Ford Ranger

Expert Rating:

What is it?

A pick-up. Which, as we're not in America, probably means little to you. Thing is, the Ranger and its competitors have sold very well in recent years as alternatives to SUVs, and although that's slowed significantly in the economic downturn there are still people out there wanting a vehicle that's as good for business as it is for pleasure. In five-seat, double-cab Thunder specification the Ranger is capable and rugged, yet it's cheap and pretty well equipped too.

Is it any good?

You need to recalibrate your expectations a touch when you're driving the Ranger as it's unashamedly rugged. Thanks to the ladder chassis, suspension that's got to cope with anything from no load to a tonne in the back and a cabin that'll double as an office/builder's locker it's not exactly awash with soft touch plastics and pleasing designs. It's simple and straightforward, refreshingly so in fact, the controls all feeling like you could work them through a thick pair of gloves.

The 141bhp 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine is a lugger, with lots of grunt at low revs. That's great for towing and hauling loads in the rear, but it does mean you're busy with the five-speed manual as a result. It's a bit vague in its shift, the lever needing a good shove through its gate. There's an auto available, which if you're going to be doing lots of stop-start town driving will be invaluable. Four-wheel drive gives the Ranger the sort of capability a forester might need, it able to clamber over rocks, trickle down slopes, scramble up hills and wade through water.

On the road the Ranger drives decently enough, though the suspension can get a bit bouncy when the roads ask too much from it. The easy way to sort it is by chucking something heavy in the rear, the Ranger riding with far more composure when there are a few bags of cement or sand in the load area. The steering is light and lifeless regardless of what you're carrying, but the pleasure in driving the Ranger comes not from any precision or poise, but the feeling that if the world ended right in front of you the Ranger would be there to help you start it up.

There's a 3.0-litre version available in top-spec Wildtrak guise, but the difference it brings on the road is so slight you'll barely notice it. Thunder specification is good enough, the 2.5-litre engine competitive against its rivals and the specification including air conditioning, heated leather seats, alloy wheels and an aux-in socket for the stereo.

Should I call the bank manager?

Chances are if you're speaking to the bank manager about a Ranger purchase then you're looking at it as a potential business vehicle. That means you can have it for just £19,600 as you can buy it VAT free. If you're a private buyer you'll pay a bit more, and if you are buying it as an alternative to an SUV for a family vehicle it's really only a four-seater in double cab form - as few would be comfortable buckling their children into the lap-belt only middle rear seat.

Summary

A hugely capable all-rounder for people who need its enormous ability, the Ranger cannot be dismissed against its pick-up rivals. Decent specification, pricing and good looks all appeal, though you do pay for its rugged ability with high CO₂ emissions of 255g/km and economy of 30.4mpg. If you can live with that, and some of the compromises it brings on the road, the Ranger is well worth considering.

Kyle Fortune