The Ford Ranger is Britain’s most popular small truck, and it’s easy to see why: it absolutely nails the pick-up truck brief.
Ford has improved the Ranger in meaningful ways to reduce the number of compromises that come with a light commercial vehicle.
Compared with its predecessor, the Ranger made big leaps in desirability, taking visual inspiration from Ford’s iconic F-150, with a square-set and rugged design.
You can have a single- or double-cab model and it has a maximum payload of between 1035kg and 1207kg, depending on the model. The loadbed measures a competitive 1564mm in length.
The cabin is digital-savvy, with Ford‘s latest portrait-orientated infotainment touchscreen, which is easy to use and intuitive, and the set of physical buttons underneath is handy when driving. Material quality is good too.
A broad mix of engines is available. You can have a 168bhp or 202bhp four-cylinder diesel or a 237bhp V6 turbo diesel, then there’s a new petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain with 277bhp and an all-electric range of 26 miles.
To drive, the Ranger feels more like an SUV than a pick-up: its leaf-sprung rear axle can make it feel a bit busy over lumps and bumps but overall it’s comfortable and steers precisely.
