Ford

Ranger

With excellent off-roading capabilities, the mighty Ford Ranger pick-up can take on any challenge Mother Nature throws in its path and the Raptor model takes everything up a notch further.

The good

Big, beefy and beautiful

The bad

Not cheap and lots of competition these days

Tech Specs

Price from

£20,845

Combined Fuel up to

40.9mpg

0-62 from

9.0 seconds

max speed up to

112mph

co2 from

179g/km

Test Drive

Ford Ranger Raptor Special Edition (2022)

The Ford Ranger is a very capable pick-up in its own right. Add in some beefy Raptor treatment and sporty stripes and the result is a whole different beast.

The Ranger Raptor Special Edition demands attention wherever it goes with its in-your-face design and attitude to match.

Priced at £54,940, it’s not cheap, but for that outlay you get a double-cab pick-up truck that can deliver the goods both on and off-road.

If you’re a shrinking violet type of person, then this vehicle is most definitely not for you – it’s completely over the top. Design cues include a black Raptor grille, LED headlights with black surrounds, privacy glass, a black sports bar, black and red decals, Raptor badging, plus black 17-inch wheels with massive 33-inch tyres.

Climb inside, with the aid of the wide side steps along with grab handles and you are greeted with a modern, practical and well designed cabin. The sporty seats are neatly upholstered and featured Raptor badging – they can also be power-adjusted and heated.

Ford’s SYNC 3 eight-inch infotainment system with eight-inch screen offers access to the sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a fixed rearview camera and there is a wi-fi hotspot to connect devices too.

The separate panel for all the climate controls is also appreciated as it results in less driver distraction.

Powering the Ranger Raptor Special Edition (SE) is a 2.0-litre EcoBlue turbo-diesel engine delivering 213PS and 500Nm of torque. It can sprint from 0-62mph in 9.0 seconds and tops out at 112mph while delivering a combined 31.7mpg (if you are careful) with carbon emissions of 201-204g/km.

The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox with large steering wheel-mounted paddles for added driver engagement and the Raptor SE model has upgraded Fox suspension for added ride comfort.

Despite its aggressive styling, the Raptor SE is great fun to drive and cruises on motorways with ease. It feels exceptionally wide when driving along narrower roads especially as this model is 15cm wider than a standard Ranger. But the elevated seating does offer excellent driver visibility which is a bonus.

The steering is actually quite light making it easy to manoeuvre in busier, congested traffic, but you may need to think twice if you’re planning on parking in a ‘normal’ sized space.

Although we stuck firmly to the Tarmac on this occasion, the Ranger Raptor SE is very capable when tackling off-road obstacles – if any owner is actually brave enough to go there. And for any family holidays, it can tow a caravan weighing up to 2.5 tonnes with terrain management, including six selectable drive modes.

However, there is a downside to the model. Its payload is less than the standard Ranger at 620kg which is lower than the HMRC’s one-tonne limit. Therefore it fails to qualify as a commercial vehicle meaning business owners will not be able to claim back the 20 per cent tax relief. However, as it is based on the structure of the Ranger, it is taxed as a commercial vehicle at a set rate of £290 rather than a fee based on carbon emissions.

But, in reality, these are factors that are unlikely to deter any potential buyers. Simply the thought of having the Raptor SE on their driveway will be enough. And imagine the street cred on the school run!

There is space in the back of the cab for a couple of passengers, but legroom is not that generous. Storage options are good though with a split-level central cubby box, trays, a glovebox, front and rear cup holders, plus seat back pockets. Another smart feature is an aerodynamic hoop over the load bed with a light for any night-time working.

The Ford Ranger was awarded the maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating and the Raptor SE is packed with the same features. These include a collision mitigation system, lane keeping aid, intelligent speed assistance, anti-lock brakes, electric power assisted steering and plenty more besides.

After a week behind the wheel of the Ranger Raptor SE and driving almost 400 miles, I still found it impossible to work out who will actually buy this model. It’s expensive, too wide for our roads and completely outrageous. Yet, those excuses aside, I would still have one!

Test Drive

Ford Ranger Limited 2.0 EcoBlue Automatic (2019)

It’s time to dig out your old Glen Campbell CDs, don you favourite cowboy hat and go in search of denims and a check shirt, because the Ford Ranger is a pick-up truck with all-American attitude.

And just like all its rivals in the ‘ute’ sector such as the Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200 and VW Amarok to name but a few, the Ranger is the perfect blend of go-anywhere, workhorse grit mixed with an array of all the creature comforts we demand from our vehicles these days.

Engineers and designers certainly have their work cut out trying to keep everyone happy with modern day pick-ups. After all, these vehicles began life as proper hard-core working trucks that were the ‘go-to’ models for farmers and builders alike. But nowadays, they have become quite fashionable alternatives to the full-blown SUVs that have flooded the market.

