying capacity while still allowing the rear seats to be used.

“We’re really proud of Ranger’s shelf,” said Eterovic. “It could so easily have been ignored and not included, but we were committed to making this Ranger the most versatile one yet and is an example of quality thinking that helps to give the customer more.”