I've owned my 2025 XLT for 2 weeks and I already hate the 12" vertical screen and lack of knobs

[purdyd]

I think what ford should do is expand the climate control voice commands.

Right now you can set the temp with a voice command but no other climate setting

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[daytoncarter]

GM did a pretty good job with that layout. Unfortunately it's in a GM though so.....

Guess we can't have everything.

Eh, I probably would've got the Colorado Z71 w/ vented seats and saved money over my Lariat, but the Ranger is the only midsizer to support Openpilot.

 

[ScottyRangerDanger]

I am guessing it is known that there are physical controls below the screen.
For Radio, for climate. As well as buttons on the steering wheel for Radio as well.

A few things I wish had physical controls like the heated steering wheel and heated seats.
I have gotten use to where they are on the screen, so it's not really a big deal.

It's not perfect by any means, but I am not really hating it at all.

this guy is 100 percent a troll post. legit knobs right at the bottom. guy created an account 2 days ago.

 

[80238]

More buttons and knobs would be better, and ability to turn it off.

I keep bumping the max defrost when I go to adjust the radio.

I knew when I test drove the Rangers that I would probably dislike the Infotainment screen set-up. But I didn't think I'd absolutely hate it so soon.

This was just an absolutely asinine design decision by Ford. I can't use it to do anything while driving. It's bad enough to not be able to easily control the stereo, but you can't really quickly control the HVAC either.

Sadly, I won't be surprised if people wind up dying in wrecks because of the damn thing.

Honestly, if I hadn't wanted the dependable V6 so badly I probably would've taken my chances with a GMC Canyon.

 

[John E Davies]

I don’t find the big screen too bad at night, but I do black it out using the Calm Screen setting, and then dim the rest of the gauges to near zero.

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/sync-4-calm-screen-default.16742/

For nav I use a Garmin gps and that dims down - or completely blacked out it gives great voice commands when routing.

The comment about the old Saab night mode is spot on, I had a 2000 9-5 Aero Wagon and that was a terrific feature. Another pet peeve of mine is too bright indicators, for example, the high beam light on my wife’s RDX is brilliant (blinding) blue. I added an LED light dim sticker on top of it. Now it is perfect.

https://lightdims.com/index.php

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6923-how-to-led-“light-dims”-stickers-for-those-irritating-bright-lights/

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[ScottyRangerDanger]

Sadly,

sadly you test drove a vehicle, knew you wouldn't like something and bought it anyway. What type of emergency situation are you in that you need to quickly control the HVAC? did something change for the xlt in 2025 because my Hvac have two knobs that I can turn while blacked out drunk and blindfolded. 2 weeks into ownership you should just sell bro.

 

[cc1999]

I don’t find the big screen too bad at night, but I do black it out using the Calm Screen setting, and then dim the rest of the gauges to near zero.

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/sync-4-calm-screen-default.16742/

For nav I use a Garmin gps and that dims down - or completely blacked out it gives great voice commands when routing.

The comment about the old Saab night mode is spot on, I had a 2000 9-5 Aero Wagon and that was a terrific feature. Another pet peeve of mine is too bright indicators, for example, the high beam light on my wife’s RDX is brilliant (blinding) blue. I added an LED light dim sticker on top of it. Now it is perfect.

https://lightdims.com/index.php

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6923-how-to-led-“light-dims”-stickers-for-those-irritating-bright-lights/

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I took a couple picks of the settings incase it helps anyone.

I prefer the dark mode setting with the black background.

The light setting or white background is really a bit too bright for me.

 

[HighDesertRanger]

I don’t find the big screen too bad at night, but I do black it out using the Calm Screen setting, and then dim the rest of the gauges to near zero.

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/sync-4-calm-screen-default.16742/

For nav I use a Garmin gps and that dims down - or completely blacked out it gives great voice commands when routing.

The comment about the old Saab night mode is spot on, I had a 2000 9-5 Aero Wagon and that was a terrific feature. Another pet peeve of mine is too bright indicators, for example, the high beam light on my wife’s RDX is brilliant (blinding) blue. I added an LED light dim sticker on top of it. Now it is perfect.

https://lightdims.com/index.php

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6923-how-to-led-“light-dims”-stickers-for-those-irritating-bright-lights/

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

Ford used to be able to completely black everything out before around 2010. It was pretty darn nice to completely turn off the dash lights, especially working nights.

 

[bigb]

The one complaint I have with the HVAC is you have to use the touch screen to change air flow modes and to switch the compressor off and on. Where I live it is common to need the heat in the morning and the AC in the afternoon, and I don't like the heat blowing on my face or the AC blowing on my feet so I'm constantly using the touch screen for that.

Then I like to kill the compressor a minute or two before arriving at my destination as this gives the evaporator a chance to dry out before shutting down which helps to eliminate mold and the resulting odors in the HVAC.

 

[pkvir]

this guy is 100 percent a troll post. legit knobs right at the bottom. guy created an account 2 days ago.

Yep, that's why I didn't bother replying to him advocating for the screen. But since you called him out...why not. I really like the screen.

 

[ChronciallyChronic]

I knew when I test drove the Rangers that I would probably dislike the Infotainment screen set-up. But I didn't think I'd absolutely hate it so soon.

This was just an absolutely asinine design decision by Ford. I can't use it to do anything while driving. It's bad enough to not be able to easily control the stereo, but you can't really quickly control the HVAC either.

Sadly, I won't be surprised if people wind up dying in wrecks because of the damn thing.

Honestly, if I hadn't wanted the dependable V6 so badly I probably would've taken my chances with a GMC Canyon.

I guess you missed the physical AC controls right under the screen?

 

[MikeVB]

this guy is 100 percent a troll post. legit knobs right at the bottom. guy created an account 2 days ago.

I'm not trolling anybody.

 

[MikeVB]

I guess you missed the physical AC controls right under the screen?

One, they don't control ALL of the HVAC functions. Two, they're placed so low on the dash because of the giant screen that you have to take your eyes off the road and look down to use them. And, three, the screen is so crowded and busy it's hard to watch the road and touch in exactly the right places on the screen without staring at it instead of the road.

 

[purdyd]

I guess you missed the physical AC controls right under the screen?

ac on off on the knob and touchscreen. And a ac max button.

yes that vent control is the most annoying.

but vent control
Ac on off
Recirculate on off
Defrost

should all be voice commands

 

[pkvir]

I'm not trolling anybody.

But you can't figure out how to use the stereo or HVAC using the buttons?

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