► The Ford Ranger is the best selling and best pickup
► There’s a version for everyone with more to come
► Retains its strength, adds luxury if you want it
There is something charmingly old school about a modern pickup truck, even the most modern of the lot, the Ford Ranger. While the majority of the automotive industry has been merrily going electric in various ways, the world of trucks is still powered by whacking great diesel engines.
This latest version of Ranger is not simply an old-fashioned workhorse though, as the cabin, driving experience and technology have all moved on with the times to create a fantastic all-round working vehicle that you can happily spend family time in as well.
The Ranger is, for many, the default pickup truck. Like many of its Ford commercial vehicle siblings it is the best seller in its class, and it has long been the best all rounder out there. The latest version is the best there has been and leaves almost all of its competitors in its wake. The only exception to this is the Volkswagen Amarok. Thanks to a partnership between Ford and VW, the two vehicles are fundamentally the same with the major differences being cosmetic and equipment based.
Read on to see if the Ford is still the best pickup truck you can buy.
At a glance
Pros: Fantastic interior, great ride and handling for a big truck, huge array of different versions
Cons: Big diesels make up most of the range, almost too many trims to choose from
What’s new?
When it launched in 2023, pretty much everything was new on the latest Ford Ranger over the outgoing model. The cabin, suspension, equipment and exterior looks are all eye-catchingly different versus its predecessor. This is not simply a high-end luxurious truck with an impractical interior.
But nor is it just a utilitarian workhorse designed to battle around demanding sites. In fact, it’s both of these things and several in between thanks to the many versions to choose from.
The major movement was at the top end of the range, where the high-end versions have got more luxurious and numerous. There are seven trims in all, and that’s if you don’t include the somewhat bonkers Ford Ranger Raptor.
There are also three bodystyles, with single cab, extended cab (with a small bench seat to jump into to get up to the top field, for example) and the most common double cab to pick from.
What are the specs?
The Ranger comes with a choice of three engines, a 2.0-litre diesel with either 172bhp or 208bhp or a 243bhp 3.0-litre diesel. The first of these three is restricted to the lower-end utilitarian models that are the only versions to come fitted with a manual gearbox. All the rest get only a 10-speed automatic ‘box.
While a 3.0-litre engine sounds like a big unit these days, it is very much built for strength rather than speed. To that end, you don’t get much in the way of performance stats in the brochure of a pickup, it’s all about the amount it can carry and how much it can tow – payload and towing ability. The Ranger has both of these in abundance.
The crucial figure for a pickup truck is 1,000kg. If it can carry that much in the way of payload then it is classed as a commercial vehicle for some tax purposes (for now anyway, some of that will change for new pickups bought from April 2025). The good news is that every version of the Ranger meets this, regardless of the trim that you go for. The only caveat is that a couple of the versions have a payload that is under the 1045kg that is required to allow for an aftermarket hardtop. If you fit one of those to, say, a Wildtrak X or MS-RT version then you could be in a grey area tax wise.
In any case, this is handy from the ‘carrying things’ point of view and much more so than the comparatively lightweight Ranger Raptor. Almost every version of the standard Ranger will also tow the maximum 3,500kg too, although a couple of models dip just below this. In any case, if you are going to use it as a proper tool then you should be covered.
Economy isn’t great, but what do you expect from a 5.3m long vehicle weighing two-tonnes or more? Officially you will be able to get as much as 33.6mpg from a Ranger, but this decreases as you go up the price list and they get heavier – the MS-RT only officially averages 22.1mpg.
How does it drive?
The Ranger is a fantastic pickup truck to drive. Granted there are lots of caveats here, but the crucial factor is that it is better than standard truck that has gone before or from rival manufacturers when it comes to ride and handling. You might be able to live happily with it as your only vehicle if you want to combine work with weekend duties, but it isn’t a direct swap for a luxurious SUV.
It’s a truck, so it still sits on heavy duty suspension that is designed to absorb the weight of a tonne of load in the back, so it is still prone to the odd firm bump here and there, but it is so much more relaxed than the basic and bumpy approach that pickups have so often offered.
