The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Ford Ranger takes a walk on the Wildtrak side
T“The Ford Ranger is a rugged and capable pickup that’s as easy to drive as a Fiesta
here aren’t many pickup trucks left on the market. The Volkswagen Amarok, Nissan Navara, Mercedes X-Class and Fiat Fullback are among pickups to have been axed in the UK over the past few years.
That doesn’t leave pickup buyers with very many choices. Fortunately there are some fine options among the few that are still standing (or rolling).
One of the best of these bears the blue oval badge.
The Ford Ranger is a rugged and capable pick-up that’s as easy to drive as a Fiesta.
It’s available in a wide range of variants from bare-bones workers’ models to the lifestyle oriented Wildtrak I recently spent time with.
This high-end version comes with all the luxuries you could want and is clearly pitched at those looking for an alternative to an SUV.
One thing it gives you is a commanding view of the road. You’re perched so high only HGV and tractor drivers look down on you.
It’s also available with a range of outdoor lifestyle-inspired options, including a fantastic roof-mounted tent for go-anywhere camping expeditions.
Underneath the bonnet is a 2.0-litre diesel engine developing 213hp and 500Nm of torque.
Previous versions of the Ranger have offered mightier 3.2-litre diesel engines, but the demand to reduce emissions has driven displacements downwards.
Two litres might not seem much capacity for a 2.2-tonne vehicle but the Ranger moves forward with some alacrity. Zero to 62mph takes just nine seconds, and top speed is 112mph.
The Ranger’s engine is paired with an excellent new automatic gearbox boasting no fewer than 10 speeds.
It moves virtually seamlessly through the gears and I found it
impressively smooth and refined.
One area where it can’t quite match an SUV is economy.
The Ranger returns 36.7mpg according to official figures, and I found 30mpg is a realistic figure to aim for.
CO2 emissions are higher than an SUV’s at 201g/km, though that’s still good compared to other pickup trucks.
What it will do that the vast majority of SUVs won’t do is actually get you miles off the beaten track. With high two, high four, and low range four-wheel drive modes, the Ranger Wildtrak is ready for almost any terrain.
An electronic locking rear differential and hill descent control are there for the seriously tough stuff.
I didn’t get a chance to test all that out this time but I’ve driven the Ranger off road before and it’s seriously impressive.
It’s also surprisingly good on road. Ford has always had a knack for building vehicles that are easy to drive and that holds true for the Ranger Wildtrak.
The soft suspension soaks up bumps, external noise is kept well in check, and it cruises comfortably at motorway speeds.
Despite its size it doesn’t feel unwieldy on country roads and there’s very little in the way of body roll during cornering.
Around town you do finally feel its size, but lightweight steering and a decent turning circle make it as manageable as such a large vehicle is capable of being.
It’s a superb machine for towing as well, capable of hauling 3,500kg, and you can carry up to 750kg in its load bay.
Leather seats that are heated and electric provide plenty of comfort, while other niceties include keyless entry, dual-zone aircon, a centre console coolbox, reversing camera and wi-fi for up to 10 devices.
A sharp touchscreen and large dials make everything easy to control.
The rear seats have plenty of space for three adults. Indeed, there’s very little an ordinary car can do that the Ranger Wildtrak can’t.
And there’s a lot the Ranger Wildtrak can do that an ordinary car can’t.
It’s a capable family car. It’s a remarkably rugged workhorse. And it’s a lifestyle vehicle that will take you deep into the hills for weekend camping trips.