FORD RANGER 2.0 Ecoblue 213 Wildtrak auto
It’s easy to see why pick-up trucks have become so popular in the UK. They offer much of the road presence of a large or luxury SUV but at a much lower price, and they’re well suited to an active, outdoorsy lifestyle. What’s more, while these beasts of burden were once crude, rattly machines much better equipped for work than play, these days that’s far from the case. And the Ford Ranger is the very best of them.
Despite beefy suspension that enables it to carry payloads of more than a tonne, the Ranger rides in a far more civilised manner than its Isuzu D-max, Ssangyong Musso and Toyota Hilux rivals, whether lightly laden or loaded up with cargo. What’s more, despite its considerable heft (it’s longer, taller and wider than a Range Rover Sport), the Ranger isn’t as cumbersome to drive as you might think. In fact, it handles far more tidily than any of its rivals, leaning much less noticeably in bends than other pick-ups.
It’s comparatively quick, too. With 210bhp, the Ranger’s twin-turbo 2.0-litre diesel engine packs a much bigger punch than the 2.8-litre unit found in the Hilux. That makes the Ranger an awful lot faster on the road, with a 0-62mph time of 9.0sec without cargo. That might sound like pub trivia, but it means you won’t have to worry too much about merging into traffic, even when it’s loaded up – unlike in the D-max, which takes a fairly pedestrian 13.0sec with its load bed empty.
That adds to the Ranger’s credentials as a useful workhorse, as does the design of its load bed. It will easily handle a standard pallet and has more space between the rear wheel arches than in any of its rivals. Our favourite Wildtrak model even comes with a 12-volt electric outlet in the bed for charging up your power tools.
True, the Ranger is pricier to buy than the Musso, but its cheaper insurance and servicing, plus slower depreciation, make it very costeffective to run. It’s clear that Ford, whose F-series is the world’s most popular pick-up, knows a thing or two about this kind of vehicle – enough for the Ranger to rule the roost here.
KEY FACTS
List price £41,576 Target Price £41,576 Target PCP £541*
Engine 4cyl, 1995cc, diesel Power 210bhp Torque 369lb ft Gearbox 10-spd automatic
0-62mph 9.0sec Top speed 112mph
Official economy 36.7mpg CO2, tax band 201g/km, £3500 annual flat rate
Euro NCAP safety rating Expired