And the Ford Ranger is proof of that. It offers rugged styling, 4×4 ability and a wading depth of 800mm. Yet our mid-trim Limited model also looked the business with its Blue Lightening paintwork, bright front fender grille, privacy glass, bi-xenon headlights, front fog lights and 17-inch Panther black alloy wheels.

Climb aboard – and you literally do – with the aid of a side step and grab handles if required, and the interior is loaded with techno treats to explore. There is Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen, a DAB radio, CD player, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a fixed rearview camera and lots more besides.

The Ranger has a modern, clutter-free layout and an upmarket feel to it with leather upholstered seats with eight-way power adjustment, some neat chrome trimmings and plenty of soft touch surfaces.

Our double-cab test model was powered by the latest EcoBlue 2.0-litre 130PS diesel engine mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox and could sprint to 62mph from a standstill in a very respectable 11.4 seconds, topping out at 112mph. According to the latest WLTP figures, it could deliver 36.7-37.7mpg and had carbon emissions of 197g/km.

Performance-wise, the Ranger is one of the most refined pick-up models to drive and the new gearbox results in smooth acceleration along with all the power you could wish for thanks to the punchy engine. The road holding is assured and the cabin is well insulated against outside noise.

On motorways, it cruises effortlessly at 70mph and the good all-round visibility is another plus factor.

With a 12.7-metre turning lock, the Ranger is actually quite nimble too, although you will need a very long parking bay – that’s because the vehicle stretches more than 5.3 metres in length. It can carry a regular-sized pallet with a payload limit of one tonne and can also tow a trailer weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.

The Ranger can be driven in 2WD for the majority of its journeys which not only delivers the best ride and handling, it also offers maximised fuel efficiency. But, when rougher terrain presents itself, it can easily be switched across to 4WD whilst on the move, which is a handy function.

Safety is another area where the Ford Ranger excels. In fact, it was the first pick-up vehicle to be awarded a maximum five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP back in 2012. Features include pedestrian detection, electronic stability control with traction control, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed assist, a collision mitigation system, lane keeping assist, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability programme, roll over mitigation, tyre pressure sensors and a full suite of airbags.

And finally, when you factor in the competitive price-tag of £35,764 including VAT (£37,984 incl. VAT with options), the latest Ford Ranger has proven itself to be the ultimate rough, tough workhorse that is also more than happy to show off its gentler side when required.

Test Drive

Ford Ranger Double Cab Wildtrak 3.2 TDCi Automatic

The world of pick-ups is a competitive market with all manufacturers vying for that little edge to attract buyers.

And Ford has certainly laid down the gauntlet with its latest Ranger model – it looks fantastic, works hard, plays hard and has all the 4×4 capabilities you could wish for.

In promoting the Ranger, Ford capitalised on a phrase: The right tool can make child’s play of men’s work – and the Ranger does just that.

And that’s not all because the Ranger is the first pick-up to receive the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP safety ratings.

The top-of-the-range Wildtrak double cab model featured a powerful 3.2-litre diesel engine with six-speed automatic transmission. This really is the daddy of the Ranger family with all the bells and whistles. In an exclusive Wildtrak orange colour with its lockable roll top cover and 18-inch alloys, it stands out in any crowd.

And once you start the engine, it ticks over with a real sense of menace.

But there is a gentler side to the Ranger and the interior with its ice blue ambient lighting, flashes of orange on the leather seats and a whole host of creature comforts are testament to that.

For example, go back a few years and a pick-up would never feature such luxuries as voice activated Bluetooth, a colour sat nav system, a cooler box in the centre console, dual-zone electronic air conditioning, rear view camera, eight-way electrically-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, parking distance sensors and cruise control.

These are all present on the new Ranger plus a whole lot more.

But many buyers will be looking to the vehicle’s working credentials before splashing out the £24k (£30 with optional extras) on the highly impressive Ranger.

Well, fear not because this vehicle is up for any challenge over land or water.

It boasts an amazing load capacity, can wade through water up to 800mms deep and can tow 3,350kgs – that gives an idea of the Ranger’s potential.

And with full 4×4 ability, no challenge will be too tough.

Yet one factor that really impressed me was how agile the Ranger is. Visibility is excellent and manoeuvring such a large vehicle proved much easier than anticipated. In fact, at times it was easy to forget it was a pick-up that was being driven at all.

Comfort levels are pretty good for its size although you do feel the odd bump and the cabin noise is not too loud either.

Standard safety features include anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist, traction control, electronic stability programme and much more besides.

All in all, the new Ranger is quite a vehicle. It offers the very best of both worlds when it comes to work and play making it a genuine all-rounder.