The steering is light for a big truck, meaning that it is the Ranger’s dimensions that will dictate where it squeezes into. This is a big vehicle, so narrow urban parking spots will prove a challenge.
It’s impressively quiet and smooth on the move, too, with the 3.0-litre diesel particularly relaxed. The 10-speed automatic that, let’s face it, is going to be fitted to all the Rangers that will spend their time on road is a smooth and unobtrusive ‘box.
There are no paddles here for shifting ratios but, honestly, why would you want to? This isn’t a vehicle where you’d want to blip down a gear for a corner, so just let it do its thing. If you really need to shift manually or hold a gear for off roading, then there is a switch on the side of the lever.
Ah yes, off road. This is a thoroughly modern vehicle, in that almost everything is controlled by a series of easily tweaked electronic settings. You can flip between 2WD, 4WD and low-ratio gearing using a dial behind the gear lever, while there are also a selection of different modes for different terrains and hill descent control.
We’ve only done some relatively light off roading in the Ranger (and its Amarok cousin) but it’s breezed through everything. It’s worth noting that the Tremor trim would be our pick if you want to go into the wilds, as it has more underbody protection and off-road suspension. Other versions have some of this kit too, but it is the rubber mats in place of the carpets that seals it.
What about the interior?
The interior of the Ranger can be anything you want it to be, from bare and wipe clean up to leather clad and luxurious, with everything in between as well.
The top-end trims have some fantastic and soft plush leather seats, with more soft-touch materials on the other regular touchpoints. The Platinum is the pick for all this, with this model really aiming for the lifestyle market. You’d be in trouble if you got into this version with filthy work boots on.
Space is great too, for things and people. The truck is longer than before, which means more legroom in the rear. However, the back seats are still quite upright in their layout, which is less comfortable on a long journey if you are a bit of a sloucher. This also makes it a bit trickier to fit some larger and less flexible child seats. The Isofix points are somewhat buried, too, making regular removal and fitment of a seat a bit of a pain.
The cabin is dominated by that huge vertically oriented touchscreen, fitted with Ford’s latest Sync system. The lower trims get a 10.0-inch screen, but this is increased to 12.0-inches for Wildtrak versions and above.
This is particularly handy as you can have more than one thing on display, with navigation up top and shortcuts to various other features lower down. Thankfully there are physical buttons for the climate control so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road or your gloves off to adjust the heat.
Before you buy
Prices start at less than £30,000 for a Ranger, but that will only get you a single cab in the most basic XL trim. Next there is XLT but realistically you are going to want to step up to at least Tremor to get much in the way of comfort and kit and this adds around £6000 to the starting price.
This version is the off-roader’s pick, with a slightly more basic interior but extended wheelarches, a heavy duty side step, underbody protection and off-road suspension.
Wildtrak is where the lifestyle kit starts, with things like heated seats and steering wheel arriving, along with soft-ride suspension and roof rails. Wildtrak X brings in off-road suspension again and a honeycomb front grille, while Platinum is the one that aims to replace the family car. This adds Platinum on the bonnet, front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging and a soft-close tailgate.
Finally, the MS-RT brings a selection of cosmetic upgrades, like a side skirt, sports front and rear bumpers and MS-RT seats. It certainly isn’t the logical one in the range, but we’re not judging if the looks appeal to you.
Aside from all this, you also have to contend with changing tax rules from April 2025. Rules surrounding double-cab pickups will mean significant changes in tax, meaning your Ranger will likely be a lot more expensive to run than before.
Verdict
The Ranger is, simply put, the best pickup truck you can buy right now. It has a strong range of engines, rides better than anything from rival manufacturers and can be wonderfully luxurious inside, if that is what you are after. There are exciting prospects on the horizon too, with a plug-in hybrid on the cards.
There really is a Ranger to cover all bases, which is a downside in some senses if we are being picky – too much choice is sometimes overwhelming and can lead you to wonder if you have made the right decision. Keep it simple, stay mid-range and you won’t go far wrong.