We are accustomed to shortening the production cycle in the automotive world, and very capable cars are usually replaced after four or five years. As the Ford Ranger has demonstrated, the situation in the pickup field is a bit different. It has a history of more than ten years, but it still impresses in many ways, even though the new 2022 Ford Ranger announced that it will replace the model at the end of 2021. An excellent tractor with great off-road capability and much more comfortable than you think, Ranger should not be regarded as a replacement for modern road-oriented SUVs; like most pickup trucks, it is too agricultural. However, we like Ranger very much, so we named it the best pickup truck of the year in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 awards. This should reassure you that Ranger still has a lot to like.
Pickup trucks have been a big business in the United States for decades, and buyers there often agree with the "bigger is better" school of thought. As early as 1983, Ford introduced a relatively compact pickup called the Ranger. Over the years, its size and popularity have continued to grow, and it has also entered the UK along the way, becoming the most popular pickup — -in the market.
Since the initial Ranger landed here, pickup trucks have become more mainstream, and with the improvement of comfort and sophistication, improved safety, and availability in terms of towing and off-road capabilities, pickup trucks have become increasingly high. It's easy to understand why so many people use pickup trucks in their daily transportation, but please read on before gritting your teeth, because pickup trucks are not for everyone.
Ranger T6 went on sale in November 2011, with a starting price of £15,515. Buyers can choose between 148bhp four-cylinder 2.2 TDCI and 197bhp five-cylinder 3.2 TDCI Duratorq diesel engines; a few months later, the 124bhp 2.2 TDCi engine was launched. Ford offers rear-wheel or four-wheel drive and six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
The facelifted Ranger entered the showroom in the spring of 2016, with an updated design, a more efficient engine (now has a 158bhp 2.2 TDCi unit and 197bhp 3.2 TDCi), improved connectivity and a new top-of-the-line Wildtrak model.
The Ranger Raptor, launched in the spring of 2019, is equipped with a 210bhp twin-turbocharged 2.0 EcoBlue diesel engine; the power unit will replace the 2.2 TDCi device in January 2019 in the form of 128bhp, 168bhp and 210bhp. The latter two are equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Almost all Rangers for sale have four-wheel drive, which is also good because it is essential for most car owners. Whether to choose automatic or manual depends on personal preference. Although 3.2 TDCi is muscular, 2.2 TDCi is more economical. 2.0 EcoBlue provides the best combination of power and economy.
Specifications have been evolving over the past ten years, but guided by the 2016 series, the entry-level XL is equipped with 16-inch steel wheels, DAB radio, Bluetooth, heated mirrors, heated windshield, electric front windows, and 1 alarm system per category .
XLT adds 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights and wipers, electric folding door mirrors, air conditioning and cruise control. The top-of-the-line Wildtrak is equipped with an 18-inch alloy, an 8-inch touch screen, a rear-view camera and ambient cab lighting.
Check out the reader reviews on carbuyer.co.uk and you will find that Volkswagen Amarok is ahead of its competitors with an average score of 4.3 (out of 5). This is partly due to the excellent manufacturing quality, spacious cabin, powerful V6 engine and huge load area.
Toyota Hilux is known for its unparalleled reliability, and its driving performance is also very good, but the purchase cost is often high, especially the luxury version.
Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan Navara are three ready-to-use, easy-to-drive, and affordable pickup trucks.
More left-court options include the Nissan Navara-based Mercedes X-Class and Renault Alaska, and the Mitsubishi L200-based Fiat defender. If you can buy one at the right price, all of these are unusual and might be worth a look.
The Ranger is much larger than the average family car; even a full-size SUV is usually smaller. The double cab is 5,362 mm long, which is more than a foot longer than the Range Rover.
Buy Ranger 3.2 TDCi, it can pull 3,500 kg, but choose 2.2 TDCi, its rated weight is between 1,600 kg to 3,500 kg, depending on the number of wheels driven and the power output.
As we explain here, operating a pickup truck as your company vehicle can have some very beneficial tax implications. One ton of payload is the key; Raptor has a rated weight of only 620 kg.
Some Rangers are rarely used at high speeds for long periods of time, which may cause the diesel particulate filter (DPF) to become clogged. The EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve may also be clogged.
Considering that it should be a workhorse, the Ranger's interior is surprisingly attractive, using high-quality materials, although the focus is on toughness.
The user-friendly dashboard is also well laid out; many are borrowed from Ford's passenger car series.
The ordinary cab is a double seat with a huge load bed; the super cab is 2+2, and the double cab is the most popular cab. It is a complete five-seater, but the cargo compartment is the smallest and long 1549 mm (1560 mm wide).
The two-year or 20,000-mile maintenance interval for TDCi models is not onerous at all, although the EcoBlue version reduces the mileage limit to 18,000.
Routine maintenance costs are reasonable, with the first service priced at 272.50 pounds, while the next two services are priced at 492.50 pounds (40,000 miles) and 417.50 pounds (60,000 miles).
As with franchised dealer services, these prices apply only to items such as fluids and filters; brake and suspension components are replaced when needed, and Ranger’s drive method greatly affects the expiration time of new parts.
The brake fluid needs to be replaced every two years, which itself costs 49 pounds, and the coolant should be replaced every 10 years, which is about 80 pounds. All Ranger engines have timing chains, so there is no need to replace cam belts.
So far, Ford has recalled the Ranger seven times, the first time in October 2012 because of seat latch problems.
The next event was launched in February 2015, because a wrongly assembled injector means that the engine may shut down and refuse to restart.
A sensor failure in the automatic transmission led to a recall in February 2017, a damaged drive shaft led to action in September 2017, and then an airbag failure in May 2018 led to further movement (this time it was a problem with the side airbag).
Another airbag issue (inflator failure) is the cause of the August 2020 recall. Damage to the brake hose caused a recall in July 2019; due to an automatic transmission failure, the most recent event was released in April 2020, and the solution required a software update.
Our Driver Power survey does not include pickup trucks, but many car owners have left comments on carbuyer.co.uk, and the Ranger's average score is only 2.8 points (out of 5).
What is worrying is that one-star reviews are too prominent, but five-star reviews are not far behind, so opinions are polarized.
Bulky gearboxes, thirsty engines and electrical failures are the most common problems, but the Ranger's towing and off-road capabilities are even more impressive.